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Biodiversity Conservation and Protected Area Management

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Implementing Partner: (NEX) Ministry of Local Administration and Environment (NIM) Ministry of Agriculture & Agrarian Reform
Practice Area: Environment and Energy
Total Budget: US$ 4,316,850 (GEF ($3,291,850), UNDP ($1,000,000), Syrian Government ($2,407,000)
Total expenditures to date (December 2008): US$ 1, 494, 963.39
Duration: 7 years (Oct. 2005 - Oct. 2012)
Status: Ongoing
Location: Abou-Qubies (Hama governorate), Al-Froloq (Lattakia governorate), Jebel Abdul Aziz (Al Hasakeh governorate)

Description / Overview:

This project seeks to support and promote the conservation and management of Syria’s environments. Local communities have been involved in the conservation processes of the three protected areas (PAs) – the Abou-Qubies PA (around 5,000 ha.) in central-northwestern Syria, the Al Froloq PA (around 4,500 ha.) in the northwestern coastal region of Syria and Jebel Abdul Aziz PA (around 49,000 ha.) in northeastern Syria.

Objectives:
  • Demonstrate that practical methods and techniques of PA management have been successful at project sites and that they are able to be replicated
  • Enhance the creation of policies, practices and legislation promoting wise land-use and the conservation of biodiversity
  • Change the role of local communities living in and around PAs, from sources of threat to partners in conservation of these areas


Target Beneficiaries:

  • Local communities (including women and youth) and representatives of governorates
  • Government staff and agencies (staff of DBPAM-MAAR and MSEA-DBPA)

Implementation Strategy:
  • Develop effective systems for integrated PA management planning, through training programs and the provision of necessary equipment and support from national and international experts
  • Implement biodiversity monitoring programs to enhance the flow of information from PAs into a centralized data management system
  • Raise public awareness about the role of PAs in biodiversity conservation in Syria

Achievements / Current Status:

The National Policy statement for Protected Area drafted and under revision from national stakeholders, the policy statement will facilitate the development of a national policy and strategic planning for the protected areas system in the Syrian Arab Republic- S.A.R. the national institutional arrangements and mechanisms of collaboration among different units involved in PA management are well addressed the statement. The policy and strategy will be to guide all aspects of the future development of the system of protected areas in Syria to meet internationally recognized standards and criteria and to ensure that the protected areas system provides for the present and future needs of the people of Syria and contributes a leading role in the international network of protected areas. The draft is distributed to all stakeholders for comments before finalization.

Two PAs guidelines from IUCN were translated into Arabic and distributed.
Visitors’ management plan was developed for Al Fourounloq PA site, All baseline ecological studies and the guidelines for monitoring and collecting were finalized, and Scope and vision for national data management system plan relating to PAs was developed and distributed to stakeholders for comments before approval.

The project cadres of the two national executing agencies at the center and PAs sites(MSEA,MAAR) were subject to a full tailored On-job training on integrated PAs management covering various aspects in ecosystem based management was achieved for
A full program for alternative sustainable livelihood was initiated according to the vision of each PA site of the three project PA sites.

Local CBOs’ members at the three PA sites were exposed to integrated capacity building program on designing and preparing proposals for small projects as well as running such projects and marketing of products.

During 2009, 2 manuals for local communities CBOs members, 1 scientific manual for baseline eco surveys, 1 manual for ecotourism and 2 manuals for train of trainers (TOT) were produced

Setting clear mechanisms is still in process, national taskforce formed of experts from the two national executing agencies (MAAR, MSEA) is delegated to finalize these mechanisms for national PA co management. The final report is expected to be finalized in the first half of 2010.

Replication strategy and action plan to a new site Al Lajat PA( this site is declared as the first Man and Biosphere PA in the country) is prepared

Partnerships:
  • Ministry of Local Administration and Environment
  • Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform
  • Syrian State Planning Commission

Project Documents Link: 
 
National Project Director (NPD): Mr. Adnan Saad
UNDP Project Management: Energy & Environment Team
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  
Last update of project information: February 2010