IUCN ROWA Annual Report 2020

CREDITS The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of it’s frontiers or boundaries.

Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland Produced by: IUCN Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA), Amman, Jordan Copyright: (c) 2021 IUCN, Internationational Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

Design and Layout by: Beyond Desgin House, www.beyondjo.com Communications and Management Team: Dr Hany El Shaer, Ola Mallah, Roa’a Mohaisen, Razan Baqain IUCN ROWA Annual Report 2020

A05 WORD FROM IUCN ROWA’S PROGRAMMES28 AND REGIONAL DIRECTOR MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS

IUCN09 AT A GLANCE DONORS47 AND PARTNERS

MEMBERSHIP15 ACHIEVEMENTS51 AND FIGURES

COMMISSIONS21 REGIONAL53 INITIATIVES

REGIONAL24 COUNCILLORS BUDGET56 AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES

NATIONAL26 AND REGIONAL MEMBERS COMMITTEES KNOWLEDGE61 OUTPUTS

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A WORD FROM IUCN ROWA’S REGIONAL DIRECTOR

As we are approaching the end of a very memorable year, we look back with both pride and motivation. Pride to have achieved everything we can in the light of a world crisis, while maintaining the motivation to carry out our vision and values to conserve and protect natural wealth and biodiversity richness in West Asia.

In the light of what the world has seen this past year, from world fires, to the world pandemic of (COVID-19), to riots and strikes, and many other disasters that threatened not only the future of our biodiversity, but the future of the human race as well, we started wondering, how can we help? How can we be the light at the end of a dark tunnel?

We answered this question with the help of our powerful network of members, donors and partners, by conducting projects that targeted not only the enrichment of natural wealth and biodiversity, but also the empowerment of woman, and the growth of local communities.

I am honored to share with our esteemed network around the world selected highlights from our key Achievements in 2020, knowing that this marks my second year as a Regional Director in IUCN ROWA, and I couldn’t have been prouder of what we have achieved this year on an Environmental level, and a Humanitarian one.

It’s has truly been an inspiring Journey on a very rocky path, However, through our four thematic programmes, we have managed not only to implement more than 14 projects and initiatives in different countries around the region, but to deploy hundreds of partners, stakeholders and donors into working together to help protect our valuable ecosystems and contribute to the conservation of West Asia. Our interventions and efforts were never put into action without the engagement and participation of local communities at the grassroots level who partook in designing and managing sustainable solutions for the benefit of their lands and natural resources.

I would like to extend my gratitude and most profound appreciation to all our members, partners, donors, and my significant team of employees, for their great support and goodwill to safeguard our nature and remold the global rising threats and dangers into promising movements and strong calls to action to help build a better, safer, world for our future generations.

Dr. Hany El Shaer IUCN West Asia Regional Director

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06 © IUCN ROWA IUCN AT A GLANCE © IUCN ROWA IUCN AT A GLANCE

IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature with its Headquarters in Gland, Switzerland, was created in 1948 as a membership organisation. IUCN is the world’s first and largest global environmental network. It is a democratic membership union with more than 1,400 government and non-government member organisations, and almost 17,000 volunteer scientists and experts in over 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by around 900 professional staff in more than 160 countries and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world.

IUCN seeks to help the world find pragmatic solutions to the most pressing environmental and sustainable development challenges. IUCN supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world and brings governments, non-government organisations, United Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policy, laws and best practice in the field of environment and sustainable development

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IUCN Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA) was established in 2004 in Amman, Jordan. The IUCN West Asian region comprises of 13 countries including Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, the Syrian Arab Republic, Yemen and Iran in addition to the Gulf countries including Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. IUCN Regional Office for West Asia aims to be active in all13 countries in various conservation and sustainable development activities.

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ROWA’S TEAM

Hany El Shaer, Ph.D Regional Director [email protected]

Protected Areas and Biodiversity Programme Natalia Boulad, Suzan Kaki, Programme Manager Project Coordinator [email protected] [email protected]

Tamara Sbeih, Hanna Haddad, Programme Assistant Programme Assistant [email protected] [email protected]

Water and Climate Change Programme Ali Hayajneh, Mohamad Abu Safi, Programme Manager Site Engineer [email protected] [email protected]

Amjed Abedalqader, Faizah Slehat, Project Field Assistant Projects Officer [email protected] [email protected]

DryLands, Livelihoods and Gender Programme Laila Annouri, Amer Al Me’adat, Bushra Yaqoub, Programme Manager Project Coordinator Volunteer [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Marine and Coastal Zone Management Programme Ziad Samaha, Mira Husseini, Programme Manager Project Assistant [email protected] [email protected]

Membership and Communications Department Ola Mallah, Roaa Mohaisen, Regional Membership Coordinator Programme Assistant [email protected] [email protected]

Razan Baqain, Diab Suliman, Communications Intern Public Relations & General Services [email protected] Assistant [email protected]

Finance Department Suha Taha, Muatsem Al Sawa’i, Regional Finance Manager Finance Officer [email protected] [email protected]

Hashem Fraij, Emad Subah, Finance Assistant Programme Assistant [email protected] [email protected]

Human Resources Department Zeinab Habibeh, Sanaa Mahadeen, Regional Human Resources & Administrative Assistant Administration Officer [email protected] [email protected] Hala Jumah, Lubna Mosleh, Office Assistant Office Helper [email protected] [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP IUCN ROWA Annual Report 2020

MEMBERSHIP

IUCN ROWA is only as strong as the undivided power of its Members. We are proud that over the past 10 years we have seen a substantial growth in the number of Members in our region, from 32 Members in 2010 to 83 Members by the end of 2020.

