Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MUSCAT122
2008-02-11 06:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:  

DEVELOPMENT, CITES TOP CONCERNS FOR OMAN'S

Tags:  SENV ETRD EAID PGOV MU 
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VZCZCXRO4366
RR RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD
DE RUEHMS #0122/01 0420626
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110626Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9260
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEHC/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000122 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, OES, AND AIAG
STATE PASS TO USAID
EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL/
USDA FOR FOREST SERVICE/INTERNATIONAL
INTERIOR FOR INTERNATIONAL/WASHBURNE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ETRD EAID PGOV MU
SUBJECT: DEVELOPMENT, CITES TOP CONCERNS FOR OMAN'S
ENVIRONMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000122

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, OES, AND AIAG
STATE PASS TO USAID
EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL/
USDA FOR FOREST SERVICE/INTERNATIONAL
INTERIOR FOR INTERNATIONAL/WASHBURNE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ETRD EAID PGOV MU
SUBJECT: DEVELOPMENT, CITES TOP CONCERNS FOR OMAN'S
ENVIRONMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS



1. (U) Summary: Oman's rapid development plans and its
ability to effectively implement the Convention on the
International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) topped the
list of concerns for environmental stakeholders during Amman
ESTH Officer's January 26-29 visit to Muscat. Omani
officials welcomed USG technical assistance programs to build
environmental capacity in the Sultanate, including CITES
implementation and nature conservation efforts. The
government recently strengthened its environment ministry
with a newly appointed minister, and plans are underway to
construct a new botanical garden to showcase Oman's flora.
End Summary.

--------------
CITES Implementation
--------------


2. (SBU) On January 29, Amman ESTH Regional Officer and
Econoff met with Ali al-Kiyumi, Director General for Nature
Conservation, Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs
(MECA),to discuss the status of Oman's recent accession to
CITES. Kiyumi noted that accession paperwork remained under
review with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but added that
Oman has already been complying with most CITES provisions.
Kiyumi further stated that once the accession document is
deposited with CITES, the government would implement
modifying legislation to comply with the Convention's
enforcement provisions. In preparation for CITES, Kiyumi
said that customs officials at Oman's six border checkpoints
and two airports would need training to recognize and refer
cases for suspected CITES violations. He welcomed proposed
technical assistance from the U.S. Department of Interior
under the regional MEPI grant for CITES capacity building,
and encouraged such regional capacity building so that
neighboring countries could develop similar implementation
plans.


3. (U) In a separate meeting, Andrew Spalton, Environmental
Advisor to the Diwan of the Royal Court, highlighted several
key CITES enforcement challenges in Oman. These include:

-- Ivory and rhino horns from Africa, which are sometimes

used in dagger handles;
-- Santush from India/Pakistan, which is widely used in
headdress in Oman; and,
-- Oud from Southeast Asia, which are often used as an
incense/fragrance in Oman.


4. (U) Spalton was unsure if Oman would seek a CITES waiver
for the widely used santush and oud. Kiyumi also noted that
despite strong CITES enforcement in Oman, smugglers are able
to get CITES permits from corrupt officials in Africa, making
it difficult for Omani officials to prevent the import of
these goods. Similarly, Spalton raised the issue of caviar
from the Caspian Sea, which used to be packaged in United
Arab Emirates until its CITES accession prompted many
companies to transfer their caviar packaging across the
border into Oman.

--------------
High Level of Environmental Awareness
--------------


5. (SBU) CITES implementation will benefit from a generally
high level of environmental awareness in Oman, which Spalton
credits to the Sultan's leadership and commitment to the
environment, as well as to the integration of environmental
issues in school curricula. Spalton highlighted that MECA
was the first stand-alone environment ministry in the region
when the Sultan created it in 1986. MECA has typically been
a weak cabinet player in attempting to balance the aggressive
development plans of the Ministry of National Economy and the
Ministry of Tourism; however, Spalton believes the newly
appointed environment minister (a member of the Omani royal
family) is likely to raise the profile of environmental
issues in the cabinet and will "fight from his corner" to
balance development and tourism growth.

--------------
But Environmental Challenges Still Abound
--------------


6. (SBU) ESTH Officer's meetings, as well as his discussions

MUSCAT 00000122 002 OF 002


with attendees at the EPA's "Role of Science and Public
Participation in Environmental Law" workshop in Muscat,
generated a common listing of key environmental challenges
facing Oman. Among them are:

-- Widespread plastic bag use. Littering appears to be of
particular concern since the bags (which do not decompose)
blow into trees. Many bags enter the ocean, where
sea-turtles and dolphins mistake them for jellyfish and eat
them;
-- Trash. While Muscat is a clean city due to organized
clearing of trash, most wadis (valleys) in the interior are
plagued with litter;
-- Wildlife protection. The wild oryx population has
dwindled from 500 in 1996 to less than 50 currently, as the
natural wildlife habitats for the oryx have shrunk from
34,000 km/sq to 2,800 km/sq. (Note: Oman, Yemen, and Saudi
Arabia are the only Gulf countries with wildlife in natural
habitats. Oman has many Oryx bred in captivity. End note.);
-- Public participation. There is a lack of grassroots
participation in environmental issues, since Omanis are used
to a top-down approach. (Note. The Omani government is now
working with NGOs such as the Environment Society of Oman
(ESO) and Earthwatch, which was invited by the Sultan to set
up an office in Oman. End note.);
-- Strengthening MECA. Local NGOs have noted that
Environmental Impact Analysis documents are "rubber-stamped"
by MECA, and that MECA has no real ability to stop new
developments;
-- Protecting the marine environment. Numerous oil tankers
pass the 3,500 kilometers of Omani coastline daily, often
discharging oil and ballast water.

--------------
Protecting Oman's Beauty
--------------


7. (U) In efforts to overcome these challenges, MECA is
looking to strengthen its nature reserve system. Oman
currently has 14 protected areas under MECA's supervision.
Ras al Jinz, a protected sea-turtle park located on the
Arabian Sea coast, stands to suffer the most from tourism
development, as the 42 kilometer coastline reserve is now
unable to deal with the large number of visitors. To counter
development plans for the surrounding area, MECA is working
with the Ministry of Tourism to limit the number of planned
hotels, as well as specifying low-grade lighting to encourage
continued sea turtle nesting. Moreover, a private sector
company recently contributed $1 million to fund a management
conservation center. (Note: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service is working with MECA on a sea-turtle tagging and
tracking project, along with providing training seminars for
Oman's environmental rangers. End Note.) The ESO, the only
local NGO which includes officials from the Royal Court and
MECA as board members, has applied with the U.S. Department
of Interior for a grant to improve sea-turtle park
management. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will work
with the ESO on expending allocated funds.

--------------
Garden to Showcase Oman's Flora
--------------


8. (U) Supplementing these efforts, Spalton and the Royal
Court are leading the planning for an ambitious new Botanical
Garden, to be located just outside Muscat. The 423-hectare
park will include 1,200 native flora and fauna species based
on a sustainable management principle. Varied habitats from
Oman, including the southern mountains, central desert, and
northern gravel, will be included, as will a heritage center,
a nursery, craft center, and a 100-room hotel and spa. The
park will be applying for platinum level LEED certification
based on its use of renewable energy, water conservation, and
reuse design. Twenty-four garden staff members have already
grown over 35,000 of the approximately 400,000 plants needed
for the target opening in 2011.
GRAPPO