A FRAMEWORK for INTEGRATED WETLAND ...

A FRAMEWORK for INTEGRATED WETLAND MANAGEMENT of the JABBUL AGRO-ECOSYSTEM

Jabbul Agro-Ecosystem Consultative Committee (JAES-CC) February 2010

Citation JAES-CC (Jabbul Agro-Ecosystem Consultative Committee) 2010. A Framework for Integrated Wetland Management of the Jabbul Agro-Ecosystem (JAES). ICARDA, Aleppo, Syria. 76pp.

“We are in need now of economic, social, scientific and other strategies to serve both development and survival. These cannot be found as readymade recipes, but they need in-depth studies from which lessons can be drawn to help us where to go. This matter needs time, effort, collaboration as well as continuous and extensive dialogues” President of the Republic, Bashar Al-Assad, Quoted from the National Environmental Strategy and Action Plan of Syria.

Acknowledgements The initiative for writing up this policy framework for Jabbul was generously supported by Dr Tamer Fuad Al-Hajjeh (H.E. Aleppo Governor), Mr Abdul-Mounem Nasser Agham, Mr Omar Sha’arani and Jamal Arab (Executive Bureau of Aleppo Governorate for Services, Municipal Utilities, and Environmental Sector). The final stage of the framework development was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Damascus Office of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). In addition, all the organizations involved in the JAES Consultative Committee have provided inkind contributions during the design and write-up phase. Finally, a special thanks for the sincere contributions of the local people living around the Sabkha to this framework. Picture credits (in alphabetical order): Burhan Kasmo, Francis Turkelboom, Francois Travert, Haitham Kurbaj, Majed Khatib, Kasem Al-Ahmad, Majed Khatib, Mike Lane, Muhamad AlOudat, Pieter de Corte, Richard Porter, Sawsan Mehdi, Shairif Jbour, Tichatonga Gonah, Tim Baily and Zuhair Masri. Typesetting and artwork: Nabil Ghazzi

ISBN: 92-9127-228-0 International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria. www.icarda.org

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In memory of Nabil Ghazzi (1970-2009) Graphic designer at ICARDA. This book is a tribute to him. He passed away before he could complete it. Rest in peace.

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Authors and editors Main writers and editors: Francis Turkelboom (Researcher in land management and ecosystem services, formerly of ICARDA) and Sawsan Mehdi (Development and Environment Consultant). Topic contributors: Water resources and water management: • Burhan Kasmo (General Organization for Land Development, GOLD) • Imad Dahman (Member of the National Association for Development of Environment, NADE) • Boulus Abu-Zakham (Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, AECS) • Adriana Bruggeman (Hydrologist, ICARDA) • Suheila Muhajer (Corporate and Technical Services, Aleppo Governorate) Water quality and pollution: • Muhamad Al-Oudat (Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, AECS) • Waleed Eyssa (Directorate of Water Resources, Ministry of Irrigation) • Haitham Kurbaj (Department of Animal Production, Environment, Aleppo University) • Saeed Naffous (Former Director, Directorate of Environment, Aleppo) • Abdul Hakim Bannoud (Former Dean, Faculty of Technology, Aleppo University) Biodiversity: • Haitham Kurbaj (Department of Animal Production, Environment, Aleppo University) • Muhamad Al-Oudat (Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, AECS) • Ibrahim Al-Muhammad (Head, Animal Production Department, Directorate of Agriculture, Aleppo) • Francis Turkelboom (Researcher in land management and ecosystem services, formerly of ICARDA) Agriculture and land resources: • Zuhair Masri (Land Management researcher, ICARDA) • Bader Eddin Jalab (GCSAR, Aleppo Directorate) • Francis Turkelboom (Researcher in land management and ecosystem services, formerly of ICARDA) Legal and policy issues: • Ahmad Ammar Said (Consultant for UNDP and GTZ) Governance: • Sawsan Mehdi (Development and Environment Consultant) • Francis Turkelboom (Researcher land management and ecosystem services, formerly of ICARDA) Livelihoods and socio-economic aspects: • Abeer Al-Saleh (Jabel al-Hoss for Community Development Project, UNDP) • Iman Goleen (Jabel al-Hoss for Agricultural Development Project, IFAD) • Kasem Al-Ahmed (Community facilitator, ICARDA) • Zaher Abu Baker (Syrian Association for Wild Life Protection) Stakeholder facilitation: Zuhair Masri, Kasem Al-Ahmad, Francis Turkelboom (ICARDA); Omar Sha’arani, Abdul-Mounem Nasser Agha, Jamal Arab (Executive Bureau of Aleppo Governorate); Sawsan Mehdi (Development and Environment Consultant) Reviewers of the framework: Adriana Bruggeman (Hydrologist, ICARDA), Venkataramani Govindan (Water Management Communications Specialist, ICARDA), Andrea Pape-Christiansen (Knowledge Management Specialist, ICARDA), Feras Ziadat (Land Resources Management, ICARDA) and Gianluca Serra (Ecologist). Arabic translation: Bassam Bayaa, Ali Ezzeddine, Zuhair Masri, Sawsan Mehdi, Ahmad Ammar Said, Muhamad Al-Oudat, Imad Dahman, and Haitham Kurbaj.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS List of abbreviations and acronyms

