The
Framework Convention for the Protection of the
Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea – the first
legally binding agreement on any subject to be
adopted by the five Caspian neighbours – entered
into force on 12 August 2006.
The Convention will coordinate
efforts by the
Republic of Azerbaijan, the Islamic
Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the
Russian Federation and Turkmenistan
to reverse an environmental crisis brought about by
habitat destruction, industrial pollution, the
over-exploitation of fish and other marine life,
climate extremes and economic and political
challenges.
With an area of some 370,886 sq km (143,200 sq mi),
the mildly salty Caspian Sea is the world’s largest
lake. It is fed by some 130 tributary rivers, most
importantly the Volga River, which alone accounts
for 75% of the total inflow. As a result of the
region’s current boom in oil and gas exploration,
the Caspian is now criss-crossed by a growing
network of oil and gas pipelines and transport
routes. Nevertheless, it has great potential for
eco-tourism and for sustainable fisheries and
agriculture.
Also known as the Tehran Convention after the city
where it was adopted, the new treaty commits its
member governments to prevent and reduce pollution,
restore the environment, use the Sea’s resources in
a sustainable and reasonable manner, and cooperate
with one another and with international
organizations to protect the environment.
More specifically, under the Convention the five
governments will:
Reduce industrial pollution.
The Caspian Sea is polluted by industrial emissions,
toxic and radioactive wastes, agricultural run-off,
sewage and leaks from oil extraction and refining. A
particular challenge will be to address the
potential consequences of the recent growth in oil
and gas production. In 2004, regional oil production
reached roughly 1.9 million barrels per day, and
other oil supplies transit the region via ship and
pipeline. The Parties to the Convention are to
prevent and reduce pollution from seabed activities,
land-based activities, ships and dumping.
Protect
marine living resources.
The Caspian is rich in biological diversity and
boasts some 400 endemic (unique) species. The
best-known example of the over-exploitation of these
biological resources is the dramatic decline of the
sturgeon fisheries and the current halt in caviar
exports under the Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species (CITES).
Habitat destruction is also a major threat. For
example, the building of numerous dams and
hydroelectric plants on the Volga has fragmented
habitats and harmed many vulnerable species.
Meanwhile, now that ships can enter the Caspian from
the world’s seas via the Volga-Don Canal, it is
easier for invasive alien species such as the highly
destructive North American comb jelly to become
established and to compete against indigenous
species.
Relying on both the precautionary principle and the
best available scientific evidence, the five
governments are to improve coastal management
systems and
protect, preserve and restore the
Caspian’s marine living resources and use them in a
rational manner.
Address the problem of fluctuating
water levels.
For reasons that are not yet fully understood
(factors could include tectonic shifts, climate
variations, sedimentation and human actions), the
Caspian Sea’s surface level fluctuates over time.
From 1880 to 1977 the sea dropped four metres. A
sudden reversal in 1977 caught people by surprise,
inundating coastal areas and causing billions of
dollars in damage. Efforts to control water levels
in an eastern arm of the Caspian known as the Kara
Bogaz Gol have proven particularly destructive. The
Convention stresses the importance of ensuring that
any future efforts to manage water levels do not
harm the human or natural environment.
Collaborate on emergency response.
Recognizing the wide range of potential hazards that
could suddenly threaten the people and natural
environment of the Caspian Sea, the Convention
commits its members to cooperate on protecting human
beings and the marine environment against the
consequences of natural or man-made emergencies. It
calls for the development of a detailed plan on
prevention, preparedness, information sharing and
response measures.
Monitor and assess the environment.
The Caspian Sea governments will cooperate on
scientific research, environmental impact
assessments and information exchange. To this end
they will also strengthen and support the Caspian
Environment Programme (CEP), which has a fundamental
role to play in the Convention’s implementation. The
participating governments established the CEP in
1995 following an environmental assessment by UNEP,
the UN Development Programme and the World Bank.
To
mark the Convention’s entry into force, UNEP,
through its GRID-Arendal centre, together with the
Caspian Environment Programme has launched a new
publication entitled “Vital Caspian Graphics:
Challenges Beyond Caviar.” The report’s
state-of-the-art maps and graphics examine key
vulnerabilities as well as solutions to the issues
addressed by the Convention.
With the Convention now in force, the Parties will
meet on a regular basis to assess progress and
consider the need for additional action or for new
legal protocols. Their first meeting will likely be
held in early 2007.
Key web sites:
The
Convention text and information on the Caspian
Environment Programme is posted at
http://www.caspianenvironment.org.
“Vital
Caspian Graphics” with maps and other environmental
information can be found at
http://www.grida.no/products.cfm?pageID=12.