CHAPTER SIXTEEN
INTRODUCTION
The South Asian subregion comprises
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Islamic Republic
of Iran, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri
Lanka. Given the economic, social and cultural
context of the countries of South Asia, similar
challenges confront them in protecting their
environment and natural resources. For instance,
high rates of population growth, urbanization, and
widespread incidence of poverty are common,
although improvements have been witnessed in all
major indicators of human development over recent
years (UNDP 1998).
South Asia is also home to a significant but
shrinking array of terrestrial and marine biodiversity.
For example, the Hindu Kush Himalayan belt is home
to some 25 000 major plant species, comprising 10
per cent of the world’s flora (Shengji 1998). In
addition, Sri Lanka is one of the most biological
diverse countries in the world (see Box 16.1), and
India contains extensive savannah and forest habitats,
including many endemic species of international
importance. South Asia is also home to around
14 per cent of the world’s remaining mangrove
habitat, in addition to the highest percentage of
threatened wetlands, 82 of which are in Bangladesh.
Table 16.1 provides a summary of the key
environmental issues and their causes in South Asia.
SHARED ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
A growing population reduces the per capita
availability of land and water, which consequently
impairs the people’s ability to produce food. Land
degradation and water scarcity are thus closely tied
to food security concerns. Urbanization and poverty,
particularly the concentration of population in a few
large South Asian cities, is another important
challenge. It poses a strain on the limited resources
of these cities, where infrastructure is already
overstretched.
In prioritizing shared environmental concerns
in the subregion, the most important are:
Land degradation South Asia has the largest
area of irrigated land in Asia and the Pacific
(nearly 90 million ha). However unplanned
and badly engineered irrigation developments
have resulted in land degradation through
factors such as water erosion and salinity.
Irrigated croplands of many countries, such as
India and Pakistan, are severely affected by
salinity. Wind erosion also presents a serious
regional issue. Afghanistan, the Islamic
344
Republic of Iran, Pakistan and India suffer most
from desertification (UNEP 1997). The worst
sufferers as a result of land degradation are
the poor.
Water scarcity and degradation A number of
areas within Afghanistan, India, the Islamic
Republic of Iran, and Pakistan are suffering
from water scarcity. Groundwater depletion
has also emerged as a major concern in parts
of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in recent
years, and depletion of freshwater aquifers is
threatening water supplies in the Maldives.
Adding to these problems is the cross border
degradation of existing sources specifically
through uncontrolled release of sewage (the
problem of pathogenic water pollution has
grown to alarming proportions in the
subregion, UNEP 1997), industrial wastes,
agricultural run-off, commercial pesticide, and
arsenic contamination (see Table 16.2).
Deforestation and biodiversity loss South
Asia shares approximately 19 per cent of the
Asian and Pacific region total forest cover,
providing cross-border habitats for a wealth of
species. Within the subregion the Islamic
Republic of Iran and Pakistan are the countries
with the highest rates of deforestation. The
effect of habitat loss on biodiversity has still to
be quantified, though overall habitat losses
have been the most acute in the Indian subcontinent (UNEP 1997). Diverse habitats such
as mangrove have also faced severe pressures
through aquacultural developments in
Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka (UNEP 1997)
(see Box 16.1).
Impacts to the marine environment Pollution
and over extraction of resources are both key
concerns in relation to South Asia’s marine
environment. Unplanned developments are
also affecting the coastal zone, and leading to
erosion, while changes in the region’s seawater
temperatures are impacting on its coral systems
(see Box 16.2).
Atmospheric pollution Rapid growth in
energy demand and the reliance on coal have
translated into significant increases in the
emission of air pollutants. Urban air pollution
has emerged as a major problem in many cities,
in addition to fly-ash generated through coal
mining (see Box 16.3). Effects of acid deposition
in excess of critical loads have been recorded
in areas of Northeastern India and Bangladesh
(UNEP 1997), and pristine forests of Bhutan
(Communication by the Government of
Bhutan, May 2000). An increase in slash-and-
SOUTH ASIA
Table 16.1 Key Environmental Issues and Causes in South Asia
Country
Key Issues
Key Causes
Afghanistan
Soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation;
desertification; loss of biodiversity; food security risks;
natural disasters such as earthquakes and droughts.
Population growth; increased demand for bio-fuels,
building materials, and agricultural lands.
Bangladesh
Marginalized populations forced to live on and cultivate
flood-prone land; loss of biodiversity; limited access to
potable water; water-borne diseases prevalent; water
pollution, especially of fishing areas; arsenic pollution
of drinking water; urban air pollution; soil degradation;
deforestation; severe overpopulation: natural disasters
(especially floods and cyclones which kill thousands of
people and causes heavy economic losses every year);
food security risks; industrial pollution; import of
hazardous waste.
