mediterranean action plan: which futures?

9

Click here to load reader

Upload: adalberto-vallega

Post on 26-Jun-2016

218 views

Category:

Documents


1 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Mediterranean action plan: Which futures?

ELSEVIER

Ocean & Coastal Management 23 (1994) 271-279 ~) 1994 Elsevier Science Limited

Printed in Northern Ireland I)964-5691/94/$07.0(1

Recent Developments and Announcements

MEDITERRANEAN ACTION PLAN: WHICH FUTURES?

1 The background

The Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), launched in 1975 as an initiative of the Regional Seas Programme and agreed by the Mediter- ranean countries through the Barcelona Convention, has played a leading role in stimulating coastal and ocean protection against pollu- tion at the regional level. It is presently facing the prospect of playing a new driving role based on the adoption of the sustainable development paradigm. The impulses to re-orient MAP towards sustainable develop- ment goals arose from the Informal Consultation Meeting of Mediter- ranean Experts on 'Agenda 21 for the Mediterranean' (Malta, 11-13 February 1993), which focused on three subject areas: (i) implementa- tion of assessment of resource use and environmental implications in the Mediterranean; (ii) the set-up of a conceptual and methodological framework for the sustainable development of the Mediterranean; and (iii) the institutional implications arising from the building-up of policy consistent with sustainable development.

On the basis of the opinions and recommendations from experts, the Bureau of the Barcelona Convention (Cairo, 1-2 March 1993) decided that '(i) MAP should re-orient its activities towards sustainable de- velopment principally through the Coastal Areas Management Prog- ramme (CAMP) and the follow-up mechanism of the European Community programme within the framework of the Nicosia Charter; (ii) a new budget line for Sustainable Development within the framework of the MAP should be created'.

2 The changing framework

The Mediterranean Action Plan was set in motion within one of the most complicated political and cultural frameworks in the world: NATO and Warsaw Pact forces were facing each other; cultural backgrounds were and are based on the three major monotheistic religions; developed and developing worlds were face to face; and two

271

Page 2: Mediterranean action plan: Which futures?

272 Recent developments and announcements

of the most crucial geopolitical areas--Israel and Palestine and the Arab nations, were influencing both policies and co-operation prospects.

The current transition phase is deeply affected not only by deep changes in the international division of labour, which involve also the economic relationships between the developed and developing Medi- terranean countries, but also by the geopolitical change. The collapse of Communism and the break-up of the Soviet Union and Yugoslovia led the contracting parties of the Barcelona Convention (Eighth Ordinary Meeting, Antalya, Turkey, 12-15 October, 1993) to delete Yugoslavia from the partnership of the convention and instead include Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Meanwhile, the 1993 agreement between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation enabled the former to strengthen its role in the implementation of the convention and, in particular, to widen scientific and technical assistance in the region, and the latter to expect to be regarded as a member of the Barcelona Convention.

3 New objective and guidelines

MAP is now approaching its 20th Anniversary (1995) mastering the transition from an environment-centred approach, consistent with the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, to an approach aimed at sustainable development consistent with Agenda 21. There is no doubt that, to a greater or lesser extent, this teleological change will influence both the implementation o'f protocols and the role of the regional activity centres, among which the priority actions programme, being involved in Integrated Coastal Area Management (1CAM), is expected to develop actions closely consistent with Agenda 21, chapter 17 (subject area A).

in this respect the Eighth Ordinary Meeting of the contracting parties adopted a resolution which reconfirmed the goal of 'strengthening North-South solidarity and assistance to developing countries to implement their commitments in respect to the Barcelona Convention, its Protocols and the relevant provisions of Agenda 21: restructuring MAP objectives, focusing on concrete and immediately operational activities: strengthening the process of sustainable development in the coastal States by ensuring better interaction between MAP and national policies'.

According to this resolution it was decided, inter alia:

(i) to evaluate, revise and re-focus MAP's activities in a spirit of transparency with the intention of addressing more effectively

Page 3: Mediterranean action plan: Which futures?

Recent developments and announcements 273

the challenge of sustainable development and the irreversible nature of impact on the environment and resources;

(ii) to strengthen the institutional capacities of the contracting parties which are most in need of policy aimed at sustainable development;

(iii) to promote the transfer of clean technologies; (iv) to re-focus MAP's activities on the management and protection

of the environment in accordance with the recommendations of Agenda 21.

