IEA 8932 (385697)
Source: https://archive.iwlearn.net/persga.org/Documents/Doc_62_20090211123942.pdf
Protocol Concerning the Conservation of Biological Diversity and the Establishment of Network of Protected Areas in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (2005)
The Contracting Parties of Jeddah Convention,
Being Parties to the Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment, adopted in 1982, and its associated Protocol (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Convention’).
Conscious of the continued pressures on the marine and coastal areas and their ecosystems within their respective territories and elsewhere, due to the process of urbanization, population growth, economic development, and other factors which may result in substantial decline of biodiversity, and of the need to provide co-operative and effective measures to deal with and minimize them.
Stressing the importance of safeguarding biodiversity and, as appropriate, improving the state of the natural and cultural heritage of the PERSGA region, in particular through the enhancement of protected marine and coastal areas and also by the protection and conservation of threatened species, on a national and regional basis to deal with this problem in a comprehensive manner.
Recognizing that adoption and eventual ratification/accession of the Protocol will provide many national, regional and global benefits including: contribution to the conservation of endemic, migratory, regional and globally significant species of fauna and flora; reduction of the loss and degradation of coastal and marine ecosystems in the region; enhancement of socio-economic development in the region, through the sustainable use of coastal and marine resources, including fishing and tourism; facilitation of the development and implementation of integrated coastal and marine resource management procedures; assistance to other regions in the preparation of similar legal frameworks for access to, sustainable use of, and equitable sharing of the benefits developed from, their genetic resources and; improvement of regional collaboration, particularly concerning issues of a trans-boundary nature and by providing vehicles for public awareness, education and research.
Considering the principles enunciated in instruments adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and particularly the Convention on Biological Diversity (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), including the Jakarta Mandate and its five thematic themes, as well as the instruments of other relevant international agreements and programme of actions dealing directly or indirectly with biodiversity conservation and protected areas.
Also noting that when there is a threat of significant reduction or loss of biological diversity, lack of full scientific certainty should not be invoked as a reason for postponing measures to avoid or minimize such a threat.
Reaffirming that all States shall cooperate to conserve, protect and restore the health and integrity of marine and coastal ecosystems and that in view of the different contributions to global environmental degradation, States have common responsibilities in the pursuit of sustainable development.
Have agreed as follows:
PART 1. General Provisions
Article 1: Objectives
1. To provide for the conservation, protection and restoration of the health and integrity of the ecosystems and biological diversity in the PERSGA region.
2. To safeguard the threatened species, the critical habitats, sites of particular importance, as well as representative types of coastal and marine ecosystems, their biodiversity and their sustainable use and management, to ensure long-term viability and diversity.
Article 2: Use of Terms
For the purpose of this Protocol the following terms and expressions have the meanings indicated below, except when otherwise inferred from the text:
1. “Protocol”: The Protocol Concerning the Conservation of Biological Diversity and Establishment of Protected Areas.
2. “Organization”: means the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA).
3. “Contracting Parties”: means those Parties which have ratified this Protocol.
4. “Convention”: means the Regional Convention for Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment, 1982.
5. “Council”: means the Council of the Organization.
6. “Competent Authority” (otherwise ‘National Focal Point’): means the authority designated by each Contracting Party, as responsible for the coordination for implementing this protocol.
7. “The Region”: means the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Region.
8. “Biological diversity”: means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.
9. “Habitat”: means the place or type of site where an organism or population naturally occurs.
10. “In land water”: means waters on the landward side of the baseline of the territorial sea forming part of the internal waters of the state.
11. “Protected area”: means a geographically defined costal and marine areas that are designated or regulated and managed to achieve specific conservation objectives.
12. “Biological resources”: includes genetic resources, organisms or parts thereof, populations, or any other biotic component of ecosystems with actual or potential value for humanity.
13. “Biotechnology”: means any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.
14. “Carrying capacity”: means the capacity of a natural system, such as a coral reef, to support tourism, recreation or other human activities, according to physical, ecological and socioeconomic criteria.
