FOURTH NATIONAL REPORT TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
[Pages:156]Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs Sultanate of Oman
FOURTH NATIONAL REPORT TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Produced by the Directorate-General of Nature Conservation
June 2010
Table of Contents
LIST OF ACRONYMS................................................................................................................................ 3
LIST OF FIGURES...................................................................................................................................... 4
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................... 6
Chapter 1. Overview of Biodiversity Status, Trends and Threats ......................................................... 10 1.1 Physical Setting.............................................................................................................................. 10 1.2 Climate:.......................................................................................................................................... 11 1.3 Biodiversity. ................................................................................................................................... 11 1.3.1 Ecosystem Diversity. ............................................................................................................ 14 1.3.1.1 Desert Biodiversity...................................................................................................... 14 1.3.1.2 Montane Biodiversity.................................................................................................. 14 1.3.1.3 Agricultural Biodiversity ............................................................................................ 15 1.3.1.4 Wetlands, Islands and Marine Biodiversity ................................................................ 16 1.3.2 Species Diversity .................................................................................................................. 22 1.3.2.1 Macroalgae.................................................................................................................. 22 1.3.2.2 Seagrasses ................................................................................................................... 23 1.3.2.3 Flowering plants.......................................................................................................... 24 1.3.2.4 Mangroves................................................................................................................... 25 1.3.2.5 Amphibians and Reptiles: ........................................................................................... 26 1.3.2.6 Birds:........................................................................................................................... 29 1.3.2.7 Mammals..................................................................................................................... 31 1.3.2.8 Fish.............................................................................................................................. 34 1.3.2.9 Corals. ......................................................................................................................... 34 1.3.2.10 Other Invertebrates...................................................................................................... 36 1.3.3 Genetic Diversity.................................................................................................................. 37
Chapter 2. The Current Status of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan ...................... 40 2.1 General Description....................................................................................................................... 40 2. 2 Objectives and Indicators............................................................................................................... 42 2. 3 Relation to the Convention............................................................................................................. 42 2. 4 Progress made in Project Implementation. .................................................................................... 43 2.5 Financing. ...................................................................................................................................... 43 2.6 Examples of Projects and Obstacles .............................................................................................. 43 2.6.1 Summary of Projects ............................................................................................................ 43 2.6.2 Obstacles............................................................................................................................... 46 2.7 Effectiveness of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan............................................. 47 2.8 Information required in the Decisions of the 8th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties........... 49
Chapter 3. Mainstreaming of Biodiversity Considerations .................................................................... 52 3.1 Extent and Process of Integration .................................................................................................. 52 3.1.1 Sector and Cross Sector Integration...................................................................................... 52 3.1.2 Program Integration .............................................................................................................. 55 3.1.3 Policy Integration ................................................................................................................. 56
1
3.2 Mainstreaming of Biodiversity ....................................................................................................... 56 3.3 Inclusion of Biodiversity in EIA and Other Assessments ............................................................... 57 3.4 Analysis of Outcomes ..................................................................................................................... 58
Chapter 4. Conclusions ............................................................................................................................. 60 4.1. Progress Towards the 2010 Target ................................................................................................ 64 4.2 Progress towards the Goals and Objectives of the Strategic Plan of the Convention ................... 65 4.3 Conclusions and Recommendations............................................................................................... 65
References ................................................................................................................................................... 67
Appendix 1 ? Information concerning reporting Party and preparation of national report............... 72
Appendix 2 - Further Sources of Information ......................................................................................... 74
Appendix 3. Annexes .................................................................................................................................. 77