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Foreword by the Governor of Aleppo

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Foreword by ICARDA

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Foreword by Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) in Syria

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

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CHAPTER 2. SABKHAT AL-JABBUL AT A GLANCE 2.1. Water : The source of life in the Jabbul agro-ecosystem 2.2. Landscapes, land-use and people 2.3. An age-old cultural landscape 2.4. The unique biodiversity of Jabbul wetland 2.5. What is the value of the Jabbul agro-ecosystem?

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CHAPTER 3. WHAT ARE THE IMMEDIATE THREATS TO THE JABBUL AGRO-ECOSYSTEM? 3.1. Pollution: The creeping killer of Jabbul ecosystem health 3.2. Desertification and land-use changes around the Sabkha 3.3. Uncontrolled hunting and fishing practices 3.4. Neglect of cultural heritage and landscape fragmentation 3.5. Private investments in a nature reserve: An opportunity and a threat 3.6. Fluctuating water and salinity levels 3.7. Introduction of invasive alien species 3.8. Jabbuli voices 3.9. Risks of a continuation of the ‘business-as-usual-scenario’

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CHAPTER 4. THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF JABBUL WETLAND DEGRADATION - THE CHALLENGES OF ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE 4.1. Legal context and policies for wetland management in Syria 4.2. International commitments: the Ramsar Convention 4.3. Institutions: The backbone for environmental governance 4.4. Local participation: From Jabbul users to Jabbul custodians? 4.5. Knowledge and expertise gaps for wetland management 4.6. Information availability and dissemination: Not known, not loved 4.7. Multi-stakeholder environmental governance for JAES: The key for sustainable wetland management

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CHAPTER 5. THE WAY FORWARD: A STRATEGY THAT COMBINES WETLAND CONSERVATION WITH LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT 5.1. Vision for the Jabbul agro-ecosystem 5.2. ‘Wise use’ principles for the JAES wetland 5.3. A conservation and development strategy for the JAES 5.4. Conclusions

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Reference List

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ANNEXES Annex Annex Annex Annex Annex

1: 2: 3: 4: 5:

Village data Major legal texts of relevance to Sabkhat al-Jabbul Government agencies with a mandate affecting Sabkhat al-Jabbul Research and non-governmental organizations involved in Sabkhat al-Jabbul Nature reserve guidelines

68 69 72 74 75

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List of abbreviations and acronyms AECS CBD CC ESS GCSAR GEF GIS GOLD IBA ICARDA IFAD INRM IUCN JAES JAES-CC MAAR MEA MoT NADE NGO NRM R&D SDC SP SSCW UNDP WWF

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Atomic Energy Commission of Syria Convention for Biodiversity Consultative Committee Ecosystem Services General Commission of Scientific Agricultural Research Global Environmental Fund Geographic Information Systems General Organization for Land Reclamation Important Bird Area International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas International Fund for Agricultural Development Integrated Natural Resources Management International Union for the Conservation of Nature Jabbul Agro-Ecosystem Jabbul Agro-Ecosystem Consultative Committee Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Ministry of Tourism National Association for the Development of Environment Non-Governmental Organization Natural Resource Management Research and Development Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Syrian Pound Syrian Society for the Conservation of Wildlife United Nations Development Programme World Wildlife Fund