High population density and urban primacy; reliance
on private transport; urbanization and deficits in urban
infrastructure (including one of the world’s 30 largest
cities – Dhaka); increases in unmanaged marine-based
tourism; green revolution/agrochemicals and run-off;
high demand for bio-fuels; lack of controls on industrial
effluent; over exploitation and/or pollution of
groundwater.
Bhutan
Soil erosion; limited access to potable water.
High rates of urbanization.
India
Deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification;
loss of biodiversity; air pollution; water pollution; huge
population base and large growth rate is overstraining
natural resources; natural disasters such as floods,
cyclones and landslides are common; high death rates
and ailments associated with indoor air pollution.
High rates of urbanization and deficits in urban
infrastructure (including in four of world’s 30 largest
cities); reliance on private transport; industrial effluents
and vehicle emissions; increases in unmanaged marinebased tourism; green revolution/agrochemicals and
run-off; reliance on bio-fuels.
Islamic Republic
of Iran
Air pollution, especially in urban areas; deforestation;
overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian
Gulf; inadequate supplies of potable water; food security
risks; natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and
landslides are common.
Excessive pressure on forests and rangelands; high rates
of urbanization and deficits in urban infrastructure
(including one of world’s 30 largest cities – Tehran);
inefficient public and private transport; vehicle emissions,
refinery operations, and industrial effluents.
Maldives
Climate change; beach erosion; depletion of freshwater
aquifers; degradation of marine habitats.
High population densities; increases in marine-based
tourism; sea level rise.
Nepal
Deforestation; soil erosion and degradation; loss of
biodiversity; water pollution; natural disasters such as
floods and landslides in rural areas; food security risks.
High rates of urbanization; reliance on private transport;
increased demands for timber; increased population
density and cultivation of marginal lands.
Pakistan
Water pollution; seasonal limitations on the availability
of natural freshwater resources; majority of the
population lacks access to potable water; deforestation;
soil erosion; coastal habitat loss and degradation of
marine environment; desertification; loss of biodiversity:
natural disasters, mainly due to floods.
High rates of urbanization and deficits in urban
infrastructure; industrial wastes; population increases in
coastal areas and rise in tourism; depletion of mangroves
for aquaculture; overfishing; increased demands for
timber/bio-fuels; hunting/poaching; green revolution/
agrochemicals and run-off.
Sri Lanka
Deforestation; soil erosion; pollution by municipal and
domestic waste; loss of biodiversity; coastal degradation;
limited access to potable water; water-borne diseases
prevalent.
Excessive pressure on forests; increases in marine-based
tourism; poaching; sea level rise; deficits in urban
infrastructure; water pollution by municipal and
industrial waste, and agricultural run-off; extensive
mining activities.
Source:
Compiled from ADB 1990; WRI 1998 and 2000; Ghimire 1995; Sharma 1993 and 1996; UNFPA 1997; Bhattacharya 1996; Malla and Shreshtha
1996; Singhal and Sachdeva 1997; Satyaramacahandra 1996; Government of Pakistan 1994; Government of Maldives 1994; UNDP 1998;
Saxena and Dayal 1999; and World Bank and UNDP 1995.
345
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Box 16.1 Sri Lanka and its Biodiversity
Due to its location and topography, Sri Lanka, is one of the smallest but biologically most diverse countries in Asia. Consequently,
it is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot of global importance. Among the terrestrial ecosystems are forests varying from wet
evergreen forests to dry thorn forests, grasslands, wetlands and freshwater bodies and a complex network of rivers. These together
with the coastal and marine ecosystems such as sea grass beds, coral reefs, estuaries and lagoons, and associated mangrove swamps
constitute the diverse and complex network of ecosystems in the country. In addition, there are numerous man-made ecosystems
related to agriculture and irrigation, which have a direct bearing on the conservation, sustenance and survival of biological resources.
Sri Lanka’s high population density, high level of poverty, and wide spread dependence on subsistence agriculture are exerting
considerable pressure on the biodiversity of the country. Extensive land degradation and deforestation and the unregulated exploitation
of natural resources (e.g. Mining for coral lime, sand and gemstones) are some of Sri Lanka’s most pressing problems. In response,
the National Conservation Strategy, the National Environmental Action Plan, the Forestry Sector Master Plan, the National Coastal
Zone Management Plan and Coastal 2000 are some of the policy instruments that are addressing biodiversity conservation. There
are also many Government Institutions whose responsibility is to translate these policy initiatives into action. However, despite the
legal, policy and institutional support for its conservation, the country’s biodiversity is continuing to diminish. The growth and
movement of population, the opening of economic markets, and new trends in industrial development are expected to have a
growing adverse impact on biodiversity unless some systematic and stringent corrective measures are taken.