Our Members benefit from the technical support in the field of environment, the knowledge sharing and the calls for consultancies that IUCN ROWA provides them with, in addition to the numerous events and initiatives that happen in collaboration with our Members. In 2020, there were 83 Members in West Asia classified in the following categories:

07 08 68 State Members Government Agencies National Non-governmental Organisations 01 03 Regional Committee Regional Councillors

05 541 National Committees Commissions Members

MEMBERS GROWTH

18 18 21 24 27 30 32 34 39 39 46 52 66 73 71 77 83

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

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Join IUCN and beneﬁts

Inﬂuence

Collective Voice

Partnerships and networks

Knowledge and increased capacity

Union Portal

Use of the IUCN Member logo

18 18 21 24 27 30 32 34 39 39 46 52 66 73 71 77 83

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

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MEMBERS LIST

State Members

The Supreme Council for Environment Bahrain (SCE) Ministry of Health & Environment Iraq (MoHE) Ministry of Environment Jordan (MoEnv) Environment Public Authority Kuwait (EPA) Environment Authority Oman (EA) The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture Saudi Arabia Ministry of Climate Change and Environment UAE

Government Agencies

Iraq Centre for Restoration of the Iraqi Marshlands and Wetlands (CRIMW) Iraq Environmental Sciences Department (SUH-Env) Jordan Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) Jordan National Center for Research and Development (NCRD) Jordan Petra Development Tourism Regional Authority (PDTRA) Kuwait Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) UAE Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) UAE Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR)

National non-governmental organisations

Bahrain Bahrain Women Association-for Human Development (BWS) Iran Center for Conservation and Development of Sustainable Ecosystems (ZIPAK) Iran Plan for the Land Society (P4L) Iran Centre for Sustainable Development (CENESTA) Iran Echo of Persia Wildlife (EPW) Iran Iran Environment Sponsors and Protectors (PAMA) Iran Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation (PWHF) Iraq Nature Iraq Organization (NI) Jordan International Research Center for Water, Environment, and Energy (IRCWEE) Jordan Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN) Jordan Arab Women Organization of Jordan (AWO) Jordan Basmet Elkhair Women Charity Association (BKWCA) Jordan Dibeen Association for Environmental Development (Dibeen) Jordan Future Pioneers for Empowering Communities’ Members in the Environmental and Educational Fields (FPEC) Jordan Hashemite Fund for Development of Jordan Badia (HFDJB) Jordan Horizon for a Green Environment (HORIZON) Jordan Jordan BirdWatch Association (JBW) Jordan Jordan Environment Society (JES) Jordan Jordan Environmental union (JEU) Jordan Jordan Society for the Conservation of Turtles & Tortoises (JSCT) Jordan Jordanian Society for Desertification Control and Badia Development (JSDCBD) Jordan Jordanian Society for Organic Farming (JSOF) Jordan Princess Alia Foundation (PAF)

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Jordan Royal Botanic Garden (RBG) Jordan Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) Jordan The Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD) Jordan The Jordanian Society for Microbial Biodiversity (JSMB) Jordan The Royal Marine Conservation Society of Jordan (JREDS) Jordan University of Jordan (JU) Jordan West Asia-North Africa (WANA) Institute (WANA) Kuwait Jordanian Beekeeper´s Union (JBU) Kuwait Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS) Lebanon Kuwait Water Association (KWA) Lebanon Green Hand (GHO) Lebanon Association for Forests, Development and Conservation (AFDC) Lebanon GHADI Lebanon Green Line Lebanon Operation Big Blue Association (OBBA) Lebanon Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) Lebanon Window to Environment Association (WEA) Lebanon Lebanese Environment Forum (LEF) Lebanon Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI) Lebanon Association for the Protection of Jabal Moussa (APJM) Lebanon Friends of Nature Association (FON) Lebanon Al Shouf Cedar Society (ACS) Lebanon Environment Protection Committee (EPC) Lebanon Mada Association (MADA) Lebanon Association for the Development of Rural Capacities (ADR) Oman Friends of Horsch Ehden Palestine Environment Society of Oman (ESO) Palestine The Environmental Education Center of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) Palestine Palestine Wildlife Society (PWLS) Palestine The Applied Research Institute Jerusalem Society (ARIJ) Palestine Land Research Center (LRC) Palestine Biodiversity and Environmental Research Center (BERC) Palestine The Palestinian Hydrology Group for Water and Environmental Resources Development-Research and Development (PHG) Palestine Union of Agricultural work Committee (UAWC) Palestine Palestinian Livestock Development Center (PLDC) Qatar Friends of Environment Center (FEC) Syria The Syrian Society for the Conservation of Wildlife (SSCW) UAE Emirates Nature in association with WWF (Emirates Nature-WWF) (ENWWF) UAE Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (MBZF) UAE Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) Yemen Al - Haswa Feminist Environmental Society (HFES) Yemen Sustainability Foundation for Nature Conservation (SFNC) Yemen Ras Imran society for sea turtles conservation (RISSTC) Yemen Environment Friends Association (EFA) Yemen Yemen Society for the Sustainability of Natural Resources (YSSNR)

COMMISSIONS IUCN ROWA Annual Report 2020

COMMISSIONS

IUCN Commissions focus on:

• Driving change through leading communication, learning and knowledge. • Promoting ecosystem-based approaches for the management of landscapes and seascapes. • Harmonising nature conservation and the critical social, cultural, environmental, and economic justice concerns of human societies. • Influencing, encouraging and assisting societies to conserve biodiversity by building knowledge on the status and threats to species. • Advancing environmental law to strengthen the legal foundations of conservation of nature and sustainable development. • Developing knowledge-based policy, advice and guidance on the full suite of issues surrounding protected areas. The six IUCN Commissions are broad and active networks of scientists and experts providing IUCN and its Members with sound know-how and policy advice to drive conservation and sustainable development.

IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) CEC drives change for the co-creation of sustainable solutions through leading communication, learning and knowledge management in IUCN and the wider conservation community. www.iucn.org/cec Members: 1,500+ West Asia Members: 116 West Asia Regional Vice Chair: Firas T. Abd-Alhadi

IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP) CEESP contributes to the IUCN’s mission by generating and disseminating knowledge, mobilising influence, and promoting actions to harmonise the conservation of nature with the critical social, cultural, environmental, and economic justice concerns of human societies. www.iucn.org/ceesp Members: 1,400+ West Asia Members: 44 West Asia Regional Vice Chair: Aisa Hammadeen

IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM) CEM promotes ecosystem-based approaches for the management oflandscapes and seascapes, provides guidance and support for ecosystem- based management and promotes resilient socio-ecological systems to address global challenges.

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www.iucn.org/cem Members: 1,000+ West Asia members: 80 West Asia Regional Chair: Tamer Khafaga

IUCN Species Survival Commission SSC build knowledge on the status of species and threats to them, and to provide advice, develop policies and guidelines and facilitate conservation planning. Through this work, SSC catalyzes conservation action and enables IUCN to influence policy and assist societies in biodiversity conservation. www.iucn.org/ssc Members: 9,000+ West Asia Members: 152 West Asia Regional Vice Chair: Ehab Eid

West Asia Arabian Plant Specialist Group The West Asia Arabian Plant Specialist Group (WAAPSG) is the successor of the Arabian Plant Species Specialist Group (APSG) that was active since 1996. The WAAPSG covers West Asia, a region including Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The main objective of WAAPSG is to agree on standards and protocols for individual countries to achieve targets for the conservation and preservation of their plant diversity and ensure regional consistency in its approach and sharing data for the benefit of all. The group wants, especially in countries with their habitats subjected to severe degradation, to complete a comprehensive list with the status for endemics, near endemics and rare species, as a starting point for conservation. West Asia Members: 25 West Asia Chair: Thuraiya Said Khamis Al Sariri

IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) WCPA develops knowledge-based policy, advice and guidance on the full suite of issues surrounding protected areas through the establishment of Specialist Groups and Task Forces. We bring together global experts to find solutions for programme priorities, including global protected area standards and Best Practice Guidelines. www.iucn.org/wcpa Members: 2,500 West Asia Members: 133 Regional Vice Chair: Imèn MELIANE

IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL) WCEL advances environmental law around the globe by providing specialized knowledge and assistance to strengthen the legal foundations of the conservation of nature and sustainable development through the conceptual advancement of environmental principles, norms, and laws, and by building the capacity of communities to benefit from the environmental rule of law. www.iucn.org/wcel Members: 1,279 West Asia Members: 16

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REGIONAL COUNCILLORS IUCN ROWA Annual Report 2020

REGIONAL COUNCILLORS

IUCN Council members are entrusted by the Union that has elected or appointed them, with significant responsibilities for ensuring that IUCN carries out its mandate as prescribed in its Statutes and Regulations. The Council has responsibility for the oversight and general control of all the affairs of IUCN, subject to the authority of the World Conservation Congress.

The composition, functions, rules and procedures of Council are prescribed in the Statutes, Regulations and Resolutions of IUCN.

Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, UAE IUCN West Asia Office has enormous responsibilities to address some of the challenges posed by the COVID- 19 pandemic and to ensure continuity of conservation work in the region. As a Councilor from the West Asia Region, I have full confidence that we will continue to make good progress and our work will be showcased as best practice in governance and flexibility, especially in times of extraordinary situations like these.

Dr Said Ahmad Damhoureyeh, Jordan During the past year, 2020, the year of COVID 19, the pandemic took us all in surprise and resulted in a devastating year for everyone. We lost many lives to this pandemic, however, and from the bad, many good things came out, where our environment recovered a little bit. We learned that our usual practice which resulted in destruction and unbalance of ecosystems. Many diseases and disasters occurred and eventually produced a negative feedback where a snow ball is rolling and will destroy everything, unless we stop and rethink our existence in this world and try a new way of treating our environment, a just and more sustainable manner. Wish this coming year will bring a healthy and prosperous time for humans and ecosystems were harmony between man and its biosphere will prevail. Happy new year to all.

Dr Ayman Rabi, Palestine (Executive Director of Palestinian Hydrology Group) 2020 was an exceptional year by all measures. All life aspects have deviated from normal. New forms of lifestyle emerged, longstanding culture and human behavior has changed. The year 2020 has sent a strong message to humanity to rethink their current living model, their way of treating nature and its resources the over pressure and overutilization, pollution and destruction of these resources. Perhaps one of its advantages is that it gave nature time to remediate itself and cure the damage caused by human over the past centuries of wrong practice. This is a golden opportunity for us as human to adjust our relation with our nature and to reform our behavior in a way that guarantee the continuation of the services that nature and its resources are providing to us.

24 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL MEMBERS COMMITTEES IUCN ROWA Annual Report 2020

IUCN Members within a country or region may choose to organise themselves into National and Regional Committees to facilitate cooperation among Members, and with other parts of the Union, and to support the participation of Members in the Programme and governance of IUCN. IUCN’s National and Regional Committees can be very different in nature. Some of the Member Committees work to jointly implement projects, whereas others are predominantly vehicles for exchange and networking. The Committees range in size and some have established secretariats. Regional Members’ Meetings, such as the Regional Conservation Fora, are usually organised jointly by the Regional Committees and the Secretariat. These offer Members the opportunity to participate in the preparation and evaluation of the Programme and strategies of IUCN, as well as to prepare them for the World Conservation Congress, the highest organ of IUCN.

Regional Committees for West Asia :

• Lebanon National Committee - 2002 • Palestine National Committee - 2016 • Kuwait National Committee - 2003 • United Arab Emirates National Committee – 2016 • Jordan National Committee - 2006

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PROGRAMMES AND MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS

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The West Asia region faces critical conservation challenges that cause threats to the ecosystems and biodiversity.

