REEF CHIEF ENVIRONMENTAL NGO ANNOUNCES FARASAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000277

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KICR KISL PREL SA SENV
SUBJECT: REEF CHIEF ENVIRONMENTAL NGO ANNOUNCES FARASAN
ISLANDS EXPEDITION

REF: A. JEDDAH 270 B. JEDDAH 106 C. 05 JEDDAH 4928


1. SUMMARY: On April 4, Pol/Econ Chief attended a meeting
of the environmental NGO "Reef Chief" sponsored by a local
business leader, Tarek Taher. Taher described his
organization's structure and links to organizations and
individuals and announced an expedition, conducted in
cooperation with Saudi and regional authorities, to survey
and film the marine environment of the Farasan Islands. The
organization seems very much a product of Mr. Taher's
personal interest. Local environmental awareness and
involvement appears to be very limited at this time. END
SUMMARY.

FRIENDS OF REEF CHIEF MEETING


2. On April 4, Pol/Econ Chief attended the "1st Reef Chief
Global Friends Meeting" at the expensively appointed offices
of founder Tarek Taher's business headquarters in a
fashionable Tahlia Street high-rise in Jeddah. The meeting
was called on short notice and there were, in addition to
Taher and his staff, Mr. Abdullah Al-Suhaibani from the
Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment
of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden (PERSGA),a visiting
female Italian journalist reporting on Saudi business and
economy, and four female instructors from Effat College in
Jeddah. Taher described the development of his organization
and the links he had developed. He enumerated his contacts
with Saudi and regional environmental officials, including
the Presidency for Meterology and Environment (PME),PERSGA,
the Supreme Commission for Tourism (SCT) and colleges such as
Effat Colege, Abdul Aziz University and the American
Uniersity of Cairo (AUC). He has forged relations wih anumber of other groups
and individuals rangig as far afield
as the German Consul General in Jddah, King's College
London, University of Califrnia at Berkeley, and companies
from Singapore to Washington, D.C. He has also enlisted at
least nominal support from recent visitor to Jeddah, former
Vice President Al Gore, and another philanthropist interested
in the maritime environment, American movie director James
Cameron.


FARASAN ISLANDS EXPEDITION


3. At the meeting, Taher announced his newly formed NGO's
first major activity. He related that during May, he would
film the third and final segment of his personal documentary
film "The Red Sea, My Planet" (reftel A) in the Farasan
Islands. (Note: The Farasan Islands are located on a
shallow coastal shelf just north of the Saudi-Yemeni border.
Reftel B. End Note.) Filming will be carried out in concert
with an expedition to survey the Farasan Islands being
conducted by PERSGA, PME, the Living Oceans Foundation,
sponsored by Prince Khaled bin Sultan, AUC, and Effat
College. A number of other ships and aircraft will be
utilized to carry out the survey. They hope to map the
marine and reef environments utilizing a Compact Airborne
Spectrographic Imager (CASI) system as a prelude to a
comprehensive survey of the areas habitats and biodiversity.

PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION


4. In addition to filming the expedition, Taher and his
companions will be conducting much of the public outreach
associated with this expedition. Saudi environmental
officials are acutely aware of the importance of developing
public appreciation of environmental preservation (reftel C).
Both Reef Chief and Living Oceans Foundation will have
on-line updates of the expedition as it proceeds. Effat
College is promoting environmental studies at the college
level and producing materials for schools. Taher's group
will make a special effort to interact with schools on the
Farasan Islands themselves. PERSGA and PME intend to utilize
the event in their public and school education campaigns to
educate the Saudi public about this unique environment. The
Saudi sponsored environmental clubs at schools will also be
involved.

LITTLE PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS


JEDDAH 00000277 002 OF 002



5. COMMENT: It is apparent that Mr. Taher has committed
substantial personal and financial resources to this cause,
has developed wide contacts and is willingly guided by local
and international experts. Maintaining contact with Mr.
Taher should be beneficial for the Consulate's mission of
promoting environmental progress. He may be a powerful
advocate for future environmental initiatives in Saudi
Arabia. He could also be a good example of what interested
businessmen can contribute to the environmental dialogue in
their countries.


6. Of concern, however, is the fact that the Reef Chief
organization is very much Mr. Taher's organization, and it is
questionable how long it would survive if business or
personal considerations turned his attention elsewhere. Also
discouraging was the fact that the "Friends of Reef Chief"
were all scientists and foreigners. All of the Saudi
scientists that Pol/Econ Chief has meet exhibit a commendable
dedication to environmental improvement and the foreigners
involved in this and other activities are similarly
committed, however popular Saudi interest and involvement is
lagging. The apparent lack of public involvement is
surprising, considering the importance of diving and marine
recreational and economic activities in the Jeddah area. The
efforts of PME and Reef Chief to promote environmental
awareness are essential to fostering public awareness and
sould be encouraged and assisted, if feasible. ENDCOMMENT
Gfoeller