Sri Lanka ratified the Convention on Biodiversity in 1994 and as a response to article 6 of the Convention, the preparation of
“Biodiversity Conservation in Sri Lanka- A Framework for Action” began in early 1996. What this plan proposes is a course of action
to ensure that the biological diversity within the country is conserved and used sustainably.
Source:
Forestry Sector Master Plan of Sri Lanka 1995
Table 16.2 Organic Water Pollution Resulting from Industrial Activities in South Asia
Countries
Primary
Metals
Paper
and Pulp
Chemical
Food and
Beverage
Stone,
ceramics
and Glass
Textiles
Wood
Others
186 852
1 664 150
101 900
26 550
114 726
55 665
2.8
15.5
20.6
1.5
14.1
1.2
6.8
7.5
8.0
8.1
5.8
8.9
3.5
8.2
8.0
3.9
7.3
7.2
34.2
51.5
39.7
43.3
39.5
42.2
0.1
0.2
0.5
1.2
0.2
0.2
50.9
11.6
17.3
39.3
30.1
38.3
0.6
0.3
0.7
1.7
0.3
0.7
1.1
5.2
5.4
1.0
2.7
1.3
Bangladesh
India
Iran (Islamic Rep. of)
Nepal
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Source:
Industrial Shares of Emissions of Organic Water pollutants (%)
Emissions of
organic water
pollutants
(kg/day)
World Bank 1998
Figure 16.1 Access to Safe Water and Sanitation
(% of Urban Population) in South Asia
Access to clean drinking water
100
90
Per cent of access
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
•
10
an
ka
n
iL
st
a
al
ki
ep
N
al
Pa
Sr
Re
M
p.
of
Ir
di
ve
s
an
a
In
di
an
ut
es
h
Bh
la
d
ng
Is
la
m
ic
A
Ba
fg
ha
ni
st
an
0
Access to safe water, 1997 (% of Urban population)
Access to sanitation, 1997 (% of Urban population)
Source:
World Bangk 1997
346
burn agriculture is also contributing to
incidents of haze in certain areas.
Deficient urban infrastructure The capacity
of urban infrastructure (water supply and
sanitation, waste management etc.) has not
been increasing at a rate commensurate to
urbanization. Surmounting deficits are
growing particularly acute in sub-urban
sprawls and inner-city squatter settlements,
where it is the poor who are the most
vulnerable (see Figure 16.1).
Natural disasters The north-eastern Indian
subregion represents the greatest area of
seismic hazard in the Indian subcontinent.
Floods, cyclones and landslides are other
common hazards. Floods regularly cause
widespread havoc in India and Bangladesh,
and also occasionally in Pakistan and Nepal.
SOUTH ASIA
Box 16.2 Coral Reef Degradation in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO)
The coral reefs of the Indian Ocean were severely affected by the elevated sea surface temperatures during 1998, often between
3-5 degrees above normal, which bleached and subsequently killed a large percentage of the corals. The coral mortality ranged
between 50 and 90 per cent around the Indian Ocean, with some areas facing a mortality close to 100 per cent, for example in large
areas along the East African coast and in the central Indian Ocean. This coincided with the strongest El Nino (and the reversing La
Nina) ever recorded.
As a response to this, the Coral Reef Degradation in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO) programme was launched in early 1999. The
programme’s focus was on the ecological and socio-economic effects of the mass coral mortality and the degradation of the coral
reefs. Projects also investigated the prospects for restoration of the reefs as well as providing alternative livelihoods for dependants
of coral reefs. CORDIO is being implemented in 12 countries and is funded by The World Bank, SIDA (Swedish International
Development Agency), WWF Sweden and two other Swedish agencies. The results of the first year of research in the South Asian
Region showed that in India the reefs of Gulf of Mannar were severely affected by mortality of coral during 1998. Post bleaching
surveys on the coral reefs of the 21 islands in the Gulf show the mean cover of coral is approximately 26 per cent. However, there is
considerable variation between reefs with the cover of live coral ranging between 0 per cent and 74 per cent. In addition to reefbuilding corals, sea anemones and octocorals (soft corals) also bleached as a result of the increased sea temperatures that prevailed
during 1998. Subsequently, a decrease in biodiversity of these reefs has been reported. Furthermore, extensive beach erosion on
some islands was reported. Initial assessments of recovery processes in Lakshadweep Islands during 1999 indicate that the cover of
live coral has increased to 15 per cent to 20 per cent compared with 5 per cent to 10 per cent reported immediately after the bleaching
event.
Monitoring of the reef tops conducted during 1999 in the Maldives showed that the cover of live coral has not increased since
the post bleaching surveys conducted in 1998 and remains at approximately 2 per cent. At present, the cover of live coral is 20 times
lower than that recorded before the bleaching event. However, re-colonization of fast growing branching corals has been recorded,
indicating that reef recovery processes are underway. Furthermore, some reefs are abundant with coralline algae providing potential
areas for coral recruitment. Nevertheless, despite these reasons for hope it is clear that the reefs of the Maldives were seriously
affected by bleaching and subsequent mortality of coral will require many years to recover.
