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Regional Meeting on
Experiences & Best Practices in Environmental Information Development and
Management in |
Disrt. LIMITED UNEP/ROWA/AGEDI/RMEIDM/RS
16 January 2005 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH |
Regional Study
CEDARE Report
By
Hossam Allam
________________
Note: This document has been
reproduced in the form in which it was received, without formal editing. The
opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the
views of UNEP.
Table of Contents
Status
of environmental data and information.
Effectiveness
and efficiency of current information systems (include strengths and
weaknesses).
Assessment
of general requirements:
Regional
and international cooperation (including UNEP and other UN agencies).
Lessons
learned and experiences.
Recommendations
of priorities for action. Please consider the following:
TASK-1
·
What are the focus areas for
environmental data and information in your institution/ country, or region (as
applicable to your case)?
The focus areas for environmental data and information in CEDARE are relevant to CEDARE programmes and activities. CEDARE acquires and disseminates data for freshwater resources management, land resources management, urbanization management, and socio-economic data. CEDARE also focus on sustainable development indicators that are relevant to produce regional and sub-regional state of environment reports. CEDARE's data are statistical and geographical referenced data that can be produced in different formats: tabular, graphical and maps format.
·
What is the environmental
information needs common across stakeholder groups in your country (region)?
The stakeholders in the region can be categorized as governmental, civil society and international organizations. Each of the stakeholders has different requirements according not only on the thematic level but also on the detailed required. Governmental organizations are concerned with the following environmental information:
· Monitoring and analyzing the state of environment resources such as water resources, land resources, air pollution, etc…
· Environmental information related to the environmental treaties that the country has signed or negotiating to sign.
· Environmental legislation and environmental institutions restructuring.
Civil societies are concerned with the interaction between the environment and the people. The main concern is how the environment can help in enhancing the citizens' quality of life and reduce poverty. Civil societies are interest in the following:
· Funding opportunities for conducting environmental related projects
· Environmental public awareness activities
·
Fresh water, marine environment,
desertification, population, biodiversity, conservation, and Environmental
management systems are declared the most important priorities by the Forum for
Arab NGO's for the WSSD,
International Organizations are concerned with enhancing cooperation among the countries through and providing state of the environment on regional and sub-regional levels. Such, international organizations are interest in environmental information that is relevant to the implementation of Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
CEDARE as an international organization has been acquiring core datasets and indicators for all themes that are needed to develop the African Environment Outlook, Global Environment Outlook, and Arab state of Environment reports. CEDARE currently priorities are water and land resources management, knowledge sharing and management for environment and development information, and trade, invesment and environment issues.
·
Is there a national (regional)
environmental information system, initiative, programme, project, etc., that
address those needs? When it started and when it will be completed?, who is
overseeing it?
CEDARE is cooperating with UNEP to develop African Environmental Information System that assists the African countries in environmental assessment and reporting on the country levels. The information system consists of Africa-Sustainable Development Data and Indicators Information System, Africa-Environmental Experts Information System, Africa-Environmental Documents Information System. The project started third quarter of 2003 and expected to end by the end of 2004. CEDARE is overseeing the development and training of this information system.
UNEP has initiated Africa Environmental Information
Network that aims to harness and enhance access to information and knowledge to
support the management of
The Arab Network for Environment and Development
(RAED) is a network of Arab non-governmental organizations including more than
200 NGOs from
The objectives of the network are to coordinate between regional community
organizations in the exchange of skills, experience and information, to create
new grassroots activities to be implemented by RAED NGO members, to encourage
the inclusion of community participation projects in government programs to
achieve sustainable development, and to gather, disseminate and exchange
regional and international data on different environmental and development
problems. The secretariat of the network is the Arab office for Youth and
Environment (AOYE).
Nubian Aquifer Regional Information System is an
integrated regional ground water information system that assists the four
countries of the aquifer:
·
What are the strengths and
weaknesses of current public information systems and services provided in your
country (region)?
Currently there is a lack of a regional public information system; different efforts have been done to publish regional environmental information through specialized international and regional organizations. There is a need to have Country web portals that disseminate information to the public. Such country environmental web portals will be able to fulfill the required information need by the different stakeholders such as governmental and non governmental organizations.
·
What are the preferred
information acquisition methods? Internet, CDs, printed materials, etc.
The Arab world is considered one of the least internet using regions of the world, with internet users amounting to only 2.6% of all Arab citizens. Arab content on the internet is also very low. Therefore, the preferred information acquisition is hardcopies materials and CDs.
·
What are the constrains and
barriers to access environmental information in your country (region)?
The constraints and barriers can be categorized as
legislative and technical barriers. Concerning the legislative barriers, the
region does not have any convention about sharing environmental information
such as the
·
Is there a national programme
or project on environmental indicators? Please provide titles, starting and
ending dates, thematic areas covered, indicate whether it has been successful
and why?