15. “Ecosystem”: means a dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities interacting with their non-living environment as an ecological unit.
16. “Endemic species”: means any species believed to occur only in a specified geographic region in the wild.
17. “Alien species”: means species or sub-species that have been introduced into an area outside their past or present natural distribution.
18. “Threatened species”: means any taxon whose survival is significantly jeopardized by human activities or other factors. It is a collective term encompassing the following IUCN (The World Conservation Union) categories:
- Critically Endangered (taxa facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild).
- Endangered (taxa facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild) and
- Vulnerable (taxa facing a high risk of extinction in the wild).
19. “Domesticated or cultivated species”: means species in which the evolutionary process has been influenced by humans to meet their needs.
20. “Technology”: means the practice, description and terminology of any or all of the applied sciences which have practical and/or industrial use, including biotechnology.
21. “Genetic resources”: means genetic material of actual or potential value.
22. “Sustainable use”: means the use of components of biological diversity in a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-term decline of biological diversity, thereby maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations.
23. “Country of origin of genetic resources”: means the country which possesses those genetic resources in in-situ conditions.
24. “Country providing genetic resources”: means the country supplying genetic resources collected from in-situ sources, including populations of both wild and domesticated species, or taken from ex-situ sources, which may or may not have originated in that country.
Article 3: Area of Application
The Protocol shall include the Sea Areas as defined in the Convention, together with the inland sea waters of the Contracting Parties, as well as the terrestrial coastal areas, the saltwater marshes communicating with the sea, and any terrestrial coastal areas designated by each of the Contracting Parties, including wetlands.
Article 4: General Obligations
Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to:
1. Protect, conserve and manage their natural biological diversity with particular emphasis on threatened species.
2. Protect, preserve and manage in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner areas that are unique, highly sensitive or regionally representative, notably by the establishment of protected areas.
3. Adopt strategies, plans and programmes for the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use and management of marine and coastal biological resources.
4. Adopt appropriate planning, management and supervision including legislation and monitoring measures for the protected areas, including contingency plans for environmental emergencies.
5. Adopt comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIAs) to evaluate the suitability of proposed mariculture operations, assess their consequences for coastal and marine biological diversity and promote techniques which minimize adverse impacts.
6. Control land-based and sea-based sources of pollution that pose a significant impact on habitats and species.
7. Ensure that systems of coastal and/or land-use and tenure provide for inter-generational equity and are consistent with the principles for conservation and sustainable resource use and management; and
8. Designate Competent Authorities responsible for the fulfillment of the obligations and duties specified in the Protocol.
PART 2. Protection and Conservation of Species
Article 5: List of Threatened Species
1. Contracting Parties shall provide inventories of threatened species, if applicable, adopting The World Conservation Union (IUCN) criteria to define these species. These inventories shall constitute Annex 1 to this Protocol.
2. Contracting Parties shall consider developing and applying common, preferably quantitative criteria to determine species which are threatened at the regional level, as appropriate.
3. Contracting Parties shall periodically provide an account of measures being undertaken to cons serve populations of threatened species, if applicable., The effectiveness of such measures will be assessed using common criteria, and plans for additional action may be established as necessary.
4. The status of internationally recognized threatened species, as well as the nature and magnitude of impacts threatening their survival, should be monitored periodically by Contracting Parties according to common criteria such as population size, extent of occurrence, number of mature individuals and estimated immediacy of extinction.
Article 6: List of Species Whose Exploitation is Regulated
Contracting Parties shall provide periodical lists of aquatic species of commercial and/or cultural value, such as shells used for local trade, species of local importance and/or other harvested species whose exploitation is regulated by this Protocol. The lists shall include their population status and measures for restoration of population decline, if applicable. These lists shall constitute Annex 2 to this Protocol.