These statements and decisions provide a view of how the contracting parties of the Barcelona Convention intend to move from the conven- tional to an approach focused on sustainable development.

4 Protocol implementation

As far as the Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft is concerned, the Co-ordinated Mediterranean Pollution Monitoring and Research Programme (MEDPOL) is making notable progress. In Phase 1 (1976-80) of the programme national laboratories were provided with essential equipment and materials for monitoring the quality of the water, and scientists and technicians were trained. In Phase 2 (1981-95) monitoring, research, data quality assurance, assessment of pollution, and the measurement of the control of pollution are being pursued as the main goals. In Phase 3 (1996-2005) M E D P O L is expected to pursue, inter alia (i) the organisation of a Mediterranean co-ordinated marine pollution monitoring and research programme, (ii) generation of information on pollution processes in order to assess the present and future state of the marine environment, and (iii) the strengthening of the capabilities of national institutions.

The Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution from Land-based Sources has not yet been ratified by all countries. This has created constraints over the possibility of im- plementing actions which are felt as urgent and essential. Although the ratification process has not yet been concluded, important activity has been carried out, such as the assessment of pollution sources through monitoring and the formulation of guidelines on the treatment and discharge of effluents and submarine outfalls.

Attention is currently focused on two expected new protocols. A final version of the Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution Resulting from Exploration and Exploitation of the

Page 4: Mediterranean action plan: Which futures?

274 Recent developments and announcements

Sea-bed and its Subsoil is expected to be approved in 1994. All Mediterranean states agree on its objectives and content so there is no doubt that this legal tool, the importance of which grows as fast as the oil and gas offshore industry progresses, will be included in the machinery of the convention before the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Mediterranean Action Plan. The Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal needs further discussion, not on its objectives, on which the contracting parties agree, but rather on the need to harmonise it with existing international rules. The breakdown of adopted and expected protocols is presented in Table 1.

5 The regional activity centres

At the present time MAP has six regional centres (Table 2), namely, the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC), the Blue Plan Regional Activity Centre (BP/RAC), the Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (SPA]RAC), the Historical Sites Regional Activity Centre (HS/RAC), the Priority Actions Programme Regional Activity Centre (PAP/RAC) and the Environment Remote Sensing Regional Activity Centre (ERS/RAC). The six centres are discussed separately below.

Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre (REMPEC). During 1991-3, activity has been aimed at improving and strengthening the regional system of co-operation and mutual assistance between countries facing pollution from incidents at sea, and at improving the regional capacity for dealing with emergencies, assisting coastal states and developing subregional systems for mutual assistance. This ap- proach is expected to be implemented.

Blue Plan, Regional Activity Centre (BP/RAC). This centre aims at investigating the evolving relationships between populations, natural resources and economic development, as well as building up relevant scenarios. This approach was applied on scales relating to the Mediter- ranean as a whole and coastal areas subject to national jurisdictions. The basic document Futures for the Mediterranean Basin I was followed by booklets on specific subject areas. 29 The approach from the Blue Plan will be strengthened through the establishment of the Mediter- ranean Environment Observatory which is expected to implement the existing socioeconomic database and to develop a relevant Mediter- ranean environmental database and indicators.

Page 5: Mediterranean action plan: Which futures?

Recent developments and announcements 275

T A B L E 1 Protocols of the Barcelona Convention and Mediterranean Regional Centres

1. Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft

Adoption: Barcelona, 1976 Entry into force: 1978 Action tool: Regional Oil Combating Centre (ROCC) (today, Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre (REMPEC)) Headquarters: Malta

2. Protocol Concerning Co-operation in Combating Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Oil and Other Harmful Substances in cases of Emergency

Adoption: Barcelona, 1976 Entry into force: 1978 Action tool: Regional Oil Combating Centre (ROCC) (today, Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre (REMPEC)) Headquarters: Malta

3. Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution from Land-based Sources

Adoption: Athens, 1980 Entry into force: 1983 Action tools: Blue Plan, Regional Activity Centre (BP/RAC) Headquarters: France Priority Actions Programme, Regional Activity Centre (PAP/RAC) Headquarters: Croatia

4. Protocol Concerning Mediterranean Specially Protected Areas

Adoption: Geneva, 1982 Entry into force: 1986 Action tools: Specially Protected Areas, Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC) Headquarters: Tunisia

5. Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution Resulting from Exploration and Exploitation of the Sea-bed and its Subsoil

Expected Adoption: 1994-5

6. Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal

In preparation

Page 6: Mediterranean action plan: Which futures?