CEDARE has been extensively working on collecting environmental and sustainable development indicators to fulfill the required task in developing regional and sub-regional state of environment reports such as the Global environment outlook and African environment outlook. The current themes that CEDARE is focusing on are NEPAD themes for AEO II.
·
Are there any monitoring
programmes aiming at collecting data and filling in data gaps, what the
thematic areas it cover?
Currently CEDARE is not engaged in any monitoring programmes, although there are regular collection of available sustainable development indicators and core datasets.
·
Does your country (region)
produce state of environment (environment outlook) reports? Please give dates
produced; what is the information sources being used in producing this report?
CEDARE has been involved as UNEP North Africa collaborating
center in the development of Global Environment Outlook I, II, and III (1997,
2000, and 2003) and
·
Please give recommendation to
improve public access to environmental data at the local, national and regional
levels (address the following aspects policy, institutional, technical,
financial, sustainability).
To improve public access to environmental data, the following should be encouraged:
1- Legislations must identify the public rights in receiving environmental related information in reasonable quality and time.
2- Governmental organization must publish regularly reports about the state of the environment.
3- Develop capacity of journalist and mass media national staff on how to integrate environmental data in their regular reporting.
4- Establishing or enhancing national and regional environmental data collection programmes
5- Establishing national environmental information committee to enhance coordination between the governmental organizations relevant to environmental data collection programmes and standardize the methods of data collection and dissemination.
6- Regional organizations should develop or encourage the national authorities to adopt international and regional standards in data collection and dissemination.
TASK-2
Name:
Lead agency:
United Nations
Environment Programme and Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab
Region and
Purpose, aims,
objectives:
The objective
of the Africa Sustainable Development Data and Indicators Information System
(Africa–SDIS) is to act as a standard information system for the African
nations to acquire, process, and disseminate information relevant to
sustainable development. A key feature of
Users:
The users of the
system are the member countries of the Africa Environmental Information
Network. Phase 1 consists of institutions in 12 countries and 6 sub region
collaborating centers.
Methods - a
description of the work done.
Appropriateness
of the approach.
The approach is
under testing.
Institutional
capacity.
Training to AEIN
focal points has been conducted for English speaking countries and AFRICA-SDIS
is supplied to them.
Outcomes and
benefits expected or achieved.
Expected outcomes
will be trained staff to use Africa-SDIS and enhancing environmental assessment
and reporting capabilities of the participating institutions.
Name:
CEDARE Ground
Water Information System – Nubian Aquifer Regional Information System (NARIS)
Lead agency:
Centre for
Environment and Development for the Arab Region and
Purpose, aims,
objectives:
In cooperation
with the Programme for the Development of the Sandstone Nubian Aquifer, CEDARE
has developed ground water information system to assist in the management of
Nubian Sandstone Aquifer. NARIS assists decision makers and researcher to
manage the valuable aquifer. NARIS provides complete information about the
quantity and quality of all the available wells in the concerned four
countries;
The
Nubian Aquifer Regional Information System (NARIS) is an integrated Information
System developed with a vision to fulfill the following tasks:
- Store, search and retrieve information about
the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System wells such as water levels, draw
downs, stratigraphy, hydraulic parameters, etc.
- Provide an integrated regional information
system among the countries sharing the aquifer thus ensuring the sharing,
exchange and flow of information.
- Assist the decision makers by providing
relevant and accurate information about the status of the aquifer within
regional and national perspectives.
- Provide a standardized method for data
collection and entry among the four concerned countries.
- Identify gaps and overlaps among the existing data and information
available.
- Prepare the input parameters which are
needed for the modeling at different scales, and calibration of the
groundwater model and comparison of the results.
Users:
Responsible national
institutions for managing the aquifer in
Methods - a
description of the work done.
Data from the
four countries have been collected and processed. The system maws developed to
provide efficient capabilities to search and enter data about the Aquifer
wells. The system provides graphical, tabular, and spatial outputs. Each of the
above institutions has received training on using and administrating the
information system. Training has included capacity building of the technical
staff on administrating database management system.
Appropriateness
of the approach.
The approach
was appropriate to build the capacity of these institutions to cooperate on
managing the valuable aquifer.
Institutional
capacity.
This system has
enhanced the institutions capacity to manage their data and information
regarding ground water quality and quantity. It has also enhanced the human
resources capacities who received the training. The information system has also
increased level of information sharing and dissemination among the four
countries.
Outcomes and
benefits expected or achieved.
Institutional
capacity building is achieved in terms of human resources, Information Systems
and Data sharing
Results (impact).
NARIS has increased
the awareness of the importance of sharing information about the usage of the
aquifer
Effectiveness and
efficiency:
NARIS has been
considered as an efficient regional information system that can assists the
countries in managing their shared ground water resources. Effectiveness of the
system depends on its usage by the different organizations and their sharing
policy.
Discussion on the
results in relation to the intensions.
The intension
of developing NARIS was to act as regional information system that can allow
the four countries to share management of the Aquifer. NARIS can be replicated
to other Aquifer especially to shared aquifers.