The critical issues facing the region are: • Land degradation, aridity and desertification. • Unsustainable water extraction and use, biodiversity and habitat loss, and species extinction. • Threats to sensitive marine ecosystems through pollution, habitat destruction, Invasive Alien Species, and unplanned coastal development.

Accordingly, the programmes designed its interventions to address those issues and find technical solutions with the support of its members, commissions, partners and donors.

Therefore, our work in the region focuses on four major thematic areas namely: 1. Protected Areas, Biodiversity and World Heritage 2. Water & Climate Change 3. Drylands, Livelihoods and Gender 4. Marine & Coastal Zone Management

Other cross-cutting areas including gender-mainstreaming and natural resource management are also embedded within IUCN ROWA’s work in the region.

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We are currently living in the sixth mass extinction. Species are being lost at an alarming rate. Protected areas guard critical habitats for species so that they can thrive in nature, unimpacted by human disturbance. ROWA Protected Areas, Biodiversity and World Heritage programme with its three thematic areas works in harmony to help ecosystems be resilient and continue to secure the variety of life in West Asia.

The Protected Areas Programme main responsabilities in West Asia region:

• The Protected Areas Programme helps to conserve key elements of biodiversity and plays a significant role in social and economic development. • The Biodiversity and Business programme aims to engage the business sector in the global movement towards biodiversity nature conservation. • The World Heritage Initiative supports the World Heritage related activities in the Arab States region on a broader framework of the IUCN’s Global World Heritage Programme.

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Market Policy and Legislative Development for Mainstreaming Sustainable Management of 1Marine and Coastal Ecosystems in Lebanon The marine and coastal biodiversity of Lebanon is severely degraded predominantly due to a lack of coordination and management amongst the various sectors responsible for the marine and coastal zone, combined with a lack of consolidated data and information on the marine and coastal biodiversity and limited awareness of the value and need for appropriate management amongst stakeholders. As such the present project has been proposed by the Ministry of Environment to address these critical issues. The main objective of the project is to conserve and protect marine and coastal biodiversity through enhancing policies and legal reforms, enhanced stakeholders’ participation and mainstreaming biodiversity priorities into national plans and programmes. This project promotes the integrated framework for sustainable management and conservation of coastal and marine biodiversity.

The main components of the project are: • Mainstreaming those priorities into national plans with particular focus on the impact of climate change on marine and coastal biodiversity. • Focus on enhancing stakeholder participation in marine and coastal biodiversity conservation through sharing of best practices, capacity building, and communicating the project and its results to the community.

• Funded by: Global Environment Facility (GEF) • Implemented by: UN Environment Programme • Executed by: IUCN ROWA in collaboration with The Lebanese Ministry of Environment.

Main Achievements:

• Developing two fact sheets on Marine Birds and Marine Invasive Alien Species in Lebanon. • Development of Guidelines on Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conservation in the EIA Process for Development Projects affecting marine and coastal environment. • Development of “An Atlas of Distribution for Coastal and Marine Birds of Lebanon”. • The project conducted a study on climate change impact on marine and coastal ecosystems to summarize impacts, perform gap assessment and vulnerability assessment of marine, coastal ecosystems, and identify policy and adaptation measures. • The project conducted an economic valuation study for coastal and marine biodiversity with special focus on Palm Islands Nature Reserve PINR and Tyre Coast Nature Reserve TCNR with analysis of most cost-effective and sustainable initiatives, finance mechanisms and tools and technologies for the protection of marine and coastal biodiversity. • The project conducted several training programmes for local stakeholders addressing national needs including a training on IUCN’s Red listing, protected areas management effectiveness, and methods of monitoring marine species. • Conducting a full marine habitat mapping and necessary survey across priority sites to produce sea floor, bathymetric, habitat, species distribution and sensitivity maps for five selected areas along the Lebanese coast. • Supporting the drafting of implementation decrees of the “National Protected Areas Framework Law” related to MPAs in Lebanon.

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Initial Steps for the Establishment of the National 2 Protected Areas Network Iraq is a vast, biodiversity-rich and biogeographically diverse country. The country has recently suffered from decades of conflicts, wars, sanctions and international isolation, which resulted in deteriorating standards of human well-being and severe environmental degradation. The country’s development agenda is therefore focused on reestablishing security and reconstruction. In this context, Biodiversity conservation and protected areas establishment was not given priority in recent years. A comprehensive study on the country’s Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) has been ongoing by Nature Iraq and partners, with the support of Birdlife International in order to identify the most important areas for biodiversity. Over 220 sites have now been surveyed, some over 12 seasons, and these sites are now being assessed against international criteria, as in IBAs and IPAs (Important Bird and Plant Areas respectively). These assessments provided the base for a comprehensive review for the development of a representative network of protected areas for Iraq. The main objective of this project is to develop and establish a national network of protected areas in Iraq with both long and short term implementation strategy and action plan. The project also involves pilot implementation in two protected areas namely; Teeb and Dalmaj Protected Areas.

• Funded by: the Global Environment Facility (GEF) • Implemented by UN Environment Programme In collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of Health and Environ- ment and IUCN ROWA.

Main Achievements:

• Developing a protected areas network PAN design for Iraq according to the guiding principles and criteria of the “Convention on Biological Diversity CBD” in consultation with national stakeholders. • Development of a strategy and action plan for the establishment of Iraq’s Protected Areas Network. • Conducting a Training Needs Assessment and developing a capacity-building programme for the Ministry of Health and Environment in Iraq. • Developing a draft management plan for Teeb Protected Area. • Developing a draft management plan for Dalmaj Protected Area. • Conducting 4 Webinars as part of the capacity building programme. • Conducting a training workshop on “Methods of raising the awareness of local communities and decision makers on biodiversity conservation in protected areas”. • Development of Two factsheets for Dalmaj and Teeb Protected Areas in Arabic.

