Caring for the Cradle of Life

Tehran hosted a Conference of Plenipotentiaries to adopt and sign the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea in November, inaugurated by Vice-President and Head of the Department of Environment, Ms Masoumeh Ebtekar.

Ministers and senior officials from five littoral states of the Caspian Sea including Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan attended the two-day conference (3-4 November 2003). This ground breaking convention, the first legally binding treaty on any subject to be adopted by the five neighbors, will coordinate regional efforts to reverse an environmental crisis brought about by habitat destruction, pollution and the over-exploitation of fish and other marine life.

"This agreement will promote the conservation of the largest freshwater lake in the world," Shafqat Kakakhel, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program, under whose auspices the treaty was negotiated said recently. "By ensuring the sustainable use of the Caspian Sea’s valuable living resources, the Convention will contribute enormously to the well-being of millions of people living in this region," he said.

The Caspian Sea is under severe stress from industrial pollution, toxic and radioactive wastes, agricultural run-off, sewage, and leaks from oil extraction and refining. Other threats include uncontrolled fishing of caviar-producing sturgeon, the over-exploitation of other marine resources, and the destruction of the region’s biological diversity, which includes some 400 species unique to the Caspian. On top of this, water levels are currently rising, threatening coastal communities and ecosystems.

Once signed at the conference, the Convention needs to be ratified by the participating governments – a process that can take a couple of years – so that it will enter into force and become legally binding. The Convention will commit its member governments to preventing and reducing pollution, restoring the environment, using the Sea’s resources in a sustainable and reasonable manner, and cooperating with one another and with international organizations to protect the environment.

Specific issues addressed by the Convention include pollution from land-based sources, seabed activities, vessels, dumping, invasive alien species, environmental emergencies, marine living resources, sea-level fluctuation, environmental impact assessments, monitoring, research and development, and the exchange of information.

The Convention will strengthen and support the Caspian Environment Program, which was established by the governments concerned in 1995 following an environmental assessment by UNEP, the UN Development Program, and the World Bank. With an area of some 373,000 square kilometers, the Caspian Sea boasts a shoreline of 7,000 kilometers in length. Its surface is 28 meters below sea level, and its maximum depth is 980 meters. The lake is fed by some 130 tributary rivers, although 75% of its inflow comes from just one – the Volga River. The Caspian Sea is also unique in that its waters hide some of the largest oil reserves in the world.

Addressing the Conference of Plenipotentiaries to adopt and sign the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, she stressed that any deterioration of environment’s quality and loss of its services imposes a devastating effect, impairing social and economic functions and disrupting the ecological balance of life on earth.

"We belong to a region with serious aspirations for economic growth and social development. The generation of employment opportunities and the improvement of the quality of life for our citizens are objectives that we cannot afford to overlook."

"We are also well aware and recognizant of the fact that sustainable development is possible only if environmental considerations are integrated with economic policies," she said adding that for developing countries this is a challenging and demanding process that requires regional and international cooperation.

Referring to the blessings of the sea and the services provided by the Caspian for the littoral states, Ebtekar said the littoral states in return have given to the sea polluted effluents, urban wastes, over-fishing, mismanagement of coastal zones and alien species undermine the existence of the Caspian.

Underlining the need for urgent attention to be paid to the sea, she said, "Today we have gathered here to finalize the text which will lead to the first multilateral agreement on the Caspian Sea and the instrument which can ensure the sustainable use of its resources.

The adoption and signing of the convention will be a landmark achievement for regional environmental cooperation, she reiterated. This conference is in a sense only the end of a beginning of a comprehensive regional effort to save and rehabilitate the Caspian Sea, she noted.

This campaign requires the sincere commitment of littoral states and the global community to protect the Caspian Sea marine environment; she said calling for action to prevent land based pollution, over-fishing, as well as unsustainable economic and energy policies. As the host country, the Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly indicated its commitment to the protection of the environment at the national, regional and international levels, she said.