Lessons learned
and experiences
The main lesson
learned that successful cooperation between countries depends on transparent
and shared information about the usage of the shared resource. NARIS has been
fostering cooperation among the four countries by disseminating and sharing the
water quality and quantity of each country sharing the aquifer. CEDARE regional
ground water information system can applied to other shared Aquifers.
Name:
CEDARE Geographic Information System
Lead agency:
Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab
Region and
Purpose, aims, objectives:
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
were recognized by CEDARE as a key tool to collect, manage, analyze and present
environmental information derived from a variety of sources. As an integral
part of its system, CEDARE initiated a geographically referenced
database. The focus of the data set collected and implemented addresses
water resources, land degradation, and urbanization. The selection of the data
included was based on relevance, access availability, as well as geographic
representation. CEDARE continues to expand its spatial data holdings both
vertically, by adding additional data entries to the existing coverage, and
horizontally by introducing new geographic areas to cover the entire region.
CEDARE digital maps comprise several levels of details--the Regional level, the
Inter-Country level the National level and Hot Spots. Previous plans were set
to acquire maps of those levels within certain scale ranges that were deemed
acceptable. CEDARE database holds more than 1000 multiple layers covering all
CEDARE region.
Users:
CEDARE member countries, Universities and research Centers, NGOs, Private
sectors, International Organizations.
Methods - a description of the work done.
CEDARE
GIS database has been developed by two phases. The first phase has been
concerned with five countries. Data has been collected as digital and
hardcopies maps for the five countries. The second phases has expanded to the
rest of CEDARE region as adding new geographic areas and adding additional data
entries to the existing coverage. The GIS data were regularly updated through
CEDARE focal points, regional and national projects and data vendors.
Appropriateness of the approach.
Developing a regional geographic information system faces a lot of constraints and difficulties such as standardization and harmonization of the collected maps. The approach of developing GIS for five countries as pilot phase for the regional GIS has been an appropriate approach. The implementation of the second phase has integrated all the lessons learned during phase one. A needs assessment of country requirements should have conduct prior to the project implementation phase. The approach should have also been based on a demand driven approach to minimize the cost of data collection.
Institutional capacity.
CEDARE
has cooperated with the Arab countries in developing and enhancing their
capacities in developing and managing national geographic information system.
CEDARE has provided training to staff members from ministries of environment
and national environmental management institutions in the Arab countries.
CEDARE also has provided national and regional geographic layers to the Arab
countries as the core database for national geographic information system.
Outcomes and benefits expected or achieved.
Regional
geographic information system is the main outcome of this activity that assists
in regional analysis and evaluation of region’s environment. An integrated
standardize GIS for the region is a major outcome of the project.
Results (impact).
The
development of CEDARE regional geographic information system has been triggered
the importance of using geographic information to manage national natural
resources within a regional prospective.
Effectiveness and efficiency:
CEDARE GIS is considered an effective information system that can assist in providing information on regional prospective. The efficiency of CEDARE GIS has lead Environmental System Research Institute (ESRI) to participate with CEDARE in developing CEDARE CD-ROM that holds CEDARE geographic databases and allow users to browse the available national, regional, hotspots layers. A framework for evaluation is required to identify key interactions between GIS and institutional aspects (functions, processes and resources). It is clear that specialists and Organizations in the major areas of the environment have found many valuable uses for the technology. Through information sharing between member countries, GIS specialists and other Extension personnel have developed many applications utilizing GIS as a program needs assessment and program monitoring tool.
Discussion on the results in relation to the intensions.
The development of CEDARE geographic information system has fulfilled its
intention of providing regional geographic information that assist in managing
regional environmental issues. The information system has been a trigger to
establish national environmental geographic information systems within the Arab
Countries.
Lessons learned and experiences
Developing regional geographic information system has faced major obstacles
during harmonizing and standardizing available geographical referenced data.
The need to implement international spatial data infrastructure standards such
as the use of ISO 19115 to develop spatial metadata. There is always a
need to build and enhance the capacities of staff members working with
geographical referenced data to manage natural resources specially shared
natural resources such as regional aquifers.
To ensure that GIS can be utilized, plans should address all
resource issues related to GIS, including manpower, space, and equipment.
Essential elements of developing any regional GIS project are
data collection, data verification, and data maintenance. Member countries
should devote adequate resources to ensure that all are accomplished.
Name:
CEDARE Strategic
Environmental Information Systems
Lead agency:
Centre for
Environment and Development for the Arab Region and
Purpose, aims,
objectives:
The objective of SEIS is to assist countries for managing their environmental related information on national levels and assists regional organizations to integrate the data from national node to have a regional prospective. SEIS consists of the following databases and information systems:
· Sustainable Development Indicators Information System
· Environmental Experts and Human Resources Database
· Environmental Institutions Profile Database
· Environmental Institution Activities Database
· Bibliographic Database.
Users:
The system was
provided to the following Institutions:
Information and
UAE: Federal Environment Agency
Methods - a
description of the work done.