Article 7: Maintenance of Threatened Species and Species of Economic/cultural importance
1. Contracting Parties shall endeavor to maintain sustainable fisheries and sustainable populations of other harvested species, inter alia by adopting as appropriate regional and national fisheries policies and plans, and by protecting critical life cycle stages of key fishery species including shrimps. These stages include nursery, development, and spawning in feeding areas, as well as shelter areas.
2. Contracting Parties shall make every effort to safeguard the habitats of threatened species and species of economic/cultural importance, and to limit negative impacts on these habitats and associated species caused directly or indirectly by human activities.
3. Contracting Parties shall pursue conservation actions for these species at regional level, as appropriate, because a number of them are migratory. Contracting Parties shall regulate recreational activities and provide conservation measures for threatened species and species of econ nomic/cultural importance.
Article 8: Alien Species and Genotypes
1. Contracting Parties shall prevent the introduction to the wild of non-indigenous or genetically modified species and prohibit those that may have harmful impacts on the ecosystems, habitats or species.
2. Contracting Parties shall control and regulate those already introduced alien species through monitoring, and shall eradicate such species if possible.
3. Contracting Parties shall periodically provide a report for each identified alien species or genotype, in accordance with a common regional format.
PART3. Protection of selected regionaly representative marine and coastal areas
Article 9: Establishment of the List of Protected Areas of Importance to the PERSGA Region
1. In order to promote cooperation in the management and conservation of natural areas, as well as in the protection of threatened species and their habitats, the Contracting Parties shall draw up a ‘List of Protected Areas of Importance to the PERSGA region’, hereinafter referred to as the ‘PERSGA PA List’.
2. The PERSGA PA List shall include sites which:
(a) are of importance for conserving the components of biological diversity in the PERSGA region.
(b) contain ecosystems specific to the PERSGA region or the habitats of threatened species.
(c) are of special interest at the scientific, aesthetic, cultural or educational levels, such as coral reefs and mangroves, or lakes, marshes and khors that connect to the sea directly, as well as nursery grounds for shrimp and migratory fish.
(d) include zones that help in the promotion of sustainable fisheries, the conservation of biodiversity and/or the maintenance of ecosystem functioning.
(e) contribute to the regional network or system of protected areas.
3. The Contracting Parties agree:
(a) to recognize the importance of the protected areas for the PERSGA region.
(b) to comply with the criteria specified in Annex 3, in a manner that does not run counter
(c) to the objectives of this Protocol.
Article 10: Procedure for Inclusion of Proposed Proteceted Areas in PERSGA pa list
1. PERSGA PA lists may be established, following the procedure provided for in paragraph 2 to 4 of this Article and criteria specified in Annex 3, in the marine and coastal zones subject to the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Contracting Parties.
2. Proposals for inclusion in the List may be submitted by the Contracting Party concerned, if the area is situated in a zone already delimited, over which it exercises sovereignty. One country or more of the contracting parties concerned may submit proposals for inclusion of areas that are partly or wholly in high seas.
3. Contracting Parties making proposals for inclusion in the PERSGA PA List shall provide the Organization with an introductory report containing information on the area’s geographical location, its physical and ecological characteristics, its legal status, its management plans and the means for their implementation, as well as a statement justifying its importance to the PERSGA region.
4. The procedure for including the proposed area in the PERSGA PA List is the following:
(a) for each area, the proposal shall be submitted to the National Competent Authority of contracting party concerned, which shall examine its conformity with the common guidelines and criteria adopted pursuant to Article 17 of this Protocol.
(b) if a proposal made in accordance with paragraph 2of this Article is consistent with the guidelines and common criteria, after assessment, the Organization shall inform the meeting of the Contracting Parties, which shall decide to include the area in the PERSGA PA List.
5. The Contracting Parties which proposed the inclusion of the area in the List shall implement the conservation and sustainable use measures specified in their proposals in accordance with paragraph 3 of this Article. The Contracting Parties undertake to observe the rules thus laid down. The Organization shall inform the competent international organizations of the List and of the measures taken in the PERSGA PA lists as appropriate.