There are major projects underway in Iran to complete urban sewage collection and purification systems in the coastal areas, she said adding industrial effluents and waste are strictly monitored and urban waste management programs are being implemented. Iran has a well regulated fishing strategy and the most successful breeding programs for the sturgeon and other fish have been followed leading to Iran’s exemption from CITES sanctions on caviar, she said announcing that Iran has established several protected areas in the coastal zones of the Caspian including the first Sea Shore National Park Boujagh which harbors the Sefid Rood river the nursery of many fish species.

Ebtekar further hoped that through the serious involvement of regional governments and their commitment at the highest political levels the littoral states will witness a strong commitment to the improvement of the Caspian marine environment. Stressing importance of collaboration of international bodies in developing the convention to date and the continual support of the international community in future stages, she expressed hope that minor issues left in brackets will be resolved with the sincere cooperation and dedication to the sublime cause of the Caspian environment.

Addressing the Conference of Plenipotentiaries to adopt and sign the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, he underlined that the Caspian Sea consists of exclusively worthwhile ecological resources. He added that the Caspian minerals and aquatics are not exploited properly and the related resources are not preserved as properly as they should.

Turning to the Caspian environmental problems, he added that the Caspian Sea is polluted with various marine pollutants and that the rise in the level of Caspian waters through the rivers flowing into it constantly make its ecosystem subject to changes. "Reduction of marine reserves and aquatics and migration of non-indigenous species into it are among the points to be taken into consideration towards ecological protection," he added.

He noted that once the document is signed by the five Caspian littoral states, favorable grounds will be prepared for protection of the diversity of the Caspian biological resources across the region. This will be the only document to be signed by the five states bordering the Caspian Sea and a factor calling for more strict regulations in exploiting the marine resources.

Caspian Sea Conditions Unfavorable: Masoumeh Ebtekar referred to the unfavorable condition of the Caspian Sea’s environment and called for urgent cooperation of the Caspian littoral states to tackle the problem. Turning to the process of drawing up the Caspian environmental convention (Tehran Convention), she noted that the preliminary ideas on a legal framework for protection of the Caspian Sea environment initiated eight years ago. "The convention was eventually drawn up with joint cooperation and support of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNIP) and other international bodies," she added.

The official reiterated that the pivotal point of the convention is related to protection of the marine environment and prevention of pollution in the Caspian Sea. "In recent years, the Caspian Sea has been facing an unfavorable condition for various reasons such as the pollution arising from the industrial and urban sewage in the region, the waste-water produced by agricultural activities and pollution resulting from exploitation of oil wells," she added.

Unprecedented use of marine sources also contributes to damaging various noteworthy species of fauna including osseous and sturgeon fish. "Migration of various species of sea creatures to the Caspian Sea, especially in recent years, has inflicted great damage on its food resources, such as the one harming the fishing trend of kilka fish."

"The issue of environmental pollution and damage in the Caspian Sea is of great significance to the states bordering it, the entire Asian territory and even the international community. It has prompted a consensus for drawing up of the current convention," she added.

Ebtekar further noted that to save the Caspian Sea from the present dilemma, both the littoral states and the international community should take quick measures to the effect. "If Tehran convention is materialized it will leave its positive impacts on the Caspian littoral states as well as the region."

"Moreover, millions of individuals inhabiting the Caspian shores and whose life, health and livelihood are associated with the sea will benefit from this convention," she added. The vice president hoped that an effective step will be taken towards improvement of the current situation through implementation of Tehran convention.

The signing of such a document is among the main exigencies of the region aimed at preventing any type of pollution in the Caspian Sea area. "The measure will materialize a permanent regional treaty for protection of the Caspian Sea and its environment which will make member states committed to its content," he added.

The official noted that environmental problems such as pollution and wildlife diversity have no boundary. He said that any changes in the sea will affect the entire region.

Fatemi said that once the Caspian Sea convention becomes operational, the programs and strategies aimed to reduce pollution in the sea, including that caused by oil leakage, will be examined to arrive at a joint plan for their assessment.

"Once the five Caspian littoral states sign the environmental cooperation agreement, they should reach a final accord to implement their projects," he added. He noted that currently pollution caused by oil leakage and the presence of migratory creatures who endanger the Caspian Sea ecosystem are among the major Caspian problems.