Foreword by the Governor of Aleppo Sabkhat al-Jabbul is one of the most important salty wetlands in the Middle East, and is known for its unique biodiversity, awesome landscapes, local culture, salt production and rich agricultural tradition. One of the core priorities for the Aleppo Governorate is to save this valuable ecological site from environmental disaster and to maintain secure sources of livelihood for the surrounding villages. In June 2005, the Governorate of Aleppo in collaboration with ICARDA organized the first multistakeholder expert meeting to discuss the problems of Jabbul agro-ecosystem (JAES). Following this important event, different follow-up meetings were organized. This resulted in an inventory of threats and opportunities for the Jabbul wetland, a jointly-agreed vision, and the establishment of a Consultative Committee (CC). To support the decision-making and governance of this valuable agro-ecosystem, the CC formed four task forces each focussing on a key challenge: pollution control, biodiversity conservation, water and wetland management, and livelihood development. Via the CC, the Governorate of Aleppo is collaborating with all the involved stakeholders, including the concerned Ministries, relevant research organizations, NGO’s, independent experts and the local communities. In this way, different opinions are considered while building a management strategy for Jabbul. The Executive Council of Aleppo Governorate highly commends the CC for developing a “Framework for integrated wetland management of Jabbul agro-ecosystem”. The framework includes a holistic situation-analysis, a future vision, a phased strategy and practical recommendations. The proposed strategy for Jabbul is based on combining wildlife conservation, cautious use of natural resources, and sustainable socio-economic development. The process to achieve this is innovative, as it aims to achieve conservation objectives without alienating local people. We understand that there is an urgent need for a participatory and integrated environmental governance program, development of a coherent and sustainable management plan, establishment of a new ‘Jabbul Nature Reserve Agency’ to coordinate activities at the site, and improvement of the legal status of the Jabbul Nature Reserve. This represents a challenging venture into new unexplored territories, which will require a lot of institutional learning and capacity building. Nevertheless, the Governorate of Aleppo will take its responsibility and work closely with all the Government agencies that have a mandate for JAES, concerned stakeholders, local communities, and interested foreign agencies to protect and develop this unique and fragile agro-ecosystem. In this respect, this framework will be our guiding compass for all our future work related to JAES.

Dr Ahmad Ali Mansoora Chair of the Jabbul Agro-ecosystem Consultative Committee Aleppo Governor

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Foreword by ICARDA ICARDA and its partners have worked together for 30 years to combat desertification, mitigate the effects of drought, and reduce poverty in marginal dry areas. But desertification and land degradation are complex problems, with technical, social, economic and other facets. ICARDA's research has led to a clearer understanding of the linkages between environmental degradation, poverty and governance; and our research paradigm has evolved accordingly. The earlier focus on purely technological interventions has given way to integrated natural resource management (INRM) - which includes new technologies as well as ecosystem analysis and active engagement of all stakeholders at each stage in the research-for-development continuum. NRM research has achieved its greatest impact when researchers and farmers work together in true inter-disciplinary fashion. In larger ecosystems with sizeable common-property areas and shared natural resources, more stakeholders, including policy makers, and institutions are involved; and landscape interactions (e.g. upstream-downstream effects) become more important. Often, there are conflicting demands on scarce commonly held natural resources in dryland ecosystems with multiple uses and competing interests. This requires the creation of neutral platforms, where problems can be discussed openly among the different stakeholders, and where also the weakest voices can be heard. It was with this in mind that ICARDA became involved with the Jabbul Agro-Ecosystem (JAES), a saline wetland surrounded by agricultural villages in north-western Syria. Jabbul is a textbook example of a complex agro-ecosystem: conservation of its unique wild biodiversity, sustainable use of natural resources (water, soil and biodiversity), and livelihood improvement of the surrounding communities are all closely intertwined. The JAES uses an innovative approach involving all relevant stakeholder in technical and policy institutions and beneficiaries such as the Governorate of Aleppo, the concerned Ministries, research organizations, NGOs and most important, the local communities. ICARDA's role has been to provide scientific support to analyse the complexities of this dynamic agro-ecosystem, and to facilitate the multi-stakeholder, multidisciplinary process. A core group of Jabbul enthusiasts worked together via the newly established JAES Consultative Committee and subject-focused task forces. This collaboration resulted in a framework for sustainable agro-ecosystem management of JAES; and is the subject of this publication. However, the framework is just the first step; implementation will involve huge challenges. We hope this framework will be the platform for new research and development projects supported by the Syrian Government and donor agencies. We believe this process will be a model for the planning, use and protection of similar agroecosystems in the drylands in the Middle East and around the world; and we look forward to the replication and adaptation of this approach elsewhere.

