Experience of Implemented CAMP and Suggestions for the Future

Experience of Implemented CAMP and Suggestions for the Future CAMP “Syria” prepared by: Eng. Firas Asfour Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs Syrian Arab Republic

Introduction: • The government of Syria proposed the Syrian coastal region for a pilot project (CAMP). Syrian CAMP consists of two phases: 1.The PAP launched in 1989 the preparation of the preliminary study of the (Integrated Plan of the Syrian Coastal Region) ICAM 1989-1990 2. The PAP launched in 1991 the preparation of the 2ed phase of Syrian CAMP (Coastal Resources Management Plan)CRMP 1991-1992.

ICAM objectives The main objectives of ICAM were to indicate: • Resources of Syrian Coastal region (natural, economic, social...) to bring into focus the existing conflicts with regard to the use of it. • Type of pressures in the coastal region which illustrated that most of it was concentrated in coastal zone (15 Km in depth). • The opportunities and constraints of an environmentally sustainable pattern of regional growth and development • Suggesting immediate & long-term measures in conformity with integrated planning concepts

CRMP objectives • To prepare an action plan for coastal zone resources management taking into consideration to develop and protect the natural, environmental, and human resources • To train the national and local experts in applying of integrated planning and management • To recommend forms of implementing relevant legal instruments and existing institutional arrangement • To contribute introducing and adopting the modern tools and techniques of coastal zone management • To identify the proposed land use for the coastal region

ICAM • The process of integrated planning is an action-oriented process. Focused on the most crucial problems of the planning area. • The study has provided a comprehensive insight into the problems of the coastal region.

ICAM • The first part of the study paid a special attention of environmental impact of development. There were: • unmistakable signs of a growing concentration of people and activities in the coastal zone. • The coastal region faces growing environmental problems, which threaten to destroy the very basis of its development • Many of development problems result from institutional drawbacks, insufficient coordination and integration of activities.

ICAM • The second part of ICAM presented projections of the region's possible development paths. Two options for the future have been chosen: • The continuation of existing trends. • Moderate growth of major development policy measures to be implemented • According to the first option a very rapid growth should be expected: of deterioration of the environment and massive degradation of the physical basis of development. • The second option suggested a moderate development with balanced distribution of the population throughout the region.

Measures of immediate action • Urgent measures: the aim of which is to stop the processes which are most harmful to the environment in the coastal region • The interim measures: which are meant to be an input for the integrated plan, and to secure a long-term, environmentally sound development of the region

The urgent measures • Determine the protected coastal strip and forbidding any construction in it. • Start the action to prepare a protection & management plan. • Improving the control over illegal construction • Determine the areas around water springs and lakes for strict protection and preventing any activity in those areas. • Enforce monitoring of the water quality. • Prepare an oil spillage contingency plan. • Stop the wetland drying • Stop the sand extraction in the area of the dune chain.

The interim measures • A legal and administrative: • Setup fiscal measures to discourage further irrational use of water, increase of water services fees, and improve the maintenance of water supply networks. • Setup restrictive standards for issuing buildings permits in the areas of intensive agricultural production • Apply the Environmentally Quality Criteria adopted by the Syrian government • Prepare a legal basis for establishing specially protected areas • Setup a legal basis for the application of EIA for all major projects

The interim measures • Institutional measures: • Setup the institutional framework for the introducing of the integrated planning and an environmental management at regional and governorates levels • Studying the ability to establish “Development Bank” as a mean of mobilizing private saving and capital for future investment in tourism,...

