National Strategy for Biodiversity of the State of Kuwait 2011-2020.

This National Strategy for Biodiversity is a sectoral document, prepared under the Aichi Biodiversity Targets adopted by the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, aiming at (i) protecting the biological diversity in the resources of natural, modified and agricultural systems; (ii) encouraging the sustainable use of these resources for the benefit of present and future generations; (iii) integrating biodiversity considerations into the national planning and development process by educating all relevant national sectors and motivating them to implement the Strategy's provisions in their respective fields; and (iv) creating a framework for a coherent and integrated policy that supports the conservation of biological diversity and the optimum and sustainable use of the national biological resources. The scope of the document is expanding, including protection, reconstruction, rehabilitation, optimal and fair use, and periodic research, as well as monitoring of biodiversity in the country. The Strategy includes a National Action Plan to achieve the goals, indicating activities, means of implementation, and bodies responsible for implementation, and that envisages three different steps of implementation (1) a short-term plan (1-3 years); (2) a medium-term plan (3-5 years); and a aong-term plan (5-10 years).
To implement its objectives, the Strategy adopts the following three different procedures (i) general procedures, including (a) documenting, evaluating, and planning the biological diversity in the State of Kuwait; (b) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures; (c) developing the necessary political administration; (d) sustainable use of living resources; (e) management of some biological processes that threaten biological diversity in the country; and (f) implementing the government's work program; (ii) specific procedures, including (a) preserving biodiversity through establishing natural reserves; and (b) preserving biodiversity outside natural reserves; and (iii) supporting actions, including (a) set the integrated policy for the conservation of biological diversity in the State of Kuwait at both national and regional and international levels; (b) building national capacities; and (c) developing public awareness and engaging Kuwaiti society on biodiversity issues.
To make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable, proposed interventiones of the Strategy are (i) review all sectoral policies and strategies for biodiversity, focusing on the impact of government support programs on biodiversity and related processes; (ii) integrate the Strategy with the strategies of sector bodies such as the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources; (iii) review and implement the main agricultural plan; (iv) promote traditional agricultural conservation programs (such as date palm); (v) reduce excessive use of agricultural chemicals through rationalization of government subsidies and expansion programs especially those aspects that lead to the development of livestock production farms; (vi) identify wild rangelands as a specific classification within the land uses in the national classification plan and include them in the national planning process; (vii) establish an applied research program for the proper management of wild lands and the rehabilitation of degraded lands, with research focusing on the impact of mass grazing pressure on wild pastures, resilience, and propagation of desirable species; (viii) review and implement the strategic framework and master plan for fisheries development, regulating all fishing operations, including spearfishing, defining the fishing seasons, as well as the methods of fishing and tools; (ix) promote the use of native species in marine fish farming; (x) adopt fish farming integration with grazing (i.e. aquatic farms with irrigation); and (x) establish a national bank for the genetics of the indigenous animal and plant species.
In order to increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters, the Strategy envisages (i) protection of natural biodiversity from the potential impacts of the introduction of invasive alien species, which is a major threat to biodiversity; (ii) prevention from the introduction and biological invasion of invasive alien species in protected areas and the marine environment, also preparing emergency plans and plans for managing natural hazards; (iii) comprehensive surveys and field studies to identify invasive alien species that threaten biodiversity in the country; (iv) promulgation of a national law that organizes and limits the import of alien species, especially marine species, including imported fish for use in fish farms; (v) promulgation of a biosafety law that defines the methods for transferring and converting alien varieties and species that have been produced through genetic engineering and includes disposal of experimental materials; and (vi) creation of task forces in various areas of biosafety technology and genetic engineering together with starting environmental improvement procedures.
As for the Governance, the main content of the Strategy is to enhance coordination and increase harmony with the policies, programs and legislations of the various sectors concerned in order to fill gaps in its institutional organizations and reduce abuses and overlaps. To achieve these goals, the Strategy identifies a series of fundamental initiatives for different sectors under a national program for biological diversity, which will be implemented according to specific time frames to ensure the unity of the ecosystem in the State of Kuwait. The Strategy also clearly outlines priorities, practical steps, and institutional and organizational responsibilities for implementation.