Dr Mahmoud Solh Director General, ICARDA

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Foreword by Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) in Syria The official development cooperation of Switzerland aims to improve living conditions for the world’s most disadvantaged people. It focuses on conflict prevention and transformation, social development, good governance, promoting economic structures and safeguarding natural resources. The Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) strives to strengthen the ability of its partner countries to take their own initiatives which allow local people to find locally adapted solutions and gain autonomy. In Syria, SDC is present since the end of 2005 and aims to support medium and long-term projects that support reforms of the government reinforcing democratic practices and institutions, as well as promoting the sustainable use of natural resources. Within this framework the SDC Cooperation office in Damascus supports projects that help to develop strategies and models to protect and conserve biodiversity and promote eco-tourism. The “Framework for sustainable management of Jabbul agro-ecosystem (JAES)” is an important contribution to further develop SDC’s strategy in the field of environment and governance in Syria. The JAES multi-stakeholder approach is an excellent example of decentralized and problem solving processes through exchange platforms. This project is very compatible with another SDC-sponsored project on eco-tourism at Jabbul village, since the success of this project will highly depend on a governance framework and long-term improvement of the whole Jabbul agro-ecosystem. SDC hopes that the JAES framework will serve as a source to develop strategies and programs to strengthen local authorities and civil society, in order to obtain both protection of the beautiful nature of the Jabbul wetland, as well as economic development for the people living in the area.

Mrs Elisabeth Diethelm SDC Coordinator for Syria and Lebanon

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E X E C U T I V E SSUMMARY UMMARY EXECUTIVE The present framework reflects the efforts deployed by the members of the Jabbul Agro-ecosystem Consultative Committee (JAES-CC) over the past years (2006-2008). It exposes the reader to: •

The uniqueness of the Jabbul wetland ecosystem, including its biodiversity, its landscapes, its people, its cultural heritage, and the important and diverse ecosystem services provided by the Sabkha to Syrian society. • The current and potential threats that are putting the Sabkha biodiversity, eco-system services and local livelihoods at risk. • Recommendations for environmental governance and stakeholder cooperation to achieve integrated conservation and sustainable development of the JAES. The framework explains the urgency to act now, rather than tomorrow, and aims to: • Sensitize the Syrian authorities to conserve this outstanding wetland in the Middle East for the benefit of present and future Syrian generations and the global community. • Stimulate the international community to contribute towards the conservation and sustainable management of Jabbul before it is irreparably damaged.

Sabkhat al-Jabbul is a large (27,000 ha) salty and seasonal wetland in Aleppo Province. The bird biodiversity is tremendous, and tens of thousands of water birds are use this wetland as a staging and wintering area, including thousands of Flamingo’s and several globally-endangered bird species. The salt-loving flora is unique, and fish colonize the less saline areas of the lake. As it is one of the few remaining large wetlands in the Middle East, the International Ramsar Convention for Wetlands officially endorsed Sabkhat al-Jabbul as a “Wetland of International Importance” in 1998, and also the Syrian Government recognized Jabbul as a ‘Natural reserve’ during the same year. In this framework, we consider the Sabkha, the surrounding cultivated areas, rangelands and residential areas as one interdependent system, or “Jabbul agro-ecosystem”. This is because human activities have a strong impact on the condition of the Sabkha and vice-versa. The area around the lake provides a livelihood for about 50,000 people (not including Sfire town). Villagers make a living from irrigated and dryland agriculture, salt collection, sheep, and off-farm labouring. Villages with access to irrigation and those specialized in lamb fattening are relatively well-off, while other villages are quite poor. The area is also known for its authentic rural culture, traditional dome-shaped mud houses and ancient archaeological sites. As a result of these rich assets, Sabkhat al-abbul

