LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY CAUSES amp; CONSEQUENCES生物多样性损失的原因及后果；.ppt

Dr. Humood Naser BIOLS 442: Conservation Biology Effects of reclamation on coastal and marine ecosystems in Bahrain: The need for strategic environmental assessment (SEA) Dr. Humood Naser Department of Biology College of Science University of Bahrain In the past few decades, Bahrain has witnessed major economic, social and industrial changes accompanied with several human-induced stresses contributing to environmental degradation such as reclamation and dredging, oil spills, sewage and industrial effluents. Presently, reclamation activities have resulted in adding 91 km2 representing an increase of 12% of the total land area. Bahrain National Land Use Strategy 2030 recognizes reclamation as the major option for securing the future needs for land, indicating that coastal environment will continue to be the major focus for developmental projects in the coming future. Bahrain National Land Use Strategy 2030 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Bahrain was formally introduced in 1998 as a tool to bring environmental concerns into the Bahraini decision-making process. However, it neglects cumulative impacts and project alternatives, and lacks provisions for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Impacts of reclamation on marine environment The massive reclamation and dredging activities in the marine environment of Bahrain are directly and indirectly affecting seagrass beds and their associated biota. Reclamation may result in disappearance of seagrass beds from coastal areas mainly due to physical removal, burial, and the increase in turbidity levels Impacts of reclamation on marine environment For instance, a loss of 10.2 km2 of seagrass beds on the east coast of Bahrain was detected by remote sensing imagery between the period of 1985 and 1992 (Zainal et al., 1993) This loss was mainly attributed to dredging and reclamation activities. Impacts of reclamation on marine environment Corals in Bahrain like the rest in the Arabian Gulf have been se