276 Recent developments and announcements

TABLE 2 Regional Activity Centres (MAP/RAC)

MA P~ RA C Place State

Regional Marine Pollution Valletta Malta Emergency Response Centre (REMPEC)

Blue Plan (BP) Sophia Antipolis France Specially Protected Areas Tunis Tunisia

(SPA) Priority Actions Programme Split Croatia

(PAP) Historical Sites (HS) Marseille France Environment Remote Sensing (ERS) Scanzano Italy

Special Protected Areas, Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC). Actions have aimed at assisting countries in (i) the selection, establish- ment and management of specially protected areas of ecological value or cultural interest, (ii) the building up of legislation implementing the protocol to the Barcelona Convention on protected areas, (iii) the management and conservation of endangered species, and (iv) in particular, Mediterranean marine turtles and (v) cetaceans. Future activity will continue to be focused on these areas.

Historical Sites (HS/RAC). This centre, established in 1992, has begun to operate on (i) the assessment of the state of Mediterranean sites, (ii) technical assistance to local bodies involved in historical sites, (iii) networking technical officials, (iv) developing a co-operative programme on stone degradation, (v) the protection of underwater archaeological sites including wrecks, (vi) training and dissemination information, and (vii) co-operation on coastal area management programmes.

Environment Remote Sensing. It was established in 1993. Its main objective is to provide materials for monitoring and environmental protection.

6 Coastal area management and sea-level variations

There is no doubt that, within the framework of the RACs, the Priority Actions Programme (PAP/RAC) has a special role, since it is expected to develop strategic actions for the building up of Agenda 21 for the Mediterranean, promote coastal management programmes in the Medi- terranean basin pursuing close co-operation with other MAP RACs: with REMPEC, to deal with pollution, BP/RAC, to build up coastal

Page 7: Mediterranean action plan: Which futures?

Recent developments and announcements 277

use-referred scenarios, SPA/RAC, to frame conservation needs into coastal planning, and HS/RAC, to deal with the need to preserve the cultural heritage.

In the meantime coastal management programmes have been prom- oted on the basis of the willingness expressed by local authorities, paying special attention to local social and institutional conditions. This pragmatic approach has led P A P / R A C to (i) base coastal area management programmes on the existing institutional, administrative and scientific local capacity; (ii) establish joint teams including MAP experts, and national and local experts; (iii) regard training, especially on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and environment assess- ment, as a main goal; and (iv) make it possible for the programme outcomes to be useful for state and local authorities and to be regarded by local population as adequate tools to manage resource uses.

In this context M A P / R A C has moved from an approach aimed at environmental protection to one based on sustainable development and focused on integrated coastal management. This transition, which has brought about complexity in building up programmes, has been carried out while the United Nations Conference on Environment and Deve- lopment (UNCED) was in preparation, 1990-92. As a result, the Mediterranean experience is to be regarded as rich in signals for the implementation of integrated coastal management in regions charac- terised by various cultural and political backgrounds and countries with various economic and human developments. The breakdown of coastal area programmes is presented in Table 3.

In association and as a complement to PAP activity, as well as that of other centres, studying the impact of climatic changes has become increasingly important. From 1987 to 1989, the Mediterranean task team, established to deal with the implications of the 'greenhouse' effect on the regional level, identified eight core subjects (climate change, sea-level variations, oceanography, hydrology, coastal lowlands, land degradation, vegetation, and socioeconomic activities) to achieve assessment and six site-specific case studies (the Ebro, Rh6ne, Po and Nile deltas, Therma'fkos Gulf, and Bizerta and Ichkeal lakes). The subsequent results were published in 1991. Between 1990 and 1992 five new site-specific studies were investigated, the results of which were discussed in 1992 at Valletta, Malta.

7 Complexity and uncertainties

The Eighth Ordinary Meeting of the contracting parties of the Barcelona Convention was affected by several needs: to reduce the budget because of the current economic recession, to assist the newly

Page 8: Mediterranean action plan: Which futures?