provides numerous valuable “ecosystem services” (defined as the benefits that nature and ecosystems provide to society) (see Table below). However, Sabkhat al-Jabbul is not a stable ecosystem, and has experienced and is still undergoing many changes as a result of human intervention during the last 50 years. Irrigation development had the most significant impact on the Sabkha. During 1950 1985, small-scale irrigation to the north of the lake led to the drying up of the Nahr alDahab (Golden River) and the Nahr al-Milh (Salt River), causing a decline in water levels. Luckily, the deteriorating Sabkha had another chance, thanks to the large-scale irrigation schemes developed during the 1980’ and 1990’s, when large amounts of irrigation drainage water were directed towards the Sabkha. Unfortunately, this also led to increased pollution, as pollutants from urban, industrial and agricultural origin were able to reach the Sabkha. As Jabbul is located in a closed basin, pollution is accumulating in the lake. This situation can be compared to a “blocked sink”, which becomes more and more polluted over time. The second most important threat is uncontrolled and indiscriminate hunting and fishing, mainly by outsiders who are not living around the lake. An overview of the 10 most important actual and potential threats to the agro-ecosystem are listed in below (summarized from Figure 5).

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The ecosystem services (ESS) provided by Sabkhat al-Jabbul (see also Table 2) Supporting Ecosystem Services (ESS) • Soil formation and nutrient cycling • Water recharge of aquifers • Unique biodiversity (including salt-tolerant species) Provisioning ESS Regulating ESS Cultural ESS • Water for home consumption • Natural capacity for water • Enchanting wetland land and irrigation purification of waste water scapes and biodiversity • Crop production • Carbon sequestration • Environmental awareness • Grazing areas for livestock • Pollination of crops • Environmental education • Medicinal and edible plants ('outdoor classroom') • Fish for local consumption • Research opportunities • Salt for industrial use • Traditional architecture & authentic local culture • Eco/agro/salt/cultural tourism

CONSTITUENTS OF WELL-BEING • Viable livelihood options • Local employment • Healthy living environment • 'Sense of place' • Relaxation and inspiration

These threats stem from a complex range of underlying causes. The most important socio-economic drivers affecting JAES are the expansion of irrigation around the lake, a population boom, urban sprawl, industrial development, and increased interest of outsiders to make benefits from Jabbul’s natural resources. Another underlying cause is the present governance structure of Jabbul agro-ecosystem. “Governance” is defined as a governing model that is not exclusively managed by the state, but that involves all political, administrative, economic and social actors. Wetlands are particular challenging systems to govern, as wetlands are public land for which many Ministries have (overlapping) mandates. In addition, some remote environmental problems can - via hydrological and ecological networks have a profound impact on the fragile ecological balance of a wetland. All this makes institutional coordination a very complex issue. In the case of JAES, several aspects of environmental governance require urgent attention, ranging from legal, policy, institutional, regulatory, to social and technical issues. The main constraints for environmental governance of Jabbul are:

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• Lack of a wetland policy. • Limited mainstreaming of environmental concerns in sectoral policies. • Lack of operational mechanisms for protected areas. • Insufficient monitoring and enforcement of existing environmental laws. • Weak institutional coordination. • Lack of a management organization for the ‘Jabbul nature reserve’. • Limited awareness about the richness of the Sabkha and its environmental problems. • Lack of local participation and limited organizational capacities at village level. • Knowledge gaps about Jabbul agro-ecosystem. • Lack of formal training and experts in wetland management and conservation. A “business-as-usual” scenario is not an option for Sabkhat al-Jabbul, as this will lead to irreparable environmental destruction, loss of valuable biodiversity, decline in the quality of life for the surrounding communities, and the loss of a golden opportunity to develop a valuable ecological asset for Syria and the global community.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Halting the prevailing uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources hinges on developing a viable and integrated strategy for the conservation and wise use of Jabbul wetland, while enabling economic opportunities for local communities. Such a strategy would need to find a balance between the needs of all stakeholders and beneficiaries as well as those of future generations, while taking into consideration the fragility of this arid wetland ecosystem. To achieve this, it is important not only to solve the immediate threats, but also to address simultaneously the underlying causes of the pending ecological crisis. The proposed strategy is based on: 1. A commonly agreed vision: After several consultations, the JAES Consultative Committee developed the following vision for JAES: “Jabbul wetland and the surrounding areas that affect the wetland, will be a biodiversity-rich, productive and healthy agro-ecosystem, that provide multifunctional services to society, which will be well governed and monitored with participation of all relevant stakeholders, and will be protected as an international biodiversity heritage site (or Ramsar site).” 2. Nine principles for ‘wise use’ of the JAES wetland: As an overall guide, the “Wise use“ principle of the Ramsar convention is adopted, which is defined as follows: “Wise use of wetlands is the maintenance of their ecological character within the context of sustainable development, achieved through the implementation of ecosystem approaches“. This general principle is supported by the following nine guiding principles, which set the basis for managing