Annex 1. Proposed Strategic Options and Priority Measures ................................................................ 77
Annex 2. Oman Biodiversity Strategy and the Convention on Biological Diversity ............................... 78
Annex 3. Aims and Objectives of the Action Plan for Protected Areas................................................... 82
Annex 4 Global Strategy for Plant Conservation Targets and objectives ............................................... 86
Annex 5. Progress made in the Implementation of the Projects included in the National Biodiversity Action Plan .............................................................................................................................................. 92
Annex 6. Natural History Museum ........................................................................................................ 122
Annex 7. Concrete examples of successful Projects in the field of Fisheries......................................... 124
Annex 8. Scientific Researches related to Biodiversity.......................................................................... 128
Annex 9. The role of Multimedia in dissemination of Environmental Awareness on Biodiversity Conservation.......................................................................................................................................... 130
Annex 10. Concepts of Biodiversity in the Omani Educational Curriculum.......................................... 136
Annex 11. Examples of the proposed Challenges and Solutions............................................................ 141
Annex 12. Environmental Laws and Legislations related to Biodiversity ............................................. 145
Annex 13. Biology and Estimations of Kingfish Fisheries in Oman ..................................................... 147
1.4 Annex 14. Survey and Exploitation of Shark Resources 148
1.5 Annex 15. Monitoring project to determine the presence of Heavy Metals and Chemical
Contaminants in the Ecosystem in the Sultanate of Oman
150
Annex 16. Fishing gear and methods of Development Project .............................................................. 150
Annex 17. Study of Lobster Fisheries in the Sultanate of Oman............................................................ 151
Annex 18. Project to modernize the Fisheries Statistical System as a basis for the Development of the Fisheries Sector ..................................................................................................................................... 152
Annex 19. Registration and Publication of Traditional Knowledge that Aims at the Sustainable Use of Resources............................................................................................................................................... 153
Annex 20. Integration of Biodiversity Considerations in the Agricultural Sector ................................. 154
Annex 21. Incorporation of Biodiversity Action Plans in the Oil and Gas Sector................................. 154
2
LIST OF ACRONYMS
AOS ? Arabian Oryx Sanctuary CITES ? Convention on International Trading in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora DGNC ? Directorate General of Nature Conservation EMP ? Environmental Management Plan EIA ? Environmental Impact Assessment ERWDA ? Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency ESO ? Environment Society of Oman IUCN - International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources GCC ? Gulf Cooperation Council GDP ? Gross Domestic Products GEF ? Global Environment Facility JICA ? Japan International Cooperation Agency MD ? Ministerial Decree MRMEWR ? Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources MECA ? Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs MAF ? Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries NBSAP ? National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan NGO ? Non-government Organization OBG ? Oman Botanic Garden PDO ? Petroleum Development Oman RD ? Royal Decree ROPME ? Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment SQU ? Sultan Qaboos University UNCLOS ? United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea UAE ? united Arab Emirates WIWO ? Working Group International Waterbird and Wetland Research (Walk In, Walk Out)
Formatted: French (France)
3
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
1
Territories, surrounding oceans, political and
topographic regions of the Sultanate of Oman
1
2
A new species named Barleria samhanensis
7
3
Avicennia marina mangrove in the coastal areas
8
4
A rare and endemic Thomas' Spiny-tailed Lizard
(Uromastyx thomasi)
10
5
Green Turtle abounds in Ras Al Hadd
11
6
Rare Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata)
12
7
Successfully bred in captivity, the rare Arabian Oryx
14
8
Undisturbed coral reef of Dimaniyat Islands Nature Reserve
17
9
Khwar Al Qurum Al Sagheer in the Dhofar region
23
4
LIST OF TABLES
Page
1
Recent counts of Oman biodiversity
3
2
List of protected species in Oman
4
3
Turtles of Oman and their conservation status
10
4
Cetaceans of Oman and their conservation status
14
5
Estimates of areas (1000 ha) and production (1,000 T) for
various agricultural crops
22
6
Local cultivars and landraces in Oman
29
7
Progress towards 2010 biodiversity target
52
5
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Considered as the third largest in the Arabian Peninsula, the Sultanate of Oman's vast landscapes and seascapes host one of the richest biodiversity in the region. Its unique wildlife and vegetation at the north and central parts of the country are sharing species with that of Iran and Pakistan while those at the southern parts are of African affinities. As presented, over four thousand species composed the entire biological diversity of Oman with a number of species in the protected categories. Based on the IUCN, CITES and GCC 2002 Convention criteria, the following summarizes the categories of endangerment of fauna and flora in the Sultanate of Oman:
o eight species of birds are classified as endangered with the Northern Bald Ibis and Slender-billed Curlew are critically endangered;
o four species of marine turtles nesting in Oman are endangered with the Hawksbill and Leatherback turtles classified as critically endangered;
o two species of mammals are under the endangered status with the Arabian Leopard and Dhofar White-toothed Shrew as critically endangered;
o two species of sawfish are critically endangered; o three species of plants are categorized in the endangered status.
Other species are either in the near threatened or vulnerable classifications. They include 5 species each of mammals, birds and fish, 12 species of birds and 9 species of plants.
Trends and threats on the major groups of organisms and the different types of ecosystems in the country were discussed by the review team. In general, loss of habitat through over grazing, poaching, pollution and accidents were identified as contributing to the decimation of many wild animal populations. On the other hand, erosion, alteration of wadi courses and changes, saline intrusion in coastal agricultural lands, pollutants from pesticides, invasive species were highlighted as some of the factors that have threatened many species of Oman plants.