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Monitoring and Documentation 3 of Biodiversity in Kuwait Biodiversity monitoring and documentation are important because they provide a basis for evaluating the integrity of ecosystems, their responses to disturbances, and the success of actions taken to conserve or recover biodiversity. The project aims to document biodiversity elements in Kuwait referring to published literature, previous records and updating existing data through field and gap filling surveys. The project also aims at rising the capacity of the Environment Public Authority (EPA) staff in biodiversity research and introducing them to modern research techniques and procedures. The outcomes of this project will contribute in establishing a biodiversity database that will enhance the decision-making process related to protected areas and biodiversity conservation.

• Funded by: The Environment Public Authority (EPA) • Implemented and executed by: IUCN ROWA Main Achievements:

• Conducting two training workshops on GIS data processing and UAV’s based Remote Sensing for the EPA staff. • Conducting theoretical and field training workshops on the identification and survey methods of insects. • Conducting a training workshop in Al Jahra Protected area on plants’ identification and survey methods for the EPA staff. • Conducting field visits to Qarouh Island, to prepare for the monitoring and documentation of data on fish, dolphins, sharks and marine mammals. • Conducting remote sensing analysis including the preliminary habitat classification for Al Jahra protected area using World View II satellite imagery. • The Publication State of Biodiversity in Kuwait received an IUCN ISBN and is now in the final design stage.

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Effective Management of Wadi El-Rayan and Lake Qarun 4 Protected Areas This project aims to strengthen the overall management of the Wadi El-Rayan and Lake Qarun Protected Areas to safeguard biodiversity by addressing a range of threats. It seeks to enable community involvement, capacity building and gender equality as the principle means toward improving effectiveness. The project aims to improve management effectiveness of Wadi El-Rayan Protected Area and Qarun Protected Area in Egypt through community involvement and capacity building”.

This objective will be achieved through the following components: Component 1: Strengthen management capacities of targeted PAs for the conservation of threatened and important species and their habitats. Component 2: Establish effective community participation in PA management and conservation / management of natural resources.

• Funded by: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) • Implemented by: UN Environment Programme • Executing agency: IUCN ROWA in collaboration with The Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA).

Main Achievements:

• Conducting an inception workshop to prepare for the official launch of the project, information on different components and outcomes of the project were presented and discussed in detail in consultation with relevant stakeholders. • Conducting a situation analysis regarding the management planning and effectiveness of Wadi El Rayyan and Lake Qaurn Protected Areas. • Conducting a management effectiveness assessment of Wadi El Rayyan and Lake Qarun Protected Areas using the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool METT. • Conducting a training workshop for Wadi Rayan and Lake Quran Protected Areas teams on Protected Area Management Effectiveness PAME and Management Effectiveness Tracking Tools METT. • Conducting an introductory training in Fayoum on IUCN’s Green list of protected and conserved areas in collaboration with IUCN’s Global Protected Areas Programme (GPAP). • Conducted a training needs assessment to identify training gaps for PA staff and local community and to ultimately develop a training strategy and action plan for the two PAs. • Conducted a GIS development needs assessment to identify the hardware and software needed in both PAs for their successful operations. The consultancy also developed a proposed structure for the information management unit that will be established in the PAs.

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The Middle East and North Africa is the world’s most water-scarce region and the situation is worsening due to the impacts of conflict, climate change and economic downturn. The water crisis threatens the region’s stability as well as its human development and sustainable growth. The Water and Climate Change Programme, in essence promotes good water and climate change governance in the region. It assists countries to strengthen their national capacities to revise existing and/or adopt new legal frameworks for the management of water resources in a sustainable manner and help manage nature resources.

This programme itself, directly contributes to the Global Water Programme; a world-wide effort of IUCN to implement a systemic approach to water management. This enables Members in the region to benefit from the experience and expertise available worldwide. This programme gives important attention to engage local communities in the planning and decision-making processes. At the same time all other relevant stakeholders are involved in a process of dialogue and concerted action. For this, the projects under this programme will importantly build on participatory planning and decision-making and the use of systemic approaches.

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MINARET (The MENA Region Initiative as a Model of NEXUS Approach 1and Renewable Energy Technologies) The NEXUS approach allows the analysis of interlinkages between sectors, in order to reap positive synergies and to effectively manage tradeoffs. This is done by adopting an integrated and coordinated approach across sectors, with a view to reconcile potentially conflicting interests, as sectors compete for the same scarce resources, all thewhile capturing existing opportunities and exploring emerging ones. MINARET is a four-year regional project working in the MENA region focusing on Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia, aiming at strengthening regional cooperation within the MENA region through implementing NEXUS approach integrated with renewable energy technologies at municipality’s level to mitigate climate change impacts and combat poverty. The project is designed to address the unique sustainability challenges and opportunities of the MENA region by applying the NEXUS approach, which increases local and regional sustainability capacities using the synergies between renewable energy technology and efficiency, water management and food security.

• Funded by: The Swedish International Development Cooperation (SIDA) • Executed by: IUCN ROWA and partners; Royal Scientific Society (Lead partner), and Horizons for Green Development.

Main Achievements:

• Conducting the Training of “MINARET Project’s Task Forces and the Local Authorities on Water Resource Management and WEF Nexus Approach” in three countries; Lebanon, Tunisia and Jordan and the training targeted mainly the municipalities’ employees. • Development of MINARET White and Position Papers on Mainstreaming Water, Energy and Food in National and Municipal Policies in Selected Countries. • Optimizing the three websites of the municipalities; Karak, Monastir and Jdeideh.