Sabkha al-Jabbul in a sustainable way: 1. Multi-stakeholder governance principle 2. Locals-first principle 3. Professional management principle 4. Ecosystem and landscape integrity principle 5. Land-use principles 6. Multi-functionality principle 7. Source principle 8. Polluter-pays principle 9. Prevention and precaution principle 3. A phased conservation and development strategy for JAES: There are a number of preconditions, which will determine the success of any strategy for JAES. First of all, political support among the different decision-makers to protect and sustainably develop the Sabkha is crucial. Secondly, successful implementation of a strategy will require effective inter-governmental coordination mechanisms, and enforcement of existing laws and decisions. Thirdly, to make the previous possible, human and institutional capacity on integrated wetland management need to be strengthened, financial resources needs to be allocated, and determined legal, institutional and technical support needs to be guaranteed. Fourthly, research on strategic knowledge gaps should be stimulated, and existing data and information related to Jabbul be made available to all involved parties. Last but not least, in order to nurture local support and secure local ownership for nature conservation, local communities’ needs and livelihoods should be an integral part of a Jabbul conservation strategy. This requires active participation of the local communities in the conservation process of the Sabkha.

The 10 most important threats to Jabbul agro-ecosystem (see also Figure 5).

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Actual threats Water, air and salt pollution Hunting and fishing Conversion rangeland into cropland Range and reedbed destruction Land degradation Neglect of cultural heritage

Potential threats 7. Unregulated water and salinity fluctuations 8. Further expansion of large-scale irrigation schemes around the Sabkha 9. Environment-unfriendly private investments 10.Introduction of exotic invasive species (especialy fish)

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However, worldwide experiences show that an integrated strategy cannot be achieved at once. Therefore, it is proposed that a Jabbul conservation and development program should use a phased and incremental approach: initially focussing on a few, relatively simple issues; and gradually addressing additional, more-complex ones, as capacity increases and preconditions are fulfilled:

• Phase 1: Urgent and important activities focussing on awareness campaigns, resource mobilisation, water treatment plants, legal enforcement of existing bans and declaration of new rules, socio-economic development initiatives for local communities, and start-up of research on strategic knowledge gaps (2009-2012). • Phase 2: Capacity- and institutionbuilding (2009 - 2013).

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• Phase 3: Optimizing environmental governance for JAES (2010-2013). • Phase 4: Towards sustainable and wise use of natural resources (2010 – 2016). • Phase 5: Rehabilitation of polluted and degraded areas (2011-2021). • Phase 6: Sustainable commercialization of some JAES ecosystem services (2011-2021). • Phase 7: Long-term policy and legal changes (2012 – 2015). An important, intermediate output of this strategy is a 5-year integrated management plan for Sabkhat al-Jabbul that is scientifically-sound, properly consulted, widely supported, environmentally-friendly, and socio-economically sensitive. It will result in the ability to tackle the complex challenges facing JAES, formulate solutions and execute decisions, which take into account the inter-linkages between environmental, economic, social, institutional, and other concerns.

Chapter

INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION

“Sabkhat al-Jabbul” is a large, shallow wetland with seasonal saline and brackish water bodies, surrounded by reed beds, rangelands and cultivated land. The name “sabkha” refers to the fact that the water is salty and dries up during the summer season. The Jabbul Sabkha is located 40 km southeast of Aleppo city (Fig. 1). Its importance as a staging and wintering area for water birds, particularly the Greater Flamingo, was recognized as early as the 1960s (Savage, 1968). This has led to its identification as an “Important Bird Area” (IBA) by BirdLife International (Evans 1994), and its official designation in 1998 as a “Wetland of International Importance” or “Ramsar site” under the Ramsar Convention. A survey during the Syrian Wetland Expedition of 2004 led to its recognition as the most important wetland in Syria and as one of the most important wetland sites in the whole Middle East (Murdoch et al, 2004). As the condition of the Sabkha strongly depends on human activities in the surrounding areas, and as the condition of the Sabkha influences the living conditions of the surrounding communities, the Sabkha and the surrounding agricultural areas together is called the “Jabbul agroecosystem” or ‘JAES’ (see Textbox 1). This system will be the focus of this framework.

