Title: ENVIRONMENTAL, ARCHAEOLOGICAL and CULTURAL LANDSCAPE IMPACT of the Fire Burning in Al-rowase - Al Khukha District
1ENVIRONMENTAL, ARCHAEOLOGICAL and CULTURAL
LANDSCAPE IMPACT of the Fire Burning in Al-rowase
- Al Khukha District
2Summary
- The Government of Yemen is currently constructing
an Inter-Arabian Coastal Highway that stretches
f rom the border of Saudi Arabia to the border of
Oman. To date most of the area has had neither an
environmental, nor a cultural impact assessment
of the planned roads. The following report is a
rapid assessment of the possible environmental
and cultural impact of the road between Al
Hodeidah and Al Khokhah. - This assessment covers approximately 1.5km of the
effected area from Al Hodeidah to Al Khokhah.
Within this area the which has been temporarily
halted. what remains of nationally important
coastal ecosystems, and a highly important
traditional settlement system, which has remained
culturally intact for thousands of years. - It is abundantly clear that the disaster fire at
the forest near the Red Sea will significantly
destroy the environment, as well as the cultural,
landscape and tourism potential of the area. t
1 and culture 2 and violates the
international commitments made in the Convention
to Protect Wetlands (Ramsar convention). The
fired area will have major negative social
impacts and will most likely not achieve the
expected economical effects. - 1 Environment Protection Law 1996, Article
- 2 The Republic of Yemen Antiquity Law 21,
Section 3 11 - 14
31. Introduction1.1 Current State of the fired
area
- The Al Khokhah- Al Hodeidha road is part of a
larger Inter-Arabian Coastal Highway that is
to connect Saudi Arabia and Oman along the entire
coast of the Yemeni peninsula. The road
construction has already begun between Al
Hodeidah and Al Khawkhah. The coastal road from
Hudayda has reached beyond the outer limits of
the city itself (8km), to the south, while the
coastal road from al Khawkhah has reached the
village of al Buqa (20km), to the north. It will
reach the area just north of the village of
Fazah. From there the two roads are to be joined
by a third road. Each of these road sections is
contracted to different road engineering
companies. The Consulting Engineering Center will
be responsible for building the coastal road
north of Fazah to Hodeidah as well as four
separate connection roads from this area to the
main asphalt road (Hudaydah, Zabid, Taiz), which
is around 30km from the coast. - While part of the investment has already been
undertaken the remaining parts are currently
surveyed and are to be finalized by 2008 .
41.2 Responsibility
- The implementation agency for this project is the
Ministry of Public Works (MOPW) and the General
Corporation of Roads and Bridges (GCRB).1 Other
relevant stakeholders for the planned road are
the Governor of Al Hudaydah, the Local Council
and Sheiks. The Ministry of Tourism and
Environment (MOTE), Environmental Protection
Authority (EPA), the Ministry of Culture and the
General Organization for Antiquities, Museums,
and Manuscripts (GOAM) are also entitled to be
involved. - 1 contact Eng. Mohammed Al Majani,
71122651, further responsible Mr. Adafai
5Legal status
- The planning and construction of the road is in
violation of the Environmental and Cultural
Legislation of Yemen and is therefore illegal.
The Ministry of Public Works has not undertaken
an Environmental Impact assessment as required by
the Environmental Law, (Article 36). Without
major modifications the road is further violating
Yemens international Commitments by destroying
major wetlands. The government of Yemen, by
signing the Convention to Protect Wetlands
(Ramsar), has committed itself to preserve its
precious wetlands. - The construction of this road is further illegal
according to Yemens Antiquity law and Arab
League Laws. These laws require impact
assessments for all roads and development
projects that could lead to damage of cultural
sites.
61.5 Previous experiences
- Due to environmental considerations the road has
already been modified and rerouted as much as 30
km inland at Bab Al Mandab. It is important to
note that the rapid impact assessment covers only
around 100 km out of 730 km of Red Sea coastline
and 2000 km along the Indian Ocean. The entire
impact of the planned Yemeni coastal road,
therefore, cannot be determined without the
proper environmental and cultural assessment
suggested here. The importance of such
assessments can be seen in Socotra, where due to
ongoing discussions regarding similar
environmental considerations, a planned road at
Qualansia had to be modified
71.6 Results of the fire Impact Assessment
- Environment and cultural experts undertook two
field visits. A preliminary fire impact
assessment was conducted. This preliminary
assessment covered the at risk areas between al
Khokhah and Hodeidah with a focus mainly on the
sub-provinces of Tuhaytah, Bayt al Faqih and
Durayhimi.
8The fire burned covers approximately
1.5km3000palm trees in the forest. This makes the
direct impact area 10m wide with an additional
15m of impact on either side of the area itself,
The indirect impact e.g. disturbing breeding
birds, waste, infrastructure development and
cultural damage, can reach up to 15km. This
estimate includes predicted damages such as later
development along the forest, and damage caused
to the environment which does not only destroy
the landscape, and the fragile ecosystems of the
region, but is likely to disturb the state of
archaeological site preservation
92. Ecological risks of the Fire Burning
- Yemen has a unique and globally important fauna
and flora, which is under heavy threat. The Fire
destroyed the around 1.5KM area, which belongs
according to WWF, amongst the 200 globally most
important biodiversity areas. The main habitats
found at the coastal line are sea-grass
assemblages, inertial sand-flats, salt marshes
(sabkhah), wetlands, palm groves, shifting sand
dunes and the marine ecosystems.1 Importantly,
many of these habitats are not static, but are
temporally dynamic systems. For example, a
sea-grass assemblage recorded one year may have
ceased to exist by the following year. 2
Therefore human interference is especially
destructive and the possible effects of the road
can be more significant than a description of the
current situation might imply. The Fire burning
was near Critical Habitats3, which are
feeding, nesting, and breeding or nursery places
for marine organisms, major sources of nutrients,
and areas particularly rich in species and of
special scientific interest. The road is in
violation of the international commitments made
by Yemen under the Ramsar convention to protect
the wetlands 1 Marine habitats of the Red
Sea, A. Rushdi, M. Abubakr, H. Hebba, 1994 - 2 Protection of Marine Ecosystems of the Red
Sea Coast of Yemen, A. Abdul, T. Rouphael, S.