6. The Contracting Parties may revise the PERSGA PA List. To this end, the Organization shall submit an updated annual report to each contracting party.
Article 11: Management of Protected Areas
1. Contracting Parties shall make every reasonable and practical effort to safeguard protected areas from the negative impacts which threaten their persistence. All measures and requirements for this Protocol are applicable to the management of protected areas, with special consideration to the following:
(a) maintenance of threatened species, or species of economic/cultural importance.
(b) maintenance and conservation of special habitats.
(c) restoration of ecosystems and populations of species whenever possible.
(d) Involvement of local communities
2. Contracting Parties shall develop and implement management plans for marine and coastal protected areas according to the criteria specified in Article 17 of this Protocol.
Article 12: Inventories of Areas of Special Importance
Contracting Parties are encouraged to provide inventories for areas of special importance, such as areas containing sensitive ecosystems, reservoirs of biological diversity and important habitats for threatened species as well as fishery and other species of socio-economic importance and cultural heritage endangered. The characteristics shall be monitored within areas of special importance as appropriate. Identification of such areas might facilitate the selection of sites for possible inclusion in PERSGA PA List.
Article 13: Management of Special Habitats
Contracting Parties shall adopt and comply with conservation measures for special habitats (particularly wetlands /marshes, mangrove trees/forests, sea- grass beds and coral reefs) in order conserve them and to minimize possible adverse ecological effects from human activities.
PART 4: Provisions common to protected areas, habitats and species
Article 14: Integrated Coastal Areas Management
The Contracting Parties shall consider adopting and applying principles of integrated coastal areas management, to provide an umbrella mechanism for biodiversity conservation, marine protected area management and sustainable resource use as appropriate. Requirements for the application of these principles include but are not limited to the following:
1. Integration of biodiversity conservation and environmental considerations at an early stage in national and regional economic planning.
2. Recognition of the fact that sustainability requires the need to maintain the integrity of coastal systems and that this implies limits to the use of resources generated by these systems. Water management projects, including management of wetlands connected to the sea and inland water, must also be taken into consideration.
3. An understanding that the carrying capacity of marine and coastal systems to support tourism, recreation and other human activities is variable but not infinite, and that surpassing such carrying capacity may strongly influence the degree of sustainability of these systems;
4. Development of integrated management criteria that allow the use of natural resources by different users and avoid conflict of activities.
5. A balanced broad scale zoning of the PERSGA region targeting, in particular the establishment and management of protected areas.
Article 15: Environmental Impact Assessment
1. The Contracting Parties shall endeavor to broaden the scope and strengthen the role of EIA as a mechanism for minimizing biodiversity and habitat loss, as follows:
(a) shall be a requirement for any new project or activity likely to have significant impact on coastal and marine biodiversity and habitat in the area, or wider area defined by this Protocol.
(b) shall extend to all major components of biodiversity and their bioeconomic value, integrated with social, cultural and economic value, and assessments made over the long-term as well as the short-term.
2. Contracting Parties are encouraged to exchange information and undertake consultation with other concerned Parties where proposed national projects/activities are likely to have trans boundary impacts on biological diversity in areas under the sovereignty of other Parties.
Article 16: Restoration of Ecosystems and Populations of Species
Contracting Parties shall consider, when appropriate, restoring ecosystems and species, taking in account the following:
1. Internationally or regionally recognized guidelines for re-introduction and action plans for the conservation of species.
2. the costs and benefits of environmental restoration may extend to consideration of artificial habitats.
3. Periodical monitoring of the effectiveness of restoration programmes according to national priorities and capabilities.
Article 17: Guidelines and Common Criteria
The Contracting Parties shall adopt:
(a) IUCN criteria for the inclusion of additional species, covered by Annexes 1 and 2
(b) Common criteria for the selection of protected marine and coastal areas that could be included in the PERSGA PA List as detailed in Annex 3.
