In the Caspian region the transition to a market economy has put forward social and economic problems often having put off the solution to environmental issues. Mutual problems of the Caspian littoral States in the field of integrated coastal zone management include the absence of ICZM institutions, a general lack in the development of ICZM methods and insufficient practical experience in the implementation of the ICZM process, plans and projects. Other points affecting ICZM and in need of attention are a low level of public awareness, lack of financial means and purposive investments, weak enforcement capabilities and mechanisms, lack of integration of sectoral development in coastal management and few possibilities for public participation in coastal management and decision making. Because NGOs in countries bordering the Caspian are separated by vast distances, hampered by poor communication, infrastructure problems and lack of access to information, they have had little opportunity to join forces to address their common problems. However, in a desire for co-operation in order to face the key environmental problems of the Caspian region several international initiatives have been taken

The Caspian Environment Programme (CEP) - signed in June 1995 - functions as a regional umbrella programme. It was established by all five Caspian States and supported by a number of international agencies including The World Bank, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union/Tacis (Azerbaijan, I.R. Iran, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation and Turkmenistan). As defined in the CEP Concept Paper, the overall goal of the programme is "Environmentally sustainable development and management of the Caspian environment, including living resources and water quality, so as to obtain the utmost long-term benefits for the human populations of the region, while protecting human health, ecological integrity and the region's sustainability for future generations ". In May 1998 the CEP was officially launched during meetings held at Ramsar, Islamic Republic of Iran.

So far a Steering Committee has been established and the Concept Paper has been agreed upon as being the basis for the CEP. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) project for the Caspian has been endorsed by the Caspian littoral states and serves as a technical basis for implementation of the CEP. The most important thematic areas to be addressed by the CEP include among other things: Effective Regional Intersectoral Co-ordination and Environmental Management, Public Awareness and Involvement in the CEP, including the National Caspian Action Plans (NCAP) and regional Strategic Action Programme (SAP), Regional Data and Information Management Systems and Integrated Transboundary Coastal Area Planning and Management.

The Meeting of the Interim Steering Committee of the Caspian Environment Programme (CEP), held on 2-3 May 1998 at Ramsar, Islamic Republic of Iran, agreed to establish the Caspian Regional Thematic Centre for Integrated Transboundary Coastal Area Planning and Management (CRTC-ITCAMP) in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The ITCAMP Centre will co-ordinate and assist the development and application of the philosophy and approach of Integrated Coastal Area Management Planning for the Caspian region by facilitating the exchange of information and sharing of experience. The Centre will co-ordinate the preparation of a series of national Coastal Profiles from which will arise the Caspian Regional Coastal Profile. Having assessed the situation through the Profiles, the Centre will organise training courses in Coastal Planning and Management and develop draft guidelines and procedures. The draft guidelines will be tested in the field through pilot projects. These pilots will result in functional coastal management plans for the selected localities as well as serve to indicate any necessary refinements before the draft guidelines can be incorporated into the Handbook for Integrated Coastal Area Management Planning in the Caspian Region. In collaboration with the Data & Info Caspian Regional Thematic Centre and the Programme Coordination Unit (PCU) the Centre will develop the methodology and the technical specifications for Planning Information Management in GIS format which will then be adopted as a harmonious approach by the participating countries. In collaboration with the PCU and with the support of the National Action Programmes (NAPs), the Centre will develop the conceptual approach, overall scope, overall design and technical specifications for the Caspian Atlas of Coastal Resources, which will comprise 6 volumes, one for each country and a regional volume.

Another effort aiming at improving the Caspian environment is the ‘CASPAS’ Programme, which has been in preparation for several years. Its main objectives include setting up a regional system for collection and exchange of information on air and water conditions, environmental pollution and other environmental parameters in the Caspian region. Furthermore, it aims at carrying out a comprehensive investigation of changes in the Caspian Sea level and environmental pollution in the region as well as assessing and forecasting the impact of those two factors on the region’s environment. At present, the project is looking for funds for project preparation.

The Risk Assessment Project is a short-term project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. The objective is to introduce the concepts of Risk Assessment for use by the Caspian littoral states as they strive to prioritise investments for improving environmental conditions here during the next decades. Using oil and gas development in the Caspian Sea as a scenario for demonstration, the Risk Assessment is working to demonstrate, by example, the utility of Risk Assessment as an environmental and policy tool.

ISAR's information service was created to improve information exchange on environmental problems of the Caspian region. ISAR's Caspian Programme is designed to strengthen and broaden co-operation between NGOs from around the Caspian basin working on issues critical to environmental protection and human health. The programme has four main elements: an environmental conference, a co-operative grants programme supporting joint environmental projects, the development of an e-mail network around the Caspian basin and a series of local workshops.

Currently a Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea is under preparation. The revised Draft Framework is to be deliberated at a Convention Meeting in Moscow, Russia in June 2000.
 
 

Prepared by Marian Eeltink at EUCC International Secretariat

© EUCC, 2000