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Dam Protection in Jordan/ Reducing Erosion through Employment-Intensive Measures in Northern Jordan-Ziglab Dam in Irbid Governorate 2The Ziglab Dam feeds many of the northern Ghor plantations. Its main source is a cold river coming from the village of Marhaba. The river has many pools and waterfalls and slides. The area is an immigrant bird resting station and archeologists have found many Neolithic and Iron age artifacts there. The lake is clean and cold and has an expansion of 3 football fields. Nevertheless, due to our hot summers the lake shrinks and is out of service from the end of September until the first heavy rains of winter. The project aimed to improve the living conditions for Jordanian and Syrian families through employment intensive measures, and reducing erosion in dam catchment area, while supporting the basic needs of vulnerable Jordanians and Syrians. Moreover, preventing flood events in Za’atari Camp while creating short-term incoming generating activities for Syrian refugees.

• Funded by: The German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) • Executed by: IUCN ROWA, in Collaborations with Agency for Technical Development (ACTED), Horizons for Green Development, and REACH.

Main Achievements:

• Rehabilitation: cleaning the main wadies in the catchment zone and removing big rocks and stones in the wadies to assure efficient movement to the selected sites. • Conducting construction and excavation work. • Forestation and planting: planting around 2,000 trees on the land around the dam.

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Towards Sustainable Management of The Mujib 3 River Basin Wadi Mujib, which is also “almost certainly” the biblical Arnon Stream, is a river canyon in Jordan which enters the Dead Sea at 420 metres (1,380 ft) below sea level. The project aims to implement integrated river basin management in the Mujib River Basin as a pilot model in the country for other basins to follow in the future. Which is considered a feasibility stage, the project aims to establish an informal Mujib River Basin Platform and establish the foundation for a transition of this into a formal Mujib River Basin Commission. This project is divided into three strategies that will collectively provide the basis for the IRBM implementation in Mujib.

• Funded by: MAVA Foundation. • Executed by: IIUCN ROWA and partners; Royal Society for Conservation of Nature, and Wetlands International.

Main Achievements:

• Completion of the climate change scenarios of Mujib River Basin. • Completion of the hydrological report of Mujib River Basin. • Developing and Fostering WEAP System as a Decision Support Tool for Managing Water Resources in Mujib River Basin. • Completion of Water Evaluation and Planning System (WEAP) training for the targeted groups of partners and governmental entities.

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Strengthening Livelihood & Food Security of Host Communities & Syrian Refugees through the 4 Development of Sustainable Agricultural Practices The Jordanian government and people are highly, and rightfully, concerned about the potentially serious economic and social effects of the large influx of Syrian refugees to the country, including potential negative effects on the labour market. According to UNHCR there are currently about 616,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan, of whom more than 500,000 live in Jordanian communities outside camps. The Syrian refugee population in Jordan is equivalent to about 10 per cent of the total population in Jordan prior to the Syrian crisis (2010), and puts heavy pressure on the Jordanian society and economy, including the labour market.

This project is aligned with the IUCN mandate through the contributing improvement of the living conditions of the Jordanian community, and the Syrian refugees, and development of practical solutions to reduce the pressure on natural resources., the project is mainly aiming to improve livelihood, and strengthen resilience to climate vulnerability and Socio- economic challenges of Syrian refugees, and host communities in the municipalities of Ramtha (Irbid Governorate) and Um Al-Qaten (Mafraq Governorate).

The project is considered as a model of the NEXUS approach, to address the unique sustainability challenges and opportunities that face the local level of municipalities regarding water, energy, and food security. In order to, achieve the project’s goals.

• Funded by: The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) • Implemented and executed by: IUCN ROWA

Main Achievements:

• Signing the grant agreement with donor AICS - the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Amman on 29th June 2020. • Conducting the studies of: a) Value chain mapping and market assessment in Mafraq and Ramtha. b) Climate Change Vulnerability and Natural Resource Study. c) Socio-Economic Study at the municipalities of Ramtha (Irbid Governorate) and Um Al-Qaten (Mafraq Governorate.

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© IUCN ROWA Smart Development of Eco-Friendly Solutions and Economic Regional Agricultural 5 Techniques (Smart Desert) Being eco-friendly means living in a way that is not harmful to the environment. This way of life is becoming increasingly important, as we need to protect our planet from man-made damage. There are various ways that an individual can make sustainable changes in order to lessen the negative effect that our daily lives usually contribute to. This project aims to support the development of ecologically responsible and economically accessible agricultural solutions and techniques in the highlands of Jordan in Mafraq governorate and North East Badia.

The project plans to improve the functioning of existing farms through the use of modern techniques in order to make them more productive and water-use efficient, to improve the working conditions of farmers and workers (decent work, income diversification), to contribute to the socio-economic empowerment of Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanians in the agricultural sector, thus strengthen community resilience by stimulating local economic growth.

• Funded by: The French Development Agency (AFD) • Implemented and executed by: IUCN ROWA and partners; GreenTech, Horizons for Green Development, Blumont International and The Inter-Islamic Network on Water Resources Development and Management (INWRDAM) • In collaboration with National Agricultural Researches Centre (NARC).

Main Achievements:

• Signing the grant agreement with donor (AFD) on November 22nd,2020 in presence of the French Ambassador in Jordan and the AFD director in Jordan. • Signing the Implementing agreements with all partners. • Starting the baselines studies of the project by all partners.

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Drylands generally refer to arid, semi-arid and dry sub humid areas, and are home to more than 2 billion people, or one in three people in the world. Drylands are key to global food and nutrition security for the whole planet, with up to 44 per cent of the world’s cultivated systems located in drylands. Drylands also support important ecosystems ranging from rangelands and grasslands to semi-desert, and host 1.1 billion hectares of forest – more than a quarter of the world’s forest area. Rangelands support 50 per cent of the world’s livestock and are habitats for wildlife, while livestock production and croplands dominate in more arid and drier sub humid areas, respectively.