(c) Common criteria for assessment of other species, habitats and ecosystems included in this Protocol.
(d) Common criteria shall be developed and adopted to determine when an ecosystem or population of species is sufficiently degraded to merit restoration.
(e) Guidelines for the establishment and management of protected areas, as detailed in Annex 3.
(f) The common criteria and guidelines referred to in paragraphs (a) and (c) to (e) may be amended by the meeting of the Contracting Parties on the basis of a proposal made by one or more of the Contracting Parties. The Organization shall communicate the text of any amendment to the Contracting Parties at least 6 months before the meeting.
PART 5. Other Provisions
Article 18: Access to Genetic Resources
1. Recognizing the sovereign rights of Parties over their natural resources, the authority to determine access to genetic resources rests with the national governments and is subject to national legislation in the context of the Convention on Biodiversity and the United Nations General Assembly Resolution No 57/260 of 20 December 2002.
2. Each Contracting Party shall endeavor to create conditions to facilitate access to genetic res sources for environmentally sound uses by other Contracting Parties and not to impose restrictions that run counter to the objectives of this Protocol.
3. For the purpose of this Protocol, the genetic resources being provided by a Contracting Party, as referred to in this Article, are only those that are provided by Contracting Parties that are countries of origin of such resources.
4. Access to genetic resources, where granted, shall be on prior informed terms, mutually agreed upon by the Contracting Parties and subject to the provisions of this Article. Such access shall be in a manner that maintains the right of the countries providing genetic resources, to equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of such resources.
5. Each Contracting Party shall endeavor to develop and carry out scientific research based on genetic resources provided by other Contracting Parties with the full participation of, and where possible in, such Contracting Parties.
Article 19: Access to, and Transfer of Technology and Distribution of its Benefits
1. Access to, and transfer of, technology
(a) Each Contracting Party, recognizing that technology includes biotechnology, and that both access to and transfer of technology among Contracting Parties are essential elements for the attainment of the objectives of this Protocol, undertakes subject to the provisions of this Article to provide and/or facilitate access for and transfer to other Contracting Parties of technologies that are relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity or make use of genetic resources and do not cause significant damage to the environment.
(b) Access to and transfer of technology referred to in paragraph (a) above, to other Contracting Countries shall be provided and/or facilitated under fair and most favorable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms where mutually agreed, and, where necessary. In the case of technology subject to patents and other intellectual property rights, such access and transfer shall be provided on terms which recognize and are consistent with the adequate and effective protection of such rights.
(c) Each Contracting Party shall take legislative, administrative or policy measures, as app propriate, with the aim that Contracting Parties, which provide genetic resources are provided access to and transfer of technology which makes use of those resources, on mutually agreed terms, including technology protected by patents and other intellectual property rights. In this regard, no intellectual property rights in respect of genetic resources and the technology associated with their use shall be granted, unless the claimant of such rights proves that access to their genetic sources in the country of origin has taken place in accordance with the laws of the country of origin and under its knowledge and consent.
(d) Each Contracting Party shall take legislative, administrative or policy measures, as app propriate, with the aim that the private sector facilitates access to, joint development and transfer of technology referred to in paragraph (a) above for the benefit of both governmental institutions and the private sector of the Contracting Countries;
(e) The Contracting Parties, recognizing that patents and other intellectual property rights may have an influence on the implementation of this Protocol, shall co-operate in this regard subject to national legislation, international law and the Convention on Biological Diversity in order to ensure that such rights are supportive of the objectives of the Protocol and do not run counter to it.
2. Handling of Biotechnology and Distribution of its Benefits
(a) Each Contracting Party shall take legislative, administrative or policy measures, as appropriate, to provide for the effective participation in biotechnological research activities by those Contracting Parties which provide the genetic resources for such research, and where feasible in such Contracting Parties.
(b) Each Contracting Party shall take all practicable measures to promote and advance access, on a fair and equitable basis by Contracting Parties, to the results and benefits arising from biotechnologies based upon genetic resources provided by those Contracting Parties. Such access shall be on mutually agreed terms.
