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Al Ain - 1st Gulf
Conference : 5-7th March'06
The State of the Gulf Ecosystem: Future and Threats
The Gulf is one of the
world’s harshest environments. It is a semi-enclosed,
shallow body of water located in the midst of the arid
landmasses of Iran and Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar,
and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With a mean depth of 36
metres, much of its waters are within the photic zone. The
turnover or flushing time of all the water in the Gulf is 3
to 5 years. Further natural stress originates from several
factors, including normal seepage of
underwater oil fields that account for approximately 10% of
chronic spillage.
Consequently, the Gulf's contained environment makes it a
natural repository for pollutants. It has also been subject
to a wide range of human perturbations.
The integrity of the Gulf marine ecosystem could be
compromised, in particular from the impacts of unprecedented
coastal reclamation, oil exploration, production and
transportation. The most recent environmental impact arose
from the effects of the 1991 Gulf War. An estimated 10.8
million barrels of oil were released into the Gulf
environment.
Additionally, an estimated 8 million barrels of smoke
emitted from over 720 oil well fires in Kuwait dropped into
the Gulf, doubling the size of the oil slick.
Moreover, the integrity of the Gulf terrestrial ecosystem
faces various challenges such as loss of biodiversity of
both faunal and floral, soil degradation, sediment and
nutrient loss.
The sharp decline in plant life, the encroachment of
invasive species and overgrazing are some of challenges that
need to be addressed. The stress on the Gulf terrestrial
ecosystems is further aggravated due to the harsh
environmental conditions facing many parts of the region.
The modern strategic importance of the Gulf originated in
the mid-19th century. The Gulf region contains more than 60%
of known world oil reserves. Since World War II the area has
been developed and modernised. Over the past century the
traditional life style of the region has been affected
markedly by outside intervention and extremely rapid
modernisation processes. In addition to increased prosperity
and living standards, this has generated considerable stress
on both terrestrial and marine environments of the region.
Therefore, a comprehensive and integrated action plan is
needed to minimize the rate of anthropogenic effects on the
Gulf ecosystems.
The Al-Ain conference will focus on the following
aspects:
• Enhancement of environmental and ecological awareness of
the Gulf in the light of its continued exposure to intensive
anthropogenic stresses and exploitation.
• Adoption of integrated, ecosystemic, multi-disciplinary,
multi-trophic and holistic approaches in science and
management.
• Provision of possible remedies for problems associated
with oil and gas industry pollution in the air and water.
• Prediction of the future threats that the Gulf environment
faces by adopting ecosystem, habitat and food web modeling
approaches.
• Promotion of
international and standard monitoring/
research programs to
generate an environmental data base for the Gulf involving
all countries bordering the Gulf
The Conference will also work towards educating young
researchers and students about the importance of the
ecosystem health and ecological heritage of the Gulf region
and on their responsibility to conserve it for the future.
The Conference will provide opportunities to build their
capacities and acquire hands-on research experience with
current international techniques and procedures.
Conference Themes:
• Human stressors: oil, petroleum, non-oil, power,
desalination, and agrochemicals
• Air quality
• Climate change
• Sediment Quality Assessment
• Coastal and desert habitats
• Biodiversity and exotics
• Marine ecology
• Wetland ecology
• Habitat degradation
• Ecosystem health and management
• Restoration and remediation
• Desert ecosystem ecology
• Emerging Issues
Objectives:
In spite of the strategic importance of the Gulf region in
world economy, not much is known about the environmental and
ecological habitat of the Gulf and its management.
Consequently an international Workshop “The Gulf Ecosystem:
Health and Sustainability” was convened, co-sponsored by the
Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research and the Aquatic
Ecosystem Health and Management Society (AEHMS) in May,
2000. |