Each of the
above institutions has received training on using and administrating the information
system. Training was conducted for three days that includes training on Oracle
database management system. The information system was provided to all listed
countries.
Appropriateness
of the approach.
The approach
was appropriate to build the capacity of these institutions. The information
system was being developed with the intention to build the capacity of CEDARE
and the member countries to have a standard regional environmental information
system.
Institutional
capacity.
This system has enhanced
the institutions capacity to manage their data and information. It has also
enhanced the human resources capacities who received the training.
Outcomes and
benefits expected or achieved.
Institutional
Capacity building is achieved in terms of human resources, Information Systems
and Data
Results (impact).
SEIS has increased
the attention to the importance of having information unit within the main
governmental institutions that are managing environmental related activities.
SEIS has been distributed since 1996 to the different countries
Effectiveness and
efficiency:
The training that
was conducted for the participant for the above mentioned institutions was very
effective. Efficiency depends on the institutions that are implementing the information
system.
Discussion on the
results in relation to the intensions.
The intension is to
build the capacity of the main national governmental institutions to acquire
and mange information concerning sustainable development t indicators, environmental
experts and institutions, and activities. The intension was accomplished.
Lessons learned
and experiences
The main lesson learned that information unit within the different institutions always need to develop the capacity of their personnel. Major constraint was the transfer of the trained personnel from one position to another to another department. The investment that was done in training will be lost.
Name:
Lead agency:
Centre for
Environment and Development for the Arab Region and
Purpose, aims,
objectives:
Users:
Methods - a description
of the work done:
Technical
mission has visited
Appropriateness
of the approach:
The approach has
integrated sharing experience from
Institutional
capacity:
This system has
enhanced the institutions capacity of Alexandria Governorate in managing and
monitoring the performance of the private company responsible for collecting
municipal solid wastes. CEDARE has developed and enhanced the governorate
capacity in two directions. The first direction human resources capacity was
enhanced to use and manage the information system. The second one is developing
the infrastructure of the Call center by providing all the required hardware
and software.
Outcomes and
benefits expected or achieved.
Alexandria Solid
wastes
Results (impact).
The Alexandria
Governorate is now able to monitor the performance of the collection of the
municipal solid wastes. The governorate is able to respond to the citizens
complaints immediately and can monitor the progress of solving the complaints.
Effectiveness and
efficiency:
The information
system is very effective in terms of providing reliable and actual information
about the citizens’ complaints. The process of developing the system is
efficient as CEDARE have not start the system from scratch but reviewed an
existing example in
Discussion on the
results in relation to the intensions.
The call center
is considered an important tool to monitor the performance of private companies
collecting municipal solid wastes. Reference to the contract between the
governorate and the private company, there are fines for the company that does
not remove the reasons of complaints within 48 hours. Thus the call center
monitors the performance of the company and issue recommendation for fines.
This process could not be handled without an information system. The
governorate receives on average 300 complaints per day
Lessons learned
and experiences
The main lesson learned that information unit within the different institutions always need to develop the capacity of their personnel. Major constraint was the transfer of the trained personnel from one position to another to another department. The investment that was done in training will be lost.
Decision
Support System for
Lead agency:
Centre for Environment and Development for the
Arab Region and
Purpose, aims, objectives:
The objective of Decision Support System was to analyze the main policy failures behind improper urban management systems leading to deteriorating livelihood conditions. The DSS allowed for derivation of new strategies for sustainable human settlements development and management. The DSS was applied through different methods delegating power to local governments, encouraging private sectors, reconsidering the intended new settlements, changing current legislation, improving the integrated provision of environmental infrastructure, co-ordinating activities of fragmented agencies, …etc.
Users:
Urban planners and environmental specialists
Methods - a description of the work done.
The
model used in developing the DSS was able to measure the effects of multiple
stresses induced by human activities in
Appropriateness of the approach.
The approach is very appropriate as the DSS
provides different scenarios of solution to the problem. Through which each
scenario identifies the pro and con situations
Institutional capacity.
Training to staff and enhancing institutions decision
making process
Outcomes and benefits expected or achieved.
Better decision making is the outcome of this
information system.
Lead agency:
Centre for
Environment and Development for the Arab Region and
Purpose, aims,
objectives:
In
cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), CEDARE has
developed the above mentioned Web Portal. The objective of the portal is to
provide an easy navigation website for environmental information about the
Users:
Environmental
Specialists, National institutions, NGos, and youth
Methods - a
description of the work done.
The
starting page of the website is designed to allow users to go directly to the
required information. The welcome page is divided in two sections, Countries
and Themes. The countries has direct link to the North African countries web
portal;
The links in the country
section provide links to country profiles, available legislations,
institutions, states or governorates, NGOs, education, libraries. Those provide
links to the available web sites in North Africa Region. The country profiles
provide national and international information about the countries. Then national information links are pointing
to available information in the ministries or national institutions. The second
category is the Legislation links, which point to the available links to
national legislation. The third category is for national institutions web site.
