First Arab congress on environment winds up

The first Arab congress on environment held in Rabat October 19-21 recommended in its Rabat declaration the conducting of a study to assess environment management systems in the Arab world.

The study to be conducted under the aegis of the Arab organization for administrative development will serve as a basis for plans of action and will foster trade of information and expertise between Arab states.

The Rabat Declaration calls Arab businessmen to set up advanced environment management systems and banks and other fund donors were called to finance environment friendly projects.

Participants also recommended the creation of local associations to foster public awareness to environment issues and stressed the need to enhance cooperation with other Arab specialized organizations dealing with environment.

They recommended the holding of a congress on environment management every two years to assess international evolutions and Arab states' needs and the organizing of training sessions on environment management.

During the three-day congress, it has been announced that A Saudi Arabia Kingdom Prize will be instituted to reward best research works on environment management.

The congress on "environment management in the Arab world: challenges and future perspectives" debated environment management and sustained development, processing of solid and industrial waste, and means to cope with industrial pollution.

The congress, the first of the kind, was held at the initiative of the Arab Organization for Administrative Development.