The Drylands, livelihood and Gender Programme contributes to the restoration and rehabilitation of rangelands in the West Asia region, to further improve management and sustainable use of pastoral lands while providing nature-based solutions to preserve and protect ecosystem services and functions needed to improve livelihoods, achieved through participatory management, applying sustainable land management practices, gender equality, integration of the local communities, identifying sustainable rangeland governance framework models and catalyzing a scale-up using the outreach of the partnership created with national governments, businesses and local communities.

The Drylands programme contributes to the revival of the Hima concept within local communities, which in return prevents desertification. Hima is an inherited protective system, which was followed by Bedouin to manage grazing and maintain the area preserved.

Furthermore, as the programme works on achieving global natural resources sustainable management goals and policies, it also contributes to the IUCN Global Drylands Initiative, through its regional and global knowledge sharing, policies implementation and capacity building of stakeholders and providing support in adapting sustainable practices.

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Healthy Ecosystems for Rangeland Development 1(HERD) One of the main problems facing the Arab Region is land degradation and desertification which has become a serious socio-economic and health issue. Land degradation is triggered by drought, population growth, intensive farming practices and degraded rangelands, overexploitation, urbanization, climate change and harmful economic policies.

Drylands account for about 90% of the total area (EOAR, 2010) with 33% grasslands, 19.1% deserts, 6.6% forests and 14.1% arable land. Scattered grasslands and forests, and degraded rangelands and crop land fall into the largest land use category thus threatening food security. Land degradation has also aggravated the Sand and Dust Storm (SDS) frequency and intensity in the region thus affecting human health and SDGs. Sustainable Land Management integrating cross sectoral participation is an urgent action needed in the region requiring international community immediate attention and support to combat desertification and land degradation effectively and promote sustainable policies and use of natural resources as well as adaptation to climate change.

This project aims to strengthen restoration and sustainable management of pastoral rangelands for the provision of ecosystem services and protection of biodiversity by applying land degradation strategic objectives expected to contribute to reversing current trends in Egypt and Jordan, while also, catalyzing scale-up of sustainable practices and land governance frameworks, both regionally and globally.

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• Funded by: The global environment facility (GEF) • Implemented by: UN Environment Programme • Executed by: IUCN ROWA.

Main Achievements:

• Conducted a comprehensive regional rangeland situation analysis in the League of Arab State (LAS) countries, including an overview of the state of rangeland health and estimated cost benefit of restoration and protection. • Developed a field guide on the participatory rangeland management planning (PRMP) with practical implementation in targeted locations, and training of trainers (ToT). • Introduced and implemented new best practices in rangelands restoration in the project’s pilot sites. • Conducted a desk review of regional and global policies related to sustainable rangelands management SRM and Land Degradation Neutrality LDN to be shared with stakeholders and to be endorsed by the League of Arab States. • Organised a global interactive dialogue between high-level government representatives and non-state actors from around the world to promote global action on rangeland restoration. • Conducted GIS and remote sensing trainings for stakeholders and community members in Jordan and Egypt on sustainable rangeland management strategies using Geographic Information System.

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Stakeholders Engagement and Natural Resources Assessment 2 for AES in East Amman Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is when a company operates in an ethical and sustainable way and deals with its environmental and social impacts. This means a careful consideration of human rights, the community, environment, and society in which it operates.

Stakeholders Engagement and Natural Resources Assessment for AES in East Amman, aims at engaging stakeholders in seeking solutions to local and environmental challenges affecting the east Amman area in two target areas; Al Manakher and Al Khashafyah.

The second phase aims to deliver nature-based solutions for sustainable use of the natural recourses through community involvement directed to overcome environmental pollution, strengthen biodiversity resilience by assessing the natural, social and economic resources, and identifying long-term solutions appropriate to the local context. This project is a three-year-project.

• Funded by: The AES Levant Holding BV Jordan • Implemented by: IUCN ROWA

Main Achievements:

• Conducted capacity building training workshops for target community members on livelihood and income generating projects, including value chains and digital marketing. • Established new CBOs engaging women, youth and members of the local community in participatory project implementation and knowledge sharing. • Organised exchange visits between CBOs for knowledge and experience sharing. • Designed and implemented income generating projects mainstreaming women empowerment and promoting nature-based solutions. • Installed solar heater units for community members in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy.

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The West Asia region is the junction between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is a main commercial shipping route between Asia and Europe. Marine biodiversity is particularly rich, with some 1,200 species of fish and330 species of corals recorded from the Red Sea and the Gulf and more than 11% of the corals are endemic to the Arabian Peninsula. Mediterranean marine biodiversity is still very poorly known: data are lacking to evaluate the conservation status of about one third of the species assessed so far. Yet what we know is alarming, 42% of Mediterranean Cartilag�- inous fishes are Threatened, 6% are Endemic and a 25% of Data Deficiency for these species according to the IUCN Red List. The East Mediterranean is under pressure from Non-indigenous species, putting the local stocks of commercial species at risk couple with the fishing intensity.

West Asian Marine environment is also at risk from marine litter and plastics, due to high population densities, lack of consistent waste-management schemes, and large influxes of tourists and strategic merchant navigation. The establishment of the Marine and Coastal Management Programme was identified with an emphasis on the assessment and impact studies of marine ecosystems and the promotion of regional collaboration and multi-stakeholder dialogue.

The Programme is focusing on consolidating assessments on West Asia status-quo with regard to marine and coastal zone ecosystem management, establishing a functioning network of marine and coastal management at the regional level and addressing the global threats of ocean acidification, invasive species, loss of habitat due to ever expanding urbanization and coastal development a coupled with various impacts of climate change.