This category is divided in the following sections, environmental governmental
body, ministries, and national institutions websites. The fourth category is
linking to governorates or states web sites. The fifth category is linking to
national NGOs web sites relevant to the environment. The sixth category is the
Education link that provides access to major universities in the countries. The
last link is the libraries link that provides access to national libraries. The
web portal is an efficient tool to allocate national and regional environmental
related data for the
TASK-3
Executive
summary
The Centre of Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE) has been established to build and enhance capacity of its member countries, promoting skills in environmental management, transfer of technologies, environmental education, and development of environmental policies. CEDARE aims to assist member countries to achieve some of their important national and regional priority goals of sustainable development, particularly in the management of freshwater resources; land resources development and urbanization and human settlements. Facilitate inter-country cooperation and exchange of information and experience.
CEDARE methodological approach for enhancing the capacity of the Arab region in managing and analyzing environmental data and information has been depended on three components. The first component is to enhance the human resources capacity, the second one is to enhance and build the environmental information systems infrastructure. The third component is to acquire and disseminate environmental data and information.
CEDARE through its Environmental Information Unit (EIU) has been engaged for the last decade in establishing environmental information units within the ministries responsible of the environment or the main governmental environment affairs organizations. EIU has succeeded to influence the establishment of these important information units within the Arab region. In addition, EIU has been always engaged in building the human resources capacity in the Arab countries to manage and analyze environmental data and information.
CEDARE has been cooperating with different regional and
international organizations in conducting projects related to environmental
information. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Regional
Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the
The report recommends the following:
- Developing Regional Environmental Information Accessing and Sharing convention
- Enhancing legislations to emphasis the public rights in receiving environmental related information in reasonable quality and time.
- Governmental organizations should publish regular reports about the national state of the environment.
- Establishing national environmental information committee to enhance coordination between the governmental organizations relevant to environmental data collection programmes and standardize the methods of data collection and dissemination.
- Establishing regional environmental information trust fund
Introduction
and Background
The Centre for Environment and
Development for the Arab Region (CEDARE)
was established in 1992 as an international organization, in response to the
convention adopted by the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the
Environment (CAMRE) in Damascus in 1991, and upon the initiative of the Arab
Republic of Egypt, the United Nations Development Programme, and the Arab Fund
for Economic and Social Development (AFESD).
CEDARE's main mission is to build and enhance capacity of its member countries, promoting skills in environmental management, transfer of technologies, environmental education, and development of environmental policies. CEDARE aims to assist member countries to achieve some of their important national and regional priority goals of sustainable development, particularly in the management of freshwater resources; land resources development and urbanization and human settlements. Facilitate inter-country cooperation and exchange of information and experience.
CEDARE continues its march, ten years after it was established, with renewed determination, and in cooperation with all partners, to emphasize that its priorities and goals are based on the various covenants adopted by the international community and the priorities set by the Arab states in the Arab Initiative on Sustainable Development, as presented by the Arab states to the WSSD in Johannesburg, in addition to the commitment to strive to achieve the MDGs, and the importance of addressing emerging issues such as those of trade and environment, bio-safety, intellectual property rights, peace and the environment, eco-safety and others
CEDARE has been promoting since its launching the importance of environmental information to assist decision makers in the region. CEDARE has established the Environmental Information Unit (EIU) with the following mandate:
- To Provide CEDARE a tool for reliable environmental assessment, monitoring, identification of environmental concerns, trends, root causes, emerging issues and policy responses in the region.
- Assist the creation and strengthening of national EIS programmes.
- Foster cooperative and coordinated efforts for the production of environmental information in the region.
- Act as a clearing house for the dissemination and exchange of environmental information.
- Coordinate and promote data harmonization and standardization, and influence data collection methodologies.
- Use of environmental information to mobilize and augment public opinion.
- Development of sound environmental information technology projects at the national and regional levels.
- Establish a regional environmental information network that offers shared access to distributed databases located at various institutions, and links between the actors in the environmental field in the region.
The Environmental Information Unit has been engaged for the last decade in establishing environmental information units within the ministries responsible of the environment or the main governmental environment affairs organizations. EIU has succeeded to influence the establishment of these important information units within the Arab region. In addition, EIU has been always engaged in building the human resources capacity in the Arab countries to manage and analyze environmental data and information.
CEDARE aims for the next 5 years to work with all partners to support the institutional bodies capable of assimilating, acquiring and disseminating knowledge in the fields of sustainable development. CEDARE continues to employ communication and information technologies to establish and develop environmental information systems, in particular those that help to monitor and analyze data, and state of environment indicators, and disseminate them to enhance popular participation and transparency with the aim of raising environmental awareness and supporting decision making processes.
Methodological
approach
CEDARE methodological approach for enhancing the capacity of the Arab region in managing and analyzing environmental data and information has depends on three components. The first component is to enhance the human resources capacity, the second one is to enhance and build the environmental information systems infrastructure. The third component is to acquire and disseminate environmental related data and information.