(c) Contracting Parties shall consider the need for and modalities of a protocol setting out appropriate procedures, including prior consent, in the field of the safe transfer, handling and use of any living modified organism resulting from biotechnology that may have adverse effect on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; and
(d) Each Contracting Party shall, directly or by requiring any natural or legal person under its jurisdiction providing the organisms referred to in paragraph (c) above, provide any available information about the use and safety regulations required by that Contracting Party in handling such organisms, as well as any available information on the potential adverse impact of the specific genetically modified organisms concerned on biodiversity in the Contracting Party into which those organisms are to be introduced, taking into account human health.
Article 20: Scientific and Technical Co-operation
1. The Contracting Parties shall promote regional technical and scientific cooperation in the field of conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, where necessary, through PERSGA, and if applicable, international cooperation.
2. Each Contracting Party shall promote technical and scientific cooperation with other Contracting Parties, in implementing this Protocol, inter alia, through the development and implementation of national policies. In promoting such cooperation, special attention should be given to the development and strengthening of national capabilities, by means of human resources development and institution building.
3. The Organization shall be used as a mechanism to promote and facilitate technical and scientific cooperation.
4. The Contracting Parties, if applicable, in accordance with national legislation and policies, enc courage and develop, where appropriate, methods of cooperation for the development and use of technologies, including indigenous and traditional technologies, in pursuance of the objectives of this Protocol. For this purpose, the Contracting Parties shall also promote cooperation in the training of personnel and exchange of experts.
5. The Contracting Parties shall, subject to mutual agreement, promote the establishment of joint research programs for the development of technologies relevant to the objectives of this Protocol.
Article 21: Information Exchange
The Contracting Parties undertake to facilitate the exchange of information within the region, from all publicly available sources relevant to the objectives of this Protocol.
Article 22: Environmental Awareness
1. Contracting Parties shall give appropriate publicity to the establishment of protected areas, their boundaries, applicable regulations, and to the designation of protected species, their habitats and applicable regulations.
2. Contracting Parties shall endeavor to inform the public of the value and vulnerability of protected areas and species. Such information may be included in education programs. Contracting Parties shall also endeavor to promote the participation of their public and their conservation organizations in measures that are necessary for the protection of the areas and species concerned.
3. In this context contracting Parties shall also give attention to species that congregate in the PERSGA region at particular times of the year, which include certain threatened species.
Article 23: Reports to Parties
Contracting Parties shall submit to ordinary meetings of the Parties a report on implementation of this Protocol, in particular on:
(a) Threatened Species.
(b) harvested species whose exploitation is regulated, including species of economic/cultural importance.
(c) alien species and genotypes.
(d) the status and state of areas included in the PERSGA PA List.
(e) any changes in the delimitation or legal status of the PERSGA PAs and protected species.
(f) areas of special importance which are not currently included in the PERSGA PA List.
Article 24: Annexes
The following Annexes are integral part of this protocol. The procedures for amendments to Annexes to this Protocol shall be those set forth in Article XXI of the Convention.
PART 6. Institutional Provisions
Article 25: Responsibilities of the Organization
The Organization shall, inter-alia:
1. communicate with Competent Authorities “Focal Points” in the Contracting Parties on the app plication of the Protocol.
2. provide training of national specialists, particularly for monitoring and implementation of the provisions of this Protocol.
3. arrange upon request, for the provision of legal and technical assistance and advice to the Contracting Parties for the effective implementation of this Protocol.
4. enhance the regional capabilities and networks for the exchange of data and information of relevance to the Protocol.
5. establish a common monitoring system for the Protected Areas and species.
6. develop a regional awareness programme in cooperation with the contracting parties.
7. prepare periodical reports on the implementation of the Protocol and present them to the Council and the Focal Points.
