UN urges efforts to protect Arab resources

The United Nations called for more coordination and comprehensive planning systems to be implemented in a number of sectors in the Arab world to protect its resources.

In its Arab Human Development Report for 2002, the UNDP has suggested programmes that will halt the scarcity and degradation of the quality of the region's water, land and coastal areas.

According to the report the proposals are "consistent with the priorities of the Arab environmental work that received unanimous approval of the Arab environment ministers, summarised in the Abu Dhabi Declaration, issued in February 2001."

The report, distributed by the UNDP office here, recommended the establishment of a single institution responsible for the use of water instead of numerous agencies that may hinder the implementation of an overall water policy.

It also underlined the need for studying the reasons behind land deterioration and developing a system for better land use, restricted for agriculture and grazing.

"A comprehensive national plan for various types of land use should take into account the type of land, priorities for land use, the relevant socio-economic returns, and the expected increase in the need for different uses in future," the report said.

In order to halt degradation in the Arab coastal areas, it has suggested higher levels of marine conservation efforts to combat pollution and attract tourism.