The first component has been focusing on providing advanced training for the Arab regions human resources. Tailored training courses and workshops have targeted technical staff, middle-management, and decision makers within the ministries of environment and main governmental environmental affairs organizations. The training courses mandate has been focusing on exposing the participant to international, regional, and national experiences in managing environmental data on thematic and geographic levels.
The second component has focused on developing environmental information systems and provides them to the main governmental institutions responsible for managing the environment such as ministries of environment or specialized national institutions. The aim was to build the institutions capacity and work towards standardizing and harmonizing environmental information systems.
The third component has been concentrating on compiling and development environmental data and information especially geographic referenced data. CEDARE has developed a regional geographic database of more than 1000 complex layer such as water resources, land degradation, and urban development. CEDARE has developed “CEDARE CD” to disseminate the CEDARE GIS databases.
Status of environmental data and information.
Analysis of existing initiatives, programmes, projects, systems, and networks.
CEDARE has been engaged in developing and managing
measurable quantity of projects and environmental information systems. CEDARE’s
environmental information systems cover different thematic and management
areas. The following are examples of the developed information system that are
relevant or can be replicated to the
1.
Africa Sustainable Development Data and Indicators
Information System Version 2.X (AFRICA-SDIS)
Based on previous experience of
CEDARE to develop sustainable development indicators information system, the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is cooperating with CEDARE to
develop AFRICA-SDIS. The objective of the
Africa Sustainable Development Data and Indicators Information System
(Africa–SDIS) is to act as a standard information system for the African
nations to acquire, process, and disseminate information relevant to
sustainable development. A key feature of
2-CEDARE Ground Water Information System – Nubian Aquifer Regional Information System (NARIS)
In cooperation with
the Programme for the Development of the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer, CEDARE has
developed ground water information system to assist in the management of Nubian
Sandstone Aquifer. NARIS provides complete information about the quantity and
quality of all the available wells in the concerned four countries;
The Nubian Aquifer Regional Information System (NARIS) is an integrated
Information System developed with a vision to fulfill the following tasks:
- Store, search
and retrieve information about the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System wells
such as water levels, draw downs, stratigraphy, hydraulic parameters, etc.
- Provide an
integrated regional information system among the countries sharing the
aquifer thus ensuring the sharing, exchange and flow of information.
- Assist the
decision makers by providing relevant and accurate information about the
status of the aquifer within regional and national perspectives.
- Provide a
standardized method for data collection and entry among the four concerned
countries.
- Identify gaps
and overlaps among the existing data and information available.
- Prepare the
input parameters which are needed for the modeling at different scales,
and calibration of the groundwater model and comparison of the results.
Data from the four
countries have been collected and processed. The system has been developed to
provide efficient capabilities to search and data entry about the Aquifer
wells. The system provides graphical, tabular, and spatial outputs. Each of the
above institutions has received training on using and administrating the
information system. Training has included capacity building of the technical
staff on administrating the database management system of NARIS.
3-CEDARE Strategic Environmental Information
Systems(SEIS)
The objective of SEIS is to assist countries for managing their environmental related information on national levels and assists regional organizations to integrate the data from national node to have a regional prospective. SEIS consists of the following databases and information systems:
- Sustainable Development Indicators Information System
- Environmental Experts and Human Resources Database
- Environmental Institutions Profile Database
- Environmental Institution Activities Database
- Bibliographic Database.
This information system has been
provided to the main governmental environmental affairs institutions in
4-CEDARE Geographic Information System
Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) were recognized by CEDARE as a key tool to collect,
manage, analyze and present environmental information derived from a variety of
sources. As an integral part of its system, CEDARE initiated a geographically
referenced database. The focus of the data set collected and implemented
addresses water resources, land degradation, and urbanization. The selection of
the data included was based on relevance, access availability, as well as
geographic representation. CEDARE continues to expand its spatial data holdings
both vertically, by adding additional data entries to the existing coverage,
and horizontally by introducing new geographic areas to cover the entire
region.
CEDARE digital maps
comprise several levels of details--the Regional level, the Inter-Country level
the National level and Hot Spots. Previous plans were set to acquire maps of
those levels within certain scale ranges that were deemed acceptable. CEDARE
database holds more than 1000 multiple layers covering all CEDARE region.
CEDARE GIS database has been developed by two phases. The first phase has been concerned with five countries. Data has been collected as digital and hardcopies maps for the five countries. The second phase has expanded to the rest of CEDARE region as adding new geographic areas and adding additional data entries to the existing coverage. The GIS data were regularly updated through CEDARE focal points, regional and national projects and data vendors.
Developing a regional geographic information system faces a lot of constraints and difficulties such as standardization and harmonization of the collected maps. The approach of developing GIS for five countries as pilot phase for the regional GIS has been an appropriate approach. The implementation of the second phase has integrated all the lessons learned during Phase one. A needs assessment of country requirements should have conduct prior to the project implementation phase. The approach should have also been based on a demand driven approach to minimize the cost of data collection.