R. Marchant, 1999 - 3 Ray, 1976
10Main ecosystems affected by the
- Wetlands/ Salt marches/ Sea Grass
- Palm groves/ Wadi deltas
- Moving sand dunes
- Red Sea marine ecosystems
- 2.1 Wetlands, salt marshes and Sea Grass habitats
11The Fire polluted air and destruction of the
wetlands and palm groves. The polluted air
increased disturbance will negatively affect
migrating birds use of the wetlands for their
nests.
- Sandy Coast
- Sandy coasts offer important nesting sides for
turtles such as Green and Hawksbill turtles. They
are also habitats for many crustaceans.
12Ecosystem
132.2 Wild Palm grooves and Wadi deltas
- The dominating wild palms in the area are Dom
palms Hypaene thebica. Dom is found in dense
patches in the area due to the available
groundwater. Dom palms are used for firewood,
rope and mattresses. Wild and cultivated date
palm Phoenix dactylifera groves can be found in
association with Dom palms. Its Dates are eaten
and sold in the markets of the region. In the
wadi deltas, patches of Salvadora persica trees
are frequent. Many people use Salvadora Persica
branches as toothbrushes. - Wild and cultivated Kadhi palms are grazed by
domestic animals and its flowers are used in
households to perfume clothes. Birds, foxes and
domestic animals are dependant on this coastal
vegetation.
14The fire cut through some of the palm groves and
wadi deltas. The vegetation will be directly
affected through logging and increased use for
fuel wood.
- Despite the lack of significant rainfall
(250mm/year) the dense palm vegetation and other
vegetation in the area grow mostly due to
sufficient groundwater, which originates on the
coastal plain. In the area groundwater is
accessible only 2-3 meters under the surface. The
effected area will likely affect the groundwater
and the water flow in the wadis through the use
of heavy machinery in construction, oil pollution
and compression of earth.
15Disaster Area
16The disaster area will cut the natural movement
of the dunes. Expensive measures will be
necessary to fix the dunes or permanent
maintenance on the destroyed area to keep it sand
free.
- 2.4 Red Sea marine ecosystems
- The Red Sea marine ecosystem is one of the world
most precious biodiversity hot spots. The Red Sea
is the warmest and most saline of the world's
seas. No permanent coastal rivers or streams flow
into the Red Sea, and it is partially isolated
from the open ocean. Together, these features
contribute to a unique flora and fauna. The
diverse and spectacular coral reefs for which the
Red Sea is renowned are found not far from the
area of concern. The read sea is a distinctive
coral ecosystem, comprising a regional centre of
endemism for fish and invertebrates. The Red Sea
hosts also a number of marine turtles including
green (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead (Caretta
caretta), leatherback (Eretmochelys imbricata),
olive ridley (Lepidochelys oliacea) and hawksbill
(Eretmochelys imbricata).
17The burning area will add to the over-fishing and
further pollution through coastal development and
threaten this unique ecosystem.
183. Risk for the tourism potential
- The area between Al Hodeidah and Al Mukha, e.g.
the 60 km between Ad Durayhimi- Wadi Jahabah and
Al Fazah-Wadi Zabid has great potential for
ecotourism. The area is characterized through its
variety of landscapes, ecosystems and cultural
monuments. The undisturbed beaches are ideal for
day trips from Hudaydah and Zabid, and for
camping and other ecotourism activities such as
camel and horse riding.
193.1 Major income generation possibilities for the
local population through tourism
- Run local guesthouses
- Rent camels, horses and boats
- Sell local products (Fish, fruits)
- Sell local handicrafts (straw products, textiles,
pottery) - The protection of the coastal area can increase
the income of the local population and can change
tourism development in Yemen. Today tourists
visit Yemen for an average of 12-15 days. With
additional trips to the Tihama tourists will be
tempted to visit Yemen for a significantly longer
period of time or will return for following
visits. (1. visit to the northern part, 2.visit
to the southern part).1 - 1 M. Livadotti, 2003
204. Risks to the cultural landscape and to
archaeological sites
- 4.1 Cultural Landscape attractions
- The Tihama coastal plain provides a unique
landscape in contrast with the highlands of
Yemen. Its cultural traditions (i.e.
architecture, marketplaces, customs etc.) coexist
with its diverse sub-tropical landscapes, which
include arid active dunes, thriving mangroves and
marshes, sub-tropical intensively cultivated
inter-wadi and wadi plains, and its wide sand
beaches. The Tihama remains one of the most
original and interesting regions in the Middle
East, which has untouched cross-cultural
traditions stemming from thousands of years of
integration, trade and cultural contact between
Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
21Highlights of the area
- - The city of Zabid
- - The city of al Mukha
- - Bayt al Faqih
- - The old center of al Hudayda
- - Islamic Tihaman architecture
- - The archaeological site of al Hamili (Hajar al
Qyamah)
22B) Cultural/ Historical Monuments
- Fazzah Mosque
- Al Tifaf and al Mujaylis Mosques
- Qalaat al Jah
- Ghulayfiqa Forts
- The Immam Summer Palace Taif
- Al Durayhimi Fort
- Al Durayhimi Mosque