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Coastal Ecosystem Resilience – CER: Enhancing Socio-Ecological Climate Change Resilience of 1Marine and Coastal Systems in Lebanon Coastal communities are increasingly coping with changing environmental conditions as a result of climate change and ocean acidification, including sea level rise, more severe storms, and decreasing natural resources and ecosystem services. A natural adaptation response is to engineer the coast in a perilous and often doomed attempt to preserve the status quo. Lebanon’s coastal area hosts most of the country’s economic activities and it is home to more than 85% of its residents. Therefore, threats of sea level rise, temperature fluctuation and variable rainfall patterns put the country at risk. In light of these impeding threats, the marine programme conceived the idea of the Coastal Ecosystem Resilience project in 2018.

• Funded by: The Royal Norwegian‎ Embassy in Beirut. • Implemented by: IUCN ROWA

Main Achievements:

• A protocol of cooperation was drafted and signed by the Regional Director of IUCN ROWA and the Lebanese Minister of Agriculture. • The fish spawning calendar will be the first spawning calendar tailor made for Lebanese most common targeted species, once finalized it will offer information on the first maturity and other relevant information of the most targeted species in Lebanon. • The procurement of fishing gear tags. • The procurement of the VMS device that is used to measure the location, speed and heading of a vessel. The data generated will help push the fisheries sector towards a fully documented sector. • The Government of Lebanon, through the National Council for Scientific Research will soon deploy its first ever Marine Smart Buoy. The device is equipped with a set of modifiable sensors that can detect several parameters. 1. Training session will be held to ensure the proper application and use of the buoy. 2. Data gathered by the buoy will be essential in the development of mitigation and adaptation plans. 3. Data will be also accessible to academics and researchers through an online platform. • IUCN-ROWA and the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS-L) launched a series of out at sea activities backed with extensive desk mapping to develop Sea floor mapping in partnership with the IUCN ROWA Protected Area Programme, through their ongoing project in Lebanon funded by the GEF.

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DONORS AND PARTNERS IUCN ROWA Annual Report 2020

DONORS

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PARTNERS

13 541 83 15 Countries Commissions Members Donors

2.06 M 14 22.5 M SDG’s contribution Projects Projects Budget Budget

42 Publications & 43.625 K 131.7 K 39 Knowledge output Website Visits Social media Reach online Workshops

Q1 100.0% Category Period Involuntary Voluntary Total 54.2% 4.3% Q2 100.0% 45.8% Involuntary Male Female Q1 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Q3 100.0% Q4 Q2 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% YTD 0.0% 95.8% Total 24 | Grand Total 24 Period Voluntary 11 13 Q3 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Staff member Staff member Q4 4.2% 0.0% 4.2% 4.3% YTD 95.8% Total Headcount by Turnover ratios 2020 Retention rates 2020 category & gender 51 IUCN ROWA Annual Report 2020

13 541 83 15 Countries Commissions Members Donors

2.06 M 14 22.5 M SDG’s contribution Projects Projects Budget Budget

42 Publications & 43.625 K 131.7 K 39 Knowledge output Website Visits Social media Reach online Workshops

Green List Initiative The IUCN Green List of Protected Areas (Green List) is an initiative that encourages, measures, celebrates and shares the success of protected areas in reaching good standards of management and governance. It is designed to assist national governments and their community partners in conservation to meet the commitments embodied in the CBD Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and particularly Target 11. A requirement of this target is the effective and equitable management of protected areas.

West Asia region achievements: • The English version of the dedicated IUCN Green List website is now live as a beta version. Soon to be finalised with new additional languages among which is Arabic language. see www.iucngreenlist.org • The Middle East West Asia Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (MEWA EAGL) was re-structured with the election of a new chair and co-chair with new terms of reference. • The MEWA EAGL conducted an adaptation for the Generic indicators, which will go under stakeholder consultation process before they are finalised. • A virtual exchange session between the MEWA and China EAGL’s was coordinated by IUCN ROWA and the Global Protected Areas Programme (GPAP) to enhance collaboration and exchange of experiences and lessons learned across regions. • IUCN ROWA and GPAP organised a webinar on PANORAMA Solutions to support the sites submitting Green List application to meet the requirement of submitting a PANORAMA Solution. The webinar was held in August 2020. • The Middle East West Asia MEWA region currently has 16 sites, 6 sites added to the Green List in 2018, 3 in the candidate phase, 7 sites in the applicant phase.

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BUDGET AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES IUCN ROWA Annual Report 2020

BUDGET AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES

Total projects portfolio around 22.5 million CHF

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SDG’S BUDGET Clean Water and Sanitation Clean Water Life On Land Partnerships for the Goals Good Health and Well-being Good Health and Well-being Zero Hunger Zero Responsible Consumption and Production Responsible Consumption and Production Reducing Inequality No Poverty Sustainable Cities and Communities Affordable and Clean Energy Affordable Life Below Water Life Below Water Decent Work and Economic Growth and Economic Growth Decent Work Climate Action Gender Equality Quality Education

9% 2% 2% 2%%18%11 9% 4% 4% 4% 2% 9% 4% 11% 9%

57 IUCN ROWA Annual Report 2020 Clean Water and Sanitation Clean Water Life On Land Partnerships for the Goals Good Health and Well-being Good Health and Well-being Zero Hunger Zero Responsible Consumption and Production Responsible Consumption and Production Reducing Inequality No Poverty Sustainable Cities and Communities Affordable and Clean Energy Affordable Life Below Water Life Below Water Decent Work and Economic Growth and Economic Growth Decent Work Climate Action Gender Equality Quality Education

9% 2% 2% 2%%18%11 9% 4% 4% 4% 2% 9% 4% 11% 9%

KNOWLEDGE OUTPUTS IUCN ROWA Annual Report 2020

KNOWLEDGE OUTPUTS

IUCN publishes an array of publications on conservation and sustainable development issues, and is recognised as the scientific authority behind many of the managment guidelines, state-of-the-art assessments and conservation policies in use today. IUCN ROWA produced a set of publications and technical reports in 2020, below are some delivered knowledge examples:

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