8. establish and maintain liaison and co-ordination with relevant regional and international organizations and conventions including but not limited to CBD, Ramsar, and UNEP.
9. perform such other functions as may be assigned to it by the Council for the implementation of the Protocol.
10. co-ordinate with the United Nations Environment Program – Regional Office for West Asia (UNEP/ROWA), which assists with the provision and exchange of technical information, in particular countries that are part of UNEP/ROWA.
11. implement deliberations of the Jeddah MoU signed between UNEP, the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment (CAMRE) and PERSGA (May 1999).
Article 26: Competent Authorities “Focal Points”
Each contracting Party shall designate a competent authority “Focal Point” to serve as a liaison with the Organization for technical and scientific aspects of the implementation of this Protocol. The Competent Authorities “Focal Points” shall meet periodically to coordinate all issues and activities related to the Protocol
PART 7. Final Provisions
Article 27: Effect of the Protocol on National Legislation
The provisions of this Protocol shall not affect the rights of Contracting Parties to adopt relevant stricter national measures for its implementation, provided they are compatible with the provisions of the Protocol.
Article 28: Signature
This Protocol shall be open for signature by the governments of the Contracting Parties during the Regional Meeting of the Signatories of the Protocol Concerning the Conservation of Biological Diversity and the Establishment of the Network of Protected Areas in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, to be held in Jeddah on 10-11 Zul Qaeda 1426 H (corresponding to 12-13 December 2005)
Article 29: Ratification, Acceptance or Approval
This Protocol shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by the Contracting Parties. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Government of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which will assume the functions of Depository according to Article 29 of the Convention.
Article 30: Entry into Force
1. The present Protocol, shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the day of deposit of at least four instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval of, or accession to the Protocol.
2. This Protocol shall enter into force with respect to any party on the thirtieth day following the date of deposit by that party of the instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. The Protocol Concerning the Conservation of Biological Diversity and the Establishment of the Network of Protected Areas in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Region, is considered an integral part of the Convention. The original of this Protocol shall be deposited with the Government of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in its capacity as the Depository (According to provisions of Article 29 of the Convention). Copies of the Protocol shall be sent to the Contracting Parties. The Protocol shall be registered with the Secretariat General of The Arab League and the Secretariat General of the United Nations according to the provisions of Article 102 of the United Nations Charter.
In witness whereof, the undersigned Plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized by their respective Governments, have signed the present Protocol.
For the Government of:
The Arab Republic of Egypt
The Democratic Republic of Somalia
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The Republic of Djibouti
The Republic of Sudan
The Republic of Yemen
Done at the city of Jeddah on Monday 11 Thul Qe’da 1426 (H) corresponding to 12 December 2005.
PART 8. Annexes
Annex 1: List of Threatened Species
(list to be provided by each Contracting Party)
Annex 2: List of Species whose Exploitation is Regulated
(list to be provided by each Contracting Party)
Annex 3: Common Criteria for the Selection of Marine and Coastal Areas that could be Included in the Persga Pa List
FIRSTLY: GENERAL PRINCIPLES
The Contracting Parties agree that the following general principles will guide their work in establishing the PERSGA PA List:
1. The conservation and sustainable use of natural heritage is the basic aim that must characterize a PERSGA PA List.
2. No limit is imposed on the total number of areas included in the PERSGA PA List or on the number of areas any individual Contracting Party can propose for inscription. Nevertheless, the Contracting Parties agree that sites will be identified and selected on a scientific basis and included in the List according to their qualities; they will have therefore to fulfil the requirements set out by the Protocol and the present criteria.
3. The listed PERSGA PAs and their geographical distribution will have to be representative of the PERSGA region and its biodiversity. To this end the PERSGA PA List will have to represent the highest number of habitats and ecosystems.
4. The PERSGA PAs will have to constitute the core of a network aiming at the effective conservation of the natural heritage of the PERSGA region. To attain this objective, the Contracting Parties will develop their cooperation on bilateral and multilateral bases in the field of conservation and management of natural sites and notably through the establishment of transboundary PERSGA PAs.
