final cover - home page

- Convention on Biological Diversity
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
- Kyoto Protocol.
The framework would be made of following steps and objectives. Each objective will require
implementation of one or more action plans.
STEP 1: institutional development and improvement of environmental governance
Objective 1.1: support the development and institutional strengthening of the Desert
Commission, competent for the management of the protected areas of al Badia, and provide
assistance to resolve any potential competence conflict with other institutions
Objective 1.2: discuss, prepare and propose a national legal framework for protected areas
management, acknowledging the role and rights of local traditional users
STEP 2: improvement of socio-economic and ecologic local conditions
Objective 2.1: discuss, negotiate and agree on a sustainable pasture tenure regulation
within IPA in order to control and limit the grazing pressure
Objective 2.2: raise awareness on family planning and improve delivery of education and
health services
Objective 2.3: gradually reduce and halt uncontrolled scrub uprooting for firewood by providing
IPA inhabitants with a facilitated access to an alternative environment-friendly energy
supply (solar, wind etc.)
STEP 3: improve and diversify the income, based on felt needs and local culture
Objective 3.1: set up a Business Development Facility, culturally and socially sensitive
Objective 3.2: preliminary training of target beneficiaries at the Business Development
Facility, aimed at enabling them to identify, develop, prepare and submit business ideas
Objective 3.3: selection of best business ideas, follow-up and assist beneficiaries in starting
the businesses, securing financing, and linking up to marketing / distribution channels
Objective 3.4: beneficiaries whose business ideas were discarded are offered to be included
in the training program as IPA staff
STEP 4: landscape and biodiversity heritage
Objective 4.1: preparation and implementation of a pasture ecological rehabilitation plan
within IPA in cooperation with the local community
Objective 4.2: support the development and capacity building of IPA: staff training and preparation
of a scientifically-based 5-year management plan
Objective 4.3: Institutionalise and consolidate routine protection and monitoring of rare
fauna
9. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A special thank goes to the Desert Commission’s General Manager Eng. Ali Hamoud. We
thank the Italian Development Cooperation (DGCS), RSPB, National Geographic, Finnish
and Netherlands embassies in Damascus for funding. Petro-Canada provided the highresolution
satellite image of the study area and the funding for the publication. Management,
institutional facilitation and support by IUCN West Asia and BirdLife Middle East were
crucial. A special thank goes to Sharif Jabbour (BLME), Chris Bowden (RSPB), Jeremy
Lindsell (RSPB) and Paul Buckley (RSPB). We are indebted with Dr Mohamad Rahmoun
and Dr Adwan Shehab for their scientific revision of the manuscript.
10. REFERENCES
1. Aharoni, J. 1929. Zur brutbiologie von Comatibus comata Bp. (Geronticus eremita L.).
Beitrage zur Fortpflanzungsbiologie der Vogel 5: 17–19.
2. Akçakaya, H.R. 1990. Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita population in Turkey: an evaluation of
the captive breeding project for reintroduction. Biological Conservation 51: 225-237.
3. Benyamini, D., Serra, G. and Bruschini, C. 2007. Papilio demoleus in Palmyra, Syria. A
new migrant to the Middle East. Bulletin of the Is. Lepidopterists Society 24(2): 4-10.
4. BirdLife International 2004. Geronticus eremita. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species. . Downloaded on 09 June 2007.
5. Bowden, C.G.R., Aghnaj, A., Smith, K.W. and Ribi, M. 2003. The status and recent breeding
performance of the last known wild population of northern bald ibis Geronticus eremita,
on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Ibis 145: 419-431.
6. Jimenez Armesto, M.J., Boehm, C. and Bowden, C. (Compilers) 2006. International Single
Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita.
AEWA Technical Series No. 10. Bonn, Germany: 56 pp.
7. Lindsell, J., Serra, G., Abdallah, M.S., al Qaim, G. and Peske, L. 2009. Satellite tracking
reveals the migration route and wintering area of the Middle Eastern population of Northern
Bald Ibis. Oryx 196 (2): In print.
8. Mirreh, M.M., Arru, G. and Batello, C. 2000. Towards Formulation of Drought Management
Policies and Strategies. FAO official report, project GCP/SYR/009/ITA.
9. Mirreh, M.M., Al Jundi, A., Khaddour, H. 2001. Grazing Management of Talila Reserve for
Bedouin Camels. FAO report project GCP/SYR/009/ITA (available at FAO Representation
Syria).
10. Palmyra Region Strategic Action Plan: A Strategy for Sustainable Development. 2008.
Ministry of Environment and Local Affairs, Municipal Administration Modernization Project
MED/2004/6264 - Europe Aid 119822/SV/SY: 131 pp.
36 IPA Assessment IPA Assessment 37