Eritrea Ministry of Land, Water and Environment Department of Environment
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THE STATE OF ERITREA MINISTRY OF LAND, WATER AND ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT th THE 5 NATIONAL REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UNCBD Asmara August, 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS AKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................................................ iv ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................................. v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... vi 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Description of the Country: .............................................................................................. 2 PART I: AN UPDATE BIODIVERSITY STATUS, TREND AND THREATS AND IMPLICATION FOR HUMAN WELL BEING ............................................................................ 4 2.1 Overview of Eritrea‟s Biodiversity Resources ............................................................... 4 2.2 Biodiversity Status, Trends and Threat under different Biome/Ecosystems .................. 6 2.2.1 Terrestrial Biodiversity .................................................................................................. 6 2.2.1.1 Forest Ecosystem ........................................................................................................ 6 2.2.1.2 Woodland Ecosystem................................................................................................ 10 2.2.1.3 Bush Land/Grassland Ecosystem .............................................................................. 11 2.2.1.4 Barren Land/Semi desert Ecosystem ........................................................................ 12 2.2.2 Coastal, Marine and Island Biodiversity ...................................................................... 13 2.2.2.1 Flora Ecosystem ........................................................................................................ 14 2.2.2.2 Fauna Ecosystem ...................................................................................................... 27 2.2.3 Agricultural Biodiversity ............................................................................................. 39 2.2.3.1 Diversity of Individual Crop Species ........................................................................ 40 2.2.3.2 Oil Crops: Diversity Status and Trend: ..................................................................... 43 2.2.3.3 Horticultural Crops: Diversity Status and Trend ...................................................... 44 2.2.3.4 Trees and Shrubs Important for Agriculture ............................................................. 44 2.2.3.5 Livestock Diversity ................................................................................................... 46 2.2.3.6 Agricultural Biodiversity Threats and its Underlying Causes .................................. 48 PART II: The National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, its Implementation and the Mainstreaming of Biodiversity ..................................................................................................... 50 3.1 The National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAP) ................................. 50 3.2 Updating the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan (NBSAP) .................... 50 3.3 Actions Taken to Implement the NBSAP and Related Outcomes .................................. 51 3.3.1 Institutional Reforms and Arrangements ..................................................................... 51 3.3.2 Designation of Protected Areas ................................................................................... 51 3.3.3 National Tree Planting Campaign ................................................................................ 52 3.3.4 Energy Efficient Cooking Stoves (Adhanet Mogogo) .................................................... 52 3.3.5 Alternative Sources of Energy ..................................................................................... 54 3.3.6 Waste Management ...................................................................................................... 54 3.4 Obstacles to Implementation of the NBSAP .................................................................. 54 3.5 Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Relevant Sectoral and Cross-Sectoral ........................ 55 Strategies, Plans and Programmes ........................................................................................ 55 3.5.1 Mainstreaming of Biodiversity in National Strategies and Plans ................................... 55 3.5.2 Mainstreaming of Biodiversity in Sectors Strategies and Plans ..................................... 55 3.5.3 Mainstreaming of Biodiversity in Various Cross-Cutting Sectors ................................. 62 PART III: Progress towards the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets and contributions to the Millennium Development Goals ................................................................................................... 73 ii LESSONS LEARNED.............................................................................................................. 81 References: .................................................................................................................................... 82 Annex I: Information concerning the reporting party and preparation of the fifth .................. 87 National report .......................................................................................................................... 87 Annex II: List of National Technical Committee Members .................................................... 89 Annex III: List of Tables for Terrestrial Biodiversity ............................................................. 90 Annex IV: List of Tables for Coastal, Marine and Island Biodiversity ....................................... 97 Annex V: List of Tables for Agro-biodiversity ......................................................................... 103 iii AKNOWLEDGEMENT iv ACRONYMS BIHI: Buri-Irrori; Hawakil Islands CBD: Convention of Biological Diversity CCA: Climate Change Adaptation CCD: Convention to Combat Desertification CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora COP: Conference of Parties DOE: Department of Environment ECMIB: Eritrea‟s Coastal, Marine and Island Biodiversity EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment FAO: Food and Agricultural Organization of UN FWA: Forestry and Wildlife Authority GEF: Global Environmental Facility GIS: Geographical Information System GBH: Girth at Birth Height IBA: Important Bird Areas ICAM: Integrated Coastal Area Management IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature & Natural Resources PPAs: Proposed Protected Areas PSD: Planning and Statistics Division MARPOL: The International Convention for the Protection of Pollution from Ships MCS: Monitoring, Control and Surveillance MoMR: Ministry of Marine Resources MOA: Ministry of Agriculture MRRD: Marine Resources Research Davison NARI: National Agricultural Research Institution NBSAP: National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan NEMP-E: National Environmental Management Plan for Eritrea MSY: Maximun Sustainable Yield SDB: Semenawi and Debubawi Bahri SLM: Sustainable Land Management SOC: State of the Coast SOE: State of Eritrea SST: Sea Surface Temperature TAC: Total Allowable Catch UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Fifth National Report on Implementation of the United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity (UNCBD) describes and updates the status, trends and threats of biodiversity, and as well as measures undertaken by the Government State of Eritrea in achieving the objectives of the Convention and progresses made towards the Achi targets of 2020 since the submission of the Fourth National Report of 2010. As required by the Convention, the report contains three main parts as discussed below: i. An update on Biodiversity Status, Trends, Threats and Implications for human well being Biodiversity is critical to the livelihood of the majority of the Eritrean people. Agriculture (both crop and livestock production), forestry, and fisheries contribute greatly to the daily income of individual families. Life and development in Eritrea are firmly based on natural resources. The National Environmental Management Plan for Eritrea (NEMP-E, 1995) emphasized to ensure that human activities in both terrestrial and coastal areas result in long- lasting benefits. Eritrea‟s dependence on biodiversity is heavy. Therefore, conserving and sustainable use of natural resources is a major concern. The loss of biodiversity, along with climate change and desertification, were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development in Eritrea. Terrestrial Biodiversity The designation of the Semenawi and Debubawi Bahri, Buri-Irrori Hawakil Islands as well as Bara-Sole as protected area system in 2013 can be a practical intervention of the Government of the state of Eritrea to ensure conservation of the critical biodiversity resources. The proposed protected areas outstrip both the NBSAP and Aichi Biodiversity Targets in situ- conservation. Hence,