An overview assessment of the implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) since 2001 to the present was also carried out. The strategy established the political directions, basic rules, principles and guidelines for a sustainable development process and the preservation of biodiversity. The review highlighted biodiversity projects, programs, and facilities. Outstanding projects with tangible accomplishments include:
o Mangrove transplantation of MECA o Coral reef restoration of MECA o Arabian Oryx Captive Population at Jaaluni (Arabian Oryx Sanctuary) o Arabian Leopard and Sooty Falcon Surveys of the Office for Conservation of the
Environment, Diwan of Royal Court o Oman Botanic Garden of the Office for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan
of Royal Court o Museum of Natural History o Certain biodiversity projects by the fisheries sector o Scientific research projects on environment from SQU
6
o Media in raising environmental awareness on biodiversity conservation o Biodiversity concepts in the Omani curriculum
The mangrove transplantation project was initiated by MECA in collaboration with JICA in 2000. Four nursery establishments in Qurum Nature Reserve (QNR), Sur and Salalah were sources of seedlings which were distributed in various areas of the country. The project was envisioned to produce seedling in the nurseries and transplant them in khwars to enhance existing mangrove vegetation or reforest bare lagoons. QNR nursery in Muscat was the first pump irrigated nursery in the country and is currently producing 24,000 seedlings annually with about 85% survival. Participation in transplanting of seedlings to the site by local resident volunteers especially women and school children had been very encouraging. To date, less than half a million Avicennia marina seedlings had been successfully transplanted in various coastal locations of the country. Signs of mangrove regeneration are evident in many areas.
Similarly, the ministry's coral reef restoration project in collaboration with PDO was started in 1998. Forty artificial coral balls were submerged in various sites of Mina AlFahal Island. Until the end of 2004, about 130 balls had been transplanted in the island. Also started in Dimaniyat Islands Nature Reserve in 2003, a total of 340 artificial balls had been distributed in different locations of the islands. Monitoring of the coral balls were closely adhered to which revealed successful growth of the corals on the artificial media. Campaigns for cleaning the coral reef environments by MECA in cooperation with ESO have regularly been conducted particularly in Dimaniyat and Masirah Islands to clear the reef of all types of wastes. Abandoned fishing nets had destroyed corals aside from unnecessarily killing fish, turtles and dolphins had been removed in the clean-up drive. Authorities have so far deployed several buoys in Bandar Al-Kheeran, Bandar AlJissa, Dimaniyat and Fahal Islands to protect coral reefs from the damage caused by boat anchors dropped at the seabed. Similarly, diving permits are issued at DGNC-MECA under Ministerial Decision No. 40/2009 to eliminate risks posed by diving activities.
About 250 heads of Arabian Oryx are maintained in the captive population in Jaaluni which is within the territory of the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary. To date, captive breeding of the Oryx is temporarily halted for space problem in the Jaaluni facilities and largely for economic reasons in maintenance of the animals. Arabian Leopard Survey was since started in 1997 which produced the first scientific data on the ecology of the species. The population is being monitored by camera trapping and satellite tracking in the Dhofar region. Sooty Falcon mark and recapture surveys in the Sea of Omn had been conducted since 2007 on Dimaniyat and Fahal Islands. Captured adults and nestlings were fitted with numbered rings and microchip rings. The study had so far established that those islands could hold up to 10% of the global population of Sooty Falcons.
The Oman Botanic Garden has propagated 350 of the 1,200 species of Oman flora and has grown more than 60,000 plants. It has produced a comprehensive Red List of plants in the Sultanate. It also regularly conducts field research in various locations of the country.
7
................
................
In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.
To fulfill the demand for quickly locating and searching documents.
It is intelligent file search solution for home and business.
Related download
- marine science
- international environmental law in the asia pacific
- science notebook teacher edition
- marine science wet paper
- environmental impact assessment
- biodiversity an introduction
- chapter 6 reading review loudoun county public
- biology 375 001 conservation biology
- caldwell west caldwell schools home page
- issue 6 conservation of native biodiversity
Related searches
- national report card for schools
- the national report card
- national report card education
- lyrics to the soviet national anthem
- setting fees to the buyer on square
- how to report someone to the irs
- convention on biological diversity 1992
- sample executive director report to the board
- powers given to the national government
- convention of biological diversity
- un convention on biological diversity
- fourth amendment to the united states constitution