CEDARE has cooperated with the Arab countries in developing and enhancing their capacities in developing and managing national geographic information system. CEDARE has provided training to staff members from ministries of environment and national environmental management institutions in the Arab countries. CEDARE also has provided national and regional geographic layers to the Arab countries as the core database for national geographic information system. The development of CEDARE regional geographic information system has been triggered the importance of using geographic information to manage national natural resources within a regional prospective.
Developing regional geographic information system has faced major obstacles during harmonizing and standardizing available geographical referenced data. The need to implement international spatial data infrastructure standards such as the use of ISO 19115 to develop spatial metadata. There is always a need to build and enhance the capacities of staff members working with geographical referenced data to manage natural resources specially shared natural resources such as regional aquifers. To ensure that GIS can be utilized, plans should address all resource issues related to GIS, including manpower, space, and equipment. Essential elements of developing any regional GIS project are data collection, data verification, and data maintenance. Member countries should devote adequate resources to ensure that all are accomplished.
5-Alexandria Solid wastes Complaints Tracking
Information Systems
Technical mission
has visited
This system has
enhanced the institutions capacity of Alexandria Governorate in managing and
monitoring the performance of the private company responsible for collecting
municipal solid wastes. CEDARE has developed and enhanced the governorate
capacity in two directions. The first direction human resources capacity was
enhanced to use and manage the information system. The second one is developing
the infrastructure of the Call center by providing all the required hardware
and software.
The call center is
considered an important tool to monitor the performance of private companies
collecting municipal solid wastes. Reference to the contract between the
governorate and the private company, there are fines for the company if it does
not remove the reasons of complaints within 48 hours. Thus the call center
monitors the performance of the company and issue recommendation for fines.
This process could not be handled without an information system. The
governorate receives on average 300 complaints per day.
Data and information availability
(collectively, sectoral and thematic)
CEDARE has been always promoting
dissemination and sharing of environmental data and information. CEDARE has compiled its GIS databases and has
published them though CEDARE–CD. The digital database has three levels; the CEDARE region
wide level, the national level, and the hot spot level. The Regional level is
made up of DCW basemap data and other thematic environmental data sets from
several sources. The national level data is comprised of individual country
level data sets, some of which came from the DCW and ArcAtlas data and are available
for all countries in the CEDARE region. Other specialized national data sets
are available for seven countries. These data were obtained by CEDARE from
national sources in hard copy forms and were automated into digital data. The
hot spot level data comprises data sets on selected study areas that required
the development of specialized data. There are currently three hot spots in the
product.
The CEDARE CD-ROM product contains a data viewer called
the “GIS Data Viewer,” which was developed using the 3.1 version of the ArcView
Data Publisher. This GIS Data Viewer contains digital maps for all regional,
national, and hot spot level data, as well as on-line data documentation in the
form of a Windows help file. The viewer was also customized to provide password
access by country to all of the National Maps originated from national sources
at the National level data and to all of the data for
CEDARE has been engaged in enhancing public access for
environmental information. CEDARE disseminates information through hardcopies
and electronically media. CEDARE publishes periodical chronicle and disseminate
it for free to all registered users.
Disseminating environmental information electronically to the public is
an important activity CEDARE performs. CEDARE website is one of the means to
disseminate information about the available information resources. CEDARE also
has developed on 1998 the first Arab environmental web portal that link to
available web resources about the environment in the Arab Region. CEDARE also
has developed
Information policy and
legislations.
Although CEDARE’s information policy is biased towards disseminating environmental information without any constraints but some of the data sources has their own restrictions on such policy. CEDARE always try to fulfill the data sources requirements such as some countries provide their data to be integrated in the regional platform. Using this data by others would require permission from the country, after which username and password are supplied to the specified user.
There are constraints and barriers to provide free access
information. These barriers can be categorized as legislative and technical
barriers. Concerning the legislative barriers, the region does not have any
convention about sharing environmental information such as the
Institutional capacity for
managing environmental data and information.
For the last decade, CEDARE has been involved in developing and enhancing institutional capacity of the Arab ministries responsible of the environment and main governmental bodies responsible for environmental affairs. CEDARE has been promoting during this period the establishment of environmental information unit that can assist decision-makers with valuable and efficient environmental information. CEDARE has three components: first component focuses on enhancing human resources capacities to manage and use environmental information, Second component concentrates on providing the Arab countries with environmental information systems to be the core of standard and harmonized regional environmental information network. The third component focuses on collecting and processing data and information for the Arab region and enhances institutions capacity by providing them with relevant data and information or their environmental information units.
Financing of environmental data and
information.
For the duration of 1994 -1999 CEDARE has been financing
most of its environmental data and information activities. Starting of 2000,
CEDARE has been establishing partnership with other important organizations
such as UNEP to conduct environmental data and information activities. There
are major sponsors organization within the West Asia region that are able to
provide financial support to environmental data and information activities such
as the Islamic development bank, Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development.