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stress, which threatens the Sabkha as a biodiversity hotspot and as a source of ecosystem services for society. Fortunately, Syrian Government officials and international researchers from ICARDA met during June 2005 during a Jabbul expert meeting, and decided to join hands to find a way out. Since then, they have mapped the values of the Sabkha from biodiversity and socio-economic points of view, and its imminent threats. Also, the local farming communities have shown their willingness to play a more proactive and contributing role in the sustainable development of their living environment. Under the patronage of the Governor of Aleppo, the informal group of concerned people was transformed into an official JAES Consultative Committee (JAES-CC) in 2006. This committee has the challenging task to develop a conservation strategy, which has to balance between the conservation of the Sabkha wildlife, sustainable use of the natural resources, and safeguarding the livelihood opportunities for the surrounding communities. Bearing in mind these challenges, the JAES Consultative Committee has worked hard over the last two years to bring concerned

The natural resources of the Sabkhat al“Jabbul is the most important wetJabbul – including the Jabbul salt, surface land in Syria and as one of the water, groundwater and shoreline rangemost important wetland sites in lands - have always been considered a significant economic asset. For centuries, the whole Middle East.” human activities have not significantly altered the value, nor the beauty of the area. However, during the last 50 years, population growth and economic development have increased the demands on the natural resources and the pressures on the land; and irrigation schemes and industrial enterprises are now surrounding the Sabkha. As a result, a broad array of threats can be seen, such as pollution, land degradation, land-use changes, lack of awareness regarding the wetlands’ values and weak governance, which is causing considerable alterations in its functional and ecological structure. These trends are putView from Jabbrin island looking towards Hamra island – probably ting the integrity of the agrothe best viewpoint of the whole Sabkha. ecosystem under increased

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

stakeholders together, to conduct a joint problem analysis, and to formulate future pathways for sustainable development. This has resulted in this framework, for sustainable development of the Jabbul agro-ecosystem that you are reading now. This framework is a joint initiative of the Governorate of Aleppo, ICARDA and all the participating agencies in the JAES Consultative Committee. The framework intends to highlight the urgency of acting now rather than tomorrow, to those who are concerned and willing to contribute towards achieving effective, equitable and sustainable development of this important wetland. More specifically, this framework intends to: • Provide guidelines to the decision makers in the Syrian Government to save this outstanding wetland for the benefit of present and future generations, before it is irreparably damaged.

“A sabkha is formed in a natural depression, which collects storm flow from the surrounding areas during winter, and dries out to form a saline-coated layer during the hot summer period.” Textbox 1: A wetland agro-ecosystem is composed of a wetland(s) within its larger, interacting landscape. The wetland forms a dynamic association with drainage networks, soils, atmosphere, wildlife, livestock, cropland, pastures, rural communities, and infrastructure. Derived from European Environment Agency (EEA) website (eea.europa.eu)

• Invite the international community to contribute towards the sustainable development of this internationally outstanding biodiversity hotspot. The framework is structured in the following sections: 1. Intoduction 2. The eco-system services of the Sabkha and its conservation importance for wildlife biodiversity. 3. Current and potential threats that are putting the wetland integrity at risk. 4. The underlying institutional and governance challenges. 5. Vision and proposed strategy for the JAES.

Reedbeds on the peaceful southern shore of Hamrat lake.

The remote salty rangelands at the eastern shores of the Central lake.

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Figure 1: Land-use map of Sabkhat al-Jabbul and its surroundings.