5. The sites included in the PERSGA PA List are intended to have value as examples and models for the protection of natural heritage of the region. To this end, the Contracting Parties ensure that sites included in the List are provided with adequate legal status, protection measures and management methods and resources.
SECONDLY:GENERAL FEATURES OF THE AREAS THAT COULD BE INCLUDED IN THE PERSGA PA LIST
1. To be eligible for inclusion in the PERSGA PA List, an area must fulfill at least one of the general criteria set in Article 9 paragraph 2 of the Protocol.
2. The importance to the region is a basic requirement of an area for being included in the PERSGA PA List. The following criteria should be used in evaluating the PERSGA region interest of an area:
(a) Uniqueness
The area contains unique or rare ecosystems, or rare or endemic species;
(b) Natural representativeness
The area contains highly representative ecological processes, or community or habit tat types or other natural characteristics. Representativeness is the degree to which an area represents a habitat type, ecological process, biological community or physio graphic feature of other natural characteristic.
(c) Diversity
The area has a high diversity of species, communities, habitats or ecosystems;
(d) Naturalness
The area has a high degree of naturalness as a result of the lack or low level of human induced disturbance and degradation.
(e) Presence of habitats that are critical to threatened or endemic species.
(f) Cultural representativeness.
The area has high representative value with respect to cultural heritage.
3. To be included in the PERSGA PA List, an area having landscapes or seascapes, scientific, educational or aesthetic interest must, respectively, present a particular value for research in the field of natural sciences or for activities of environmental education or awareness or contain outstanding natural features.
4. Besides the fundamental criteria specified in Article 9, paragraph 2 of the Protocol, a certain number of other characteristics and factors may be considered as favorable for the inclusion of the site in the List. These include:
(a) the existence of present or potential threats likely to impair the ecological, biological, aesthetic or cultural value of the area,
(b) the involvement and active participation of the stakeholders in the process of planning and management of the area,
(c) the existence of an integrated coastal management plan and/or the principles of integrated coastal area management as set forth in Article 14 of the Protocol.
THIRDLY: LEGAL STATUS
1. All areas eligible for inclusion in the PERSGA PA List must be awarded a national legal status guaranteeing their effective long-term protection.
2. To be included in the PERSGA PA List, an area previously delimited over which a Contracting Party exercises sovereignty, must have a protected status recognized by the Party concerned, for example in instances when the area was delimited during an earlier period, or by a different Sovereign Party.
FOURTHLY: PROTECTION, PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES
1. Conservation and management objectives must be clearly defined (in the texts) relating to each site, and will constitute the basis for assessment of the adequacy of the adopted measures and the effectiveness of the implementation when revisions of the PERSGA PA List are being considered.
2. Planning, protection and management measures applicable to each area must be adequate for the achievement of the conservation and management objectives set for the site in the short and long term, and take in particular account the threats upon it.
3. Planning, protection and management measures applicable to each area must be based on an adequate knowledge of the elements of the natural environment and of socio-economic and cultural factors that characterize each area. In case of shortcomings in basic knowledge, an area proposed for inclusion in the PERSGA SPA List must have a program for the collection of the unavailable data and information.
4. The competence and responsibility with regard to administration and implementation of conservation measures for areas proposed for inclusion in the PERSGA PA List must be clearly defined.
5. To be included in the PERSGA PA List, a protected area is expected to have a management body with sufficient powers to prevent and/or control activities which are likely to be contrary to the aims of the protected area.
6. To be included in the PERSGA PA List, an area is expected to have a management plan. The rules of this management plan are to be laid down as from the date of inclusion in the PERSGA PA List and implemented immediately. A detailed management plan must be presented within five years of said date of inclusion. Failure to respect this obligation will entail considering removal of the area from the List.
7. To be included in the PERSGA PA List, an area will require a program to assess the efficiency of the application of the management plan.