The interim measures • Planning measures: • Re-examine the proposed designs of the Lattakia & Tartous wastewater treatment plants projects. • Studying the impact of solid waste dumping sites on water resources. • Re-examine some plans of future tourism development. • Prepare a study on the problems of soil erosion in the region • Develop information and educational programs on environmental issues, particularly for students. • Prepare a development/environment scenario (together with PAP/RAC and BP/RAC) at the regional level • enhance the monitoring capabilities of the central laboratory in Lattakia, and update the coastal water pollution maps • prepare a study on the impacts of the expected climatic change

Brief description • Area: Syrian Coastal region, covers only 2% of the total area, 11% of the total population, coastline 183 Km long, it contains: • The mountainous area: population and economic activities, traditional agriculture, and tourism. • The hilly area:agriculture, high population density, medium-intensity environmental problems. • The coastal plain: concentrated population and activities, facing a considerable environmental problems. • Period: (1989-1993)

Brief description (2) • Main issues: • High population growth. • Sea water pollution. • Potable water pollution. • Illegal housing. • Degradation and overuse of the natural resources. • Agricultural soil pollution. • Deforestation and soil erosion. • Intrusion the sea water into the groundwater. • Illegal disposal of solid waste. • Air pollution resulted from cement factory and oil refinery.

Other activities • The Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM). • National Monitoring Program for Marine Environment. • Effects of Climate Changes on the Syrian Coastal Zone. • Coastal Resources Management Plan (CRMP). • Sea Pollution from Land-Based Sources. • The future planning for the Syrian coastal region. • National System for the Preparedness for and Response to Accidental Marine Pollution in the Syrian Arab republic. • Protection of the Ports of Banias and Tartous against Oil Pollution.

Achievements of CAMP Influence of CAMP to the solution of priority environment-development problems: • CAMP was oriented towards the local authorities and concerned institutions that enable them to joint in the process of formulating a National Environment Action Plan (NEAP). • The project was very useful in drawing attention of officials and decision-makers towards environment of the region. • Industrial zone had created in Lattakia and Tartous the main cities in coastal region regarding to the land use map, which resulted from Syrian CAMP study.

Achievements of CAMP (2) Improvement of institutional capacities of ICAM: • Establishing the Environmental Directorates in Lattakia and Tartous. • Creating an EIA unit. • Forming a special committee to identify proposals locations for quarry. • Establishing an environmental department in each coastal governorate.

Achievements of CAMP (3) Training and capacity building: • Training courses in the field of GIS. • Short&medium training courses in the field of EIA on two levels: • National level: from concerning sectors in the country; • Local level: MSEA members • Training courses in the field of DSS.

Main actors and donors • Main actors: • MSEA - MOC • SPC - Governorates of Lattakia and Tartous • MOHU - Municipalities of Jableh and Banias • MOI - Damascus and Tishreen University • MAAR - GORS • MOT • Donors: • PAP/RAC of MAP, METAP,WB • MED-POL,SMAP,LIFE • Blue Plan

Assessment of the management of CAMP • The creation of multi-technical national teamwork for CAMP study in Syrian coastal region had formed from all related sectors in order to enable them to share in integrated environmental planning. They worked with a close cooperation among them and each member in that team became as a focal point for MSEA, and some of them became as a decision-maker in his sector. • Proposals for short, medium and long-term procedures had been laid down in order to implement the plans and recommendations of CAMP study, but it still need for donors’ support. • Since it needs a great finance for implementing the proposals, it needs the support of regional and international donors.

Lessons learned • the integrated plan of the Syrian coastal region isn’t a “panacea” for the problems that mentioned. It is just a tool which will help resolve the problems; • creation of a multi-technical teamwork from all related sectors in the country, that encourage the MSEA • the study showed the magnitude of the env. problems, and identified the quality and quantity need for such investments and procedures for solving and rehabilitation of it; • the study illustrated the importance of pollution prevention as precautionary measures is more effective policy than rehabilitation.

Recommendations for the improvement • Elaborating of pre-investment studies for the most important cases in the coastal zone, which identified in CAMP are the Hotspots. • Following up the Syrian CAMP study, which is consider as a preliminary stage, in order to evaluate the progress of coastal zone management, and if it is directed towards positive or negative direction. • Transferring towards strategic action plans for integrated environmental planning at regional level.

Experience of Implemented CAMP and Suggestions for the Future