1. Near East and North Africa Land and Water days
15-18/12/2013
The Technical Secretariat of CAMRE / League of Arab States
Nermin Wafa
(Case Study 5 )
Enhancing Synergies among Multilateral Environmental Conventions related
to Biodiversity & Combating Desertification
The Technical Secretariat of CAMRE / League of Arab States
Nermin Wafa – Division of Programs & Activities
• The unsustainable management of land and water resources in Near East and North
Africa (NENA), the absence of awareness of policy decision Making on the values &
targets of Multilateral Environmental Conventions Related to Biodiversity &
Combating Desertification ( UNCCD, CBD, CMS, Cites , Ramsar ,) has aggravated
pressure , since cross Sect oral cooperation in Governmental Sectors is nearly
absent , thus weak national policies are attained , RIO +20 ( Rio de Jeniro 2012) has
called for effectively applying an ecosystem approach and the precautionary
approach in the management , to deliver on all three dimensions of sustainable
Development.
• In the Arab Region, to achieve Sustainable water , Land management & efficient
water allocation systems , comprehensive understanding of the values and
concepts of Multilateral Environmental Conventions Related to Biodiversity &
Combating Desertification should be realized .
• We need to produce more food on less land with les water and less energy , In a
more challenging environment. Climate change is not the only factor that will
increase water scarcity, loss of biodiversity, wetlands & extinction of endangered
species, will aggravate the situation effects. In addition to loss of awarness of
Traditional knowledge and the right of the locals to access to Genetic Resources is
enhanced and substantial benefits are shared in consistent with International
Regime on ABS which is considered a corner stone to Sustainable Development,, ..
Maintaining the harmony & balance among ecosystems services , products, &
species a valuable components for life , Biodiversity & Sustainable Development.
• 24 % of land has been degraded around the world . A growing more affluent world
population will demand an increase in global food production of up to 70% by 2050 ,
which will have to accomplished in an environment of rapidly increasing regional –
and global –scale impacts of climate change , including widespread drought . An
enhanced cooperation with regional Multilateral Mechanisms like The Arab Team
on the Follow –up of Multilateral Environmental Conventions on Biodiversity &
combatting Desertification which emphasized the issue of national & regional
capacity building , to enhance alignment with tenth Strategic Plan of UNCCD
Convention .
• An enhanced understanding of the ecosystem functions and the flow of ecosystem
services leads in general to effective management of water and Land . Making
nature & soil values visible into decision making is a priority option , investors

2. Near East and North Africa Land and Water days
15-18/12/2013
The Technical Secretariat of CAMRE / League of Arab States
Nermin Wafa
have realized million of hectares of land change every year , they destroy forests
for land they need to survive, Understanding the concepts of TEEB ( the Economics
of Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services ) , An increased appreciation of the values
to the society of water related ecosystems services from nature and the wider range
of ecosystems services , wetlands in particular will be essential to catalyze an
appropriate policy and business response. A need to increase in amount of legally
protected areas of land and oceans Thus , Realizing the targets of the New strategy
of Resource Mobilization in response to CBD Strategic Plan of the Convention &
Aichi targets 2011-2020 which included commitments to raise awareness of the
value of biodiversity and to integrate them into plans , strategies and accounts.
• One of the major threats to native biological diversity is now acknowledged by
scientists and governments to be biological invasions caused by alien invasive
species. The impacts of alien invasive species are immense, insidious, and usually
irreversible. They may be as damaging to native species and ecosystems on a
global scale as the loss and degradation of habitats.
• Invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritized, priority species
are controlled or eradicated, and measures are in place to manage pathways to
prevent their introduction and establishment, in accordance to Aichi Target 9 of
the CBD Strategic Plan 2011-2020. a National Strategy should comprise the
Strategy’s vision of a nation in which the negative impacts of Invasive alien Species
on the economy, environment, and society are minimised;
• Wetlands provide a wide range of ecosystem services that contribute to human
well-being as a source of water, Areas for food production, Climate change
mitigation, by acting as a store of carbon; Coastal protection, floods Protection ,
storms and regulate sediment transport , thereby contribute to land formation &
coastal zone stability , reducing the impacts from floods and pollution.; Education,
recreation and tourism, e.g. coral reefs at Sham El Sheik (Egypt), Cultural values, e.g.
oasis, sebkhas, Economic values ,. Ensuring that water quality and quantity
issues are addressed in management plans, including implementing practices that
promote efficient use of water, enhancing dialogue between National government
agencies & National water Ministries was one of Major targets of Muscat Action Plan
of The Ramsar Convention in the Arab Region which was endorsed by CAMRE at
2009, An example of the need for international cooperation is that for promoting
wise use of the basins of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.,
• Linkage of Science into policy Making mechanisms and national Planning ,
Cooperation with IPBES , Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity
and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) that was established last year to strengthen use of
science in policy making.
• Regional Policies & Responses to The Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation to
climate change should be considered the basis for implementing future adaptation
& National Programs & Activities in the Arab Region

3. Near East and North Africa Land and Water days
15-18/12/2013
The Technical Secretariat of CAMRE / League of Arab States
Nermin Wafa
• Regional cooperation/partnership among Rio Conventions ( UNCCD, CBD, UNFFCC)
is fundamental in order to promote and implement the integrated management of
land and water resources in the region to address critical challenges