The Mediterranean Countries in
Effectiveness and efficiency of current information
systems (include strengths and weaknesses).
Current information systems effectiveness and efficiency depends on the awareness available among decision-makers in using environmental information. As the decision-makers are more aware of the importance of using environmental information, they trigger the establishment of effective and efficient environmental information systems. With the decrease of such awareness, the development of environmental information system will never be neither effective nor efficient. There are good examples through out the region of having efficient environmental information systems but with no effect on the decision-making process.
Constrains and barriers to manage and improve
availability and accessibility of environmental data and information.
The constraints and barriers to manage and improve
availability and accessibility of environmental data and information can be
categorized as legislative and technical barriers. Concerning the legislative
barriers, the region does not have any convention about sharing environmental
information such as the
Assessment of general requirements:
The Global Environment Report (GEO-3) has indicated that the
environmental priority issues for
- Conservation and protection of freshwater resources
- Land degradation and food security
- Conservation of coastal zones and marine areas
- Air pollution
- Hazardous wastes
Priority environmental information
needs of various groups (stakeholders) to support decision-making
The stakeholders in the region can be categorized as governmental, civil society and international organizations. Each of the stakeholders has different requirements according not only on the thematic level but also on the detailed required. Governmental organizations are concerned with the following environmental information:
- Monitoring and analyzing the state of environment resources such as water resources, land resources, air pollution, etc…
- Environmental information related to the environmental treaties that the country has signed or negotiating to sign.
- Environmental legislation and environmental institutions restructuring.
Civil societies are concerned with the interaction between the environment and the people. The main concern is how the environment can help in enhancing the citizens' quality of life and reduce poverty. Civil societies are interest in the following:
- Funding opportunities for conducting environmental related projects
- Environmental public awareness activities
- Fresh
water, marine environment, desertification, population, biodiversity,
conservation, and Environmental management systems are declared the most
important priorities by the Forum for Arab NGO's for the WSSD,
International Organizations are concerned with enhancing cooperation among the countries through and providing state of the environment on regional and sub-regional levels. Such, international organizations are interest in environmental information that is relevant to the implementation of Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
CEDARE as an international organization has been acquiring core datasets and indicators for all themes that are needed to develop the African Environment Outlook, Global Environment Outlook, and Arab state of Environment reports. CEDARE currently priorities are water and land resources management, knowledge sharing and management for environment and development information, and trade, investment and environment issues.
Although most of the environmental institutions in the region countries have advanced information systems infrastructure, but there is a need to harmonize and standardize the available information systems to be able to share data and information especially about shared resources. CEDARE has been always promoting the use of state-of-the-art information systems infrastructure such databases management systems, geographical information systems, and remote sensing information systems.
Another issue is the use of ICT in conducting e-learning activity. This approach is considered an efficient and effective approach in building capacity of human resources. CEDARE’s experience during the last decade in building the human resources capacity in managing and using environmental information system has showed that a great number of participants have moved to a higher positions or another sectors. This change has affected the conserving of gained knowledge within the institutions. Thus E-learning would provide higher rate for conducting training courses to new staff members.
Institutional needs (including
training and finance)
There is a need to increase the budget of the
environmental sector in
Regional and international cooperation (including UNEP
and other UN agencies).
CEDARE has been cooperating with different regional and
international organizations in conducting projects related to environmental
information. CEDARE is UNEP’s
Opportunities for the future.
There are great opportunities for cooperation on national, regional, and international levels. The advancements in ICT have provided means of communication and information sharing that was not available in the past two decades. The efficient use of such technologies in establishing environmental information system would enhance the process of environmental decision making. The regional cooperation is needed more than any previous duration; there are countries in the region that share vital natural resources specially water resources. Such vital natural resources need efficient and effective methods for managing the shared resources that can only be implemented by proper use of ICT.
Lessons learned and experiences.
The main lesson that is learned is the importance of having trained and skilled human resources. There is always a need to enhance the skills of the available human resources to manage and use environmental information systems. Another important experience is the need to involve more civil societies in the process of environmental information collection and dissemination. Civil society organizations are one of the main stakeholders in conserving the environment.
Recommendations of priorities for action. Please
consider the following:
- Developing Regional Environmental Information Accessing and Sharing convention that enhance the regional partnership in sharing environmental information
- There is a need to clearly recognize public rights to access environmental information. Legislations must emphasis the public rights in receiving environmental related information in reasonable quality and time.
- Governmental organizations should publish regular reports about the national state of the environment.
- Establishing national environmental information committee to enhance coordination between the governmental organizations relevant to environmental data collection programmes and standardize the methods of data collection and dissemination.
- Establishing or enhancing national and regional environmental data collection programmes
- Conducting regular training activities to staff members that are responsible for managing and using environmental information system.
- Establishing regional environmental information trust fund that can support the implementation of regional environmental information projects. The aim of the projects should enhance data and information collection programmes and enhance access to environmental information.