Damascus expert meeting on the role of multipurpose species in community development
Syria, Environment, 9/14/2001

Expert Meeting on the Role of Multipurpose Species in Community Development & Arab (MAB) Council and Bureau Meeting were held in Damascus on September 10- 14.

Several work papers were presented during the meeting which was held by the Syrian ministry of the Environment in collaboration with ALECSO and UNESCO's office in Cairo by representatives from Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, Sudan, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia. Oman, Yemen, Libya, Algeria, Syria and Palestine, besides a remarkable intervention by Peter Dogse on " Quality economies.

In a statement to Arabic News UNESCO's Program specialist- ecological economics Peter Dogse said he had two contributions to the meeting. One was concentrating on the development of quality economies in biosphere reserves. The biosphere reserves is a site recognized under UNESCO's " man and the biosphere program."

He said the aim is to promote conservation of nature and bio-diversity for sustainable development in cooperation with local communities for science and research and for international cooperation. He continued today there are 393 biosphere reserves ( BR) around the world, 14 of which are in the Arab region. Mr. Dogse indicated that this meeting is in the framework of the Arab MAB networking. It deals with the multiple uses of plant species. A lot of plants have a lot of important uses as medicines, for food, for energy, as fodder for animals and also important functions for echo- systems functions and therefore the management of these different uses are very important, because they can be used in different ways, often conflicts and fights between different users concerning species.

He added that this meeting looks into important multipurpose species in the Arab region. How are they used and related management challenges, focusing on plants found in biosphere reserves. He went on saying that one of the objectives of the meeting is to build a database on these plants and their uses.

Mr. Dogse continued that with the experts at this meeting encouraging those countries that do not have biosphere research to establish such area including Syria, which are working on proposals for this purpose.

On the Arab MAB, Syria has played a very constructive and important role for promoting regional cooperation on various bio- diversity issues, and Syria has got an important position.

He added that his second contribution to the meeting is water and the echo- system, noting that water and the echo- system which is a new priority area for UNESCO and that this focus is justified by the fact that water issue is critical around the world and this will increase to be so.

He explained that in this meeting, the particular focus was on the need of natural echo- system in terms of waters. He cited an example when rivers dry up fish disappears, wild life is diminished and the natural surrounding vegetation will suffer.

Clearly, he added, this will pose serious negative consequences for the environment and also for society. Without sufficient water available echo- systems will suffer and therefore, it is necessary to recognize that water is not only critical for man but also for nature.

Mr. Dogse concluded as saying that this meeting seems to make concrete recommendations for research and management options available to decision makers and programs for public awareness on these issues and strengthen regional cooperation in the Arab world.

Previous Stories:
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