Prioritization of Issues in the Arab Environmental Monitor

The Arab Environment Monitor which was officially launched in October 1st 2006 is an attempt based on voluntary action to contribute to the documentation of available knowledge on Arab environmental issues. The blog started with a wide array of topics but it is obvious that a certain amount of prioritization of issues should be done at this stage. This initiative can lose focus and impact if its spreads itself too thinly. This is why the prioritization exercise has been conducted based on main environmental priorities in the Arab World and the global agenda.

The following ten issues were selected as priority issues for the Arab Environment Monitor to be covered in the coming months.

1- Water Resources Management: the most vital environmental issue in the region in terms of scarcity and pollution.

2- Land degradation: all the countries in the arab world are arid and semi-arid and land degradation is a top priority in almost all countries.

3- Energy and Climate Change: another vital socio-economic and environmental theme that will shape the development of the region for decades to come and also the theme at the top of the global environmental agenda.

4- Biodiversity and ecosystems: althouh not the most biodiversity-rich area on the Earth, the Arab World has its unique and globally important vulnerable biodiversity and ecosystems.

5- Marine and Coastal Areas: the Arab countries have long and exquisite marine enironment that is threatened by a variety of economic and technological impacts.

The five main themes will be supported by another five "emerging" environmental issues that have an increasing importance in the environmental management framework in the region

6- Poverty and environment: this is where environmental protection is linked with human development. It is a common knowledge now that environmental challenges will be won or lost as they relate to human well-being. Under this categories issues of sustainable livelihoods and community management will be posted.

7- Environmental Economics: a very important emerging issue with high potential theories and aplications. Under this category issues of cleaner production, economic policy instruments, trade and environment and economic incentives will be placed.

8- Environmental health: all issues related to health impacts of environmental pollution, including air and water pollution, exposure to chemicals, pesticides and radioactive materials will be discussed here.

9- Urbanization: most arab cities are suffering from the symptoms of urbanization including waste accumulation and encroachment of green areas.

10- Environment and conflict: The Arab World is always subject to military conflicts and deterioration of security issues. In countries like Iraq and Palestine environment is becoming marginal to war and conflict while in other countries potential security issues are always linked to environmental causes.