ENVIRONMENTAL, ARCHAEOLOGICAL and CULTURAL LANDSCAPE IMPACT of the Fire Burning in Al-rowase - Al Khukha District - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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ENVIRONMENTAL, ARCHAEOLOGICAL and CULTURAL LANDSCAPE IMPACT of the Fire Burning in Al-rowase - Al Khukha District

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The government of Yemen, by signing the Convention to Protect Wetlands ( Ramsar ), has committed itself to preserve its precious wetlands. – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: ENVIRONMENTAL, ARCHAEOLOGICAL and CULTURAL LANDSCAPE IMPACT of the Fire Burning in Al-rowase - Al Khukha District


1
ENVIRONMENTAL, ARCHAEOLOGICAL and CULTURAL
LANDSCAPE IMPACT of the Fire Burning in Al-rowase
- Al Khukha District
2
Summary
  • 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

3
1. 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 .

4
1.2 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

5
Legal 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.

6
1.5 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

7
1.6 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.

8
The 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
9
2. 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

10
Main 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

11
The 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.

12
Ecosystem
13
2.2 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.

14
The 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.

15
Disaster Area
16
The 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).

17
The burning area will add to the over-fishing and
further pollution through coastal development and
threaten this unique ecosystem.
18
3. 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.

19
3.1 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

20
4. 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.

21
Highlights 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)

22
B) 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
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