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Chapter

SABKHAT AL-JABBUL AT GLANCE 1 SABKHAT AL-JABBUL AT A GLANCE

2.1. Water : The source of life in the Jabbul agro-ecosystem Sabkha’s are temporary saline wetlands, which are typical for dry areas. A sabkha is formed in a natural depression, which collects storm flow from the surrounding areas during winter, and dries out to form a salinecoated layer during the hot summer period. Runoff water carries small amounts of salt (mainly sodium chloride) to the Sabkha. As the lake is hydrologically closed, the salt

May 1998

August 2001 Remote sensing pictures showing the extent of the lake during spring (May 1998) and summer (August 2001).

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1Adapted from Serra et al. (2006)

content of the water becomes more concentrated through evaporation and eventually the salt turn into white crystals during the hot summer months. When this process is repeated uncountable times, the salinity of the sabkha water increases and can exceed the salinity of seawater.

“A sabkha is formed in a natural depression, which collects storm flow from the surrounding areas during winter, and dries out to form a saline-coated layer during the hot summer period.” Sabkhat al-Jabbul is the largest sabkha in Syria (27,000 ha). It is situated at the bottom of a large closed basin (size: 5,075 km2), with the Euphrates River to the east and the Qwayq River (which passes through Aleppo) to the west. Due to the aridity of the area (200 to 350 mm/yr), the history of water flows and water availability around the Sabkha is strongly correlated with the human and natural history of the area (Table 5). Until the first half of the twentieth century, perennial streams used to flow to the northern shores of the Sabkha, mainly the Nahr al-Dahab (Golden River) and the Nahr al-Milh (Salt River); and numerous freshwater springs could be found around the Sabkha. During heavy winter rainstorms, additional water and sediments were carried to the Sabkha via wadis, which are dry for the rest of the year. It is assumed that groundwater also contributed significantly to the water levels of the lake. Over the last decades, however water flows and water quality at the Sabkha became more influenced by human interventions. Increased water withdrawals for irrigation from the perennial streams and groundwater at the northern side of the Sabkha resulted in drying-up of the northern streams in 1958, and caused a longer dry period of the Sabkha during the summer period. This environmentally-unfriendly situation persisted until irrigation development projects started around the Sabkha during the 1980’s (Textbox 2). As a result of these schemes, the number of dry months decreased and several depressions in the Sabkha remained inundated with water throughout the year. These

C H A P T E R 2 : SABKHAT AL-JABBUL AT A GLANCE

Textbox 2: The Irrigation Projects around Jabbul By extracting water from the Euphrates, several large-scale "land reclamation projects" were executed around Jabbul during the 1980's and 1990's. They started east of Jabbul at Maskana where 21.000 ha became irrigated (Al-Assad plant) and continued in the north and west of the Sabkha for another 50.000 ha. Recently, 6.800 ha have been brought under irrigation around Tadef alBab. In addition, some farmers outside these reclaimed areas started to irrigate their crops by using groundwater wells and by pumping water from the drainage canals of these irrigation schemes. (From: GOLD, Ministry of Irrigation)

hydrological changes were caused by the channelling of drainage water of these irrigation schemes towards the Sabkha and by raising groundwater levels. However, the current maximum inundated area (270 km2) seems not to exceed the extent of the Jabbul wetland of the early twentieth century (D’Altan, 2007). In 1996, a dyke was build between Jabbul and Haqlah villages to protect the salt in the most western part of the Sabkha from pollution. To discharge the effluents from Sfirah town and the drainage water from nearby agricultural land, a canal was dug with an outlet at the Central lake near Haqlah village. In addition, a dam with culverts was built at the outlet of Al-Hamrat lake in 1997 to control the water flow into the Central lake. As a result, Sabkhat alJabbul currently consists of three main water

The water in Jabbul wetland ranges from brackish to three times the salt concentration of sea water.

bodies, whose water and salinity levels fluctuate quasi_independently. This results in very contrasting ecosystems: • The Northestern lake or Salt lake, maxi2

mum surface area 47 km : this is the most saline lake (60-120 g/l, or 2 to 3 times the salt concentration of seawater). This lake is fed by drainage channels and by the elevated groundwater levels in the irrigated area at the northern and western sides of the lake. The northern part of this lake contains water all year round. A state company produces salt by evaporating saline lake water (or ‘brine’) in cement ponds close to Jabbul village. • The Central lake: This is the largest lake, with a maximum surface area of 194 km2, and includes about nine islands (with a total surface area of 18 km2). the water is brackish (