278 Recent developments and announcements

Project

Kastela Bay, Croatia"

TABLE 3 MAP Integrated Coastal Area Management Programmes

Started in Ended in Core subjects" and actions

1989 1993

Izmir Bay, 1989 1993 Turkey"

Coast of Syria" 1989 1992

Rhodes, Greece" 1990 1994

Fuka-Matrouh, 1993 1995 Egypt h

Sfax. Tunisia ~' 1994 -

Duvace-Vlore, 1993 1995 Albania"

1997 EI-Hocieima, 1994 Morocco"

Algeria ' 1994 Israel" 1994 Malta' 1994 Lebanon' 1994

Environmental impact assessment; treatment of urban waste water including submarine outfalls; water resource management: environmental development-based scenarios: Geographic Information Systems

Integrated coastal management: environmental impact assessment; liquid waste treatment; Geographic Information Systems

Integrated coastal management: coastal resource management plan; environmental development scenarios: Geographic Information Systems

Integrated coastal management: carrying capacity assessment for tourism; waste water treatment plant: environmentally- sound energy planning; environmental development-based scenarios; Geographic Information Systems

Accomplishment of environmental assessment; integrated coastal management; water resource management: sustainable tourism planning; Geographic Information Systems: wind erosion and soil erosion assessment and planning

Integrated management of the urban area: sustainable tourism planning; land-based pollution assessment with special regard to industry; Geographic Information Systems

Environmental assessment; integrated coastal management; water resource management; sustainable tourism planning; Geographic Information Systems: environmental impact assessment; historical sites and natural parks assessment and planning

to be defined

1997 to be defined - - to be defined -- to be defined -- to be defined

" Approved by the Seventh Ordinary Meeting of the contracting parties to the Barcelona Convention, 1991.

h Approved by the Bureau of the Barcelona Convention, 1992. ' Approved by the Eighth Ordinary Meeting of the contracting parties to the Barcelona

Convention, 1993.

Page 9: Mediterranean action plan: Which futures?

Recent developments and announcements 279

born parties emanating from the fragmentation of Yugoslavia and, to pursue the establishment of Agenda 21. Three aspects of their intense discussion seem most worthy of attention: (i) the organisational complexity of MAP has not been mitigated; (ii) the objective of the Agenda 21 for the Mediterranean was not defined at least not completely and clearly; and (iii) uncertainty about the legal instruments needed to build up Agenda 21 was not overcome, because the decision to implement the Barcelona Convention was not associated with the decision on how to proceed. In this context the Ninth Ordinary Meeting, which will take place in Barcelona, in May 1995, and which will see the 20th Anniversary of MAP, will be crucial: a real turning point.

R E FE R E NCES

1. Grenon, M. & Batisse, M. (eds), Futures for the Mediterranean Basin. Oxford University Press, NY, 1989.

2. Charbonnier, D. et al. (eds), P~che et Aquaculture en Mdditerran6e: Etat Actuel et Perspectives. Economica, Paris, 1990.

3. Marchand, H. (ed.), Les For~ts M~diterran~ennes: Enjeux et Perspectives. Economica, Paris, 1990.

4. Ramade, F. (ed.), Conservation des Ecosyst~mes M~diterrandens: Enjeux et Perspectives. Economica, Paris, 1990.

5. Giri, J. (ed.), lndustrie et Environment en M~diterran~e: Evolution et Perspectives. Economica, Paris, 1991.

6. Brigand, L. (ed.), Les iles en M~diterran~e: Enjeux et Perspectives. Economica, Paris, 1991.

7. Margat, J. (ed.), L'eau dans le Bassin M~diterran~en: Situation et Prospective. Economica, Paris, 1992.

8. Grenon, M. (ed.), Energie et Environnement en M~diterran~e: Enjeux et Prospectives. Economica, Paris, 1993.

9. Lanquar, R. (ed.), Tourisme et Environnement en M~diterran~e: Enjeux et Perspectives. Economica, Paris, 1993.

Adalberto Vallega University of Genoa Institute of Geographical Sciences Lungoparco Gropallo 3/6 16122 Genoa Italy Tel: 39-10-2095321 Fax: 39-10-2095347