Most shallow coral reef habitats in Sri Lanka were also severely damaged as a result of coral bleaching in 1998. Surveys
conducted between June 1998 and January 2000 (7) revealed that many of the dominant forms of reef building corals in the shallow
coral habitats have been destroyed. Invasive organisms such as tunicates, corallimorpharians and algae now dominate the dead
coral reefs. Furthermore, the dead coral patches were rapidly inundated by sediment thus preventing re-colonization of coral larvae.
Also, in every area surveyed thus far, except Trincomalee in the Northeast, the hydrocoral, Millepora spp., which was once common,
appears to be completely absent. The impact on fish by the loss of live hard corals is clearly visible in the decreased abundance
of several species of fish that depend on live corals for food (e.g. Chaetodonts). Despite the destruction of corals in shallow water
(< 8 m), corals growing in deeper waters (> 10 m) have recovered from bleaching almost completely providing a source for new
recruits and reef recovery.
The above observations indicate that corals of Indian Ocean need to be closely monitored to observe the impacts of temperature
changes on them. The initiation of the CORDIO programme is an important project in that respect. The scientific data gathered
during the project will help not only in assessing the damage and recovery of coral reefs but will assist in building national capacity
for coral reef monitoring, and promote subregional cooperation through exchange of information and expertise.
Source:
South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme, Colombo 1997
CAUSES
Average population has been growing at the
rate of 1.8 per cent per annum (UNFPA 1997), and
widespread incidence of poverty characterize much
of the subregion, although improvements have been
witnessed in all major indicators of human
development over recent years (UNDP 1998). Per
capita GNP is lowest in Nepal and highest in Islamic
Republic of Iran, and varies from US$210 to
US$1 650 respectively. Overall the region is home to
more than 500 million poor people living below a
‘dollar a day’ poverty line (World Bank 1999),
representing an average of nearly 34 per cent of South
Asia’s population. 29 per cent of the population is
urban, and urbanization is growing at 3.4 per cent
(UNFPA 1997). The economies of countries of the
subregion are primarily agricultural although in
recent years the pace of industrialization has
increased. Nevertheless, industrialization has not
been able to completely absorb the growing labour
force presented by the region’s demographic trends.
Major socio-economic indicators of the region are
provided in Table 16.3.
347
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Box 16.3 Air Pollution In India
Air pollution will intensify substantially by the year 2015 in India under ‘a business as usual’ scenario. Under this scenario,
India will be producing SO2, NOx, particulate emissions, and ash at three times the current levels and CO2 emissions will be 775
million metric tonnes per year, as compared with 1 000 million metric tonnes per year now produced by power generation across the
entire European Union.
Emissions on this scale are bound to affect air quality and have major human health impacts. The damages caused by
particulate matter to the respiratory system are a particular cause for concern. Consequences include significant increases in
mortality, hospital admissions for respiratory infections, emergency room visits for bronchitis and other chronic pulmonary diseases
and the number of days asthmatics experience shortness of breath.
The state of air pollution in different cities of India is fairly acute. Although the power sector contributes to the problem, most
of the pollution, especially in the urban areas, stems from other sources. These include, residential and commercial stoves; industrial
boilers; inefficiencies in the transport sector and the liquid fuel chain; the extensive use of traditional fuels in the city slums; and
emissions from non-energy sources. Urban air pollution is, therefore, a cross-sectoral issue that requires a city-wide approach to
achieve comprehensive air quality management. Thus, a strategy to address urban air pollution must integrate a range of activities
at the municipal level, especially at small sources of energy and power stations located in densely populated areas and in the
transport sector. This strategy should also include a major focus on the petroleum subsector.
Currently the power sector in India is on the verge of fundamental and significant reforms that will have profound implications
for environmental management. India is moving from publicly owned, vertically integrated, monopolistic system with highly
distorted prices for fuels and electricity to a more liberal system with market prices, competition, a greater role for the private sector,
and commercial incentives. These changes will effect every aspect of the energy production system: the demand for electricity, the
financial viability for all the entities involved, the choice of fuel and technologies, pricing decisions, and the respective roles and
relationships among the state, the power sector, regulators, and fuel suppliers. During this time of transition, it is critical to
determine how best to take advantage of the opportunities it presents to protect the environment and avert threats to public health.
In particular, there is a need to find a more appropriate balance between economic development and environmental concerns.
Source:
World Bank 2000
Table 16.3 Major Socio-Economic Indicators for South Asian Countries
Population
(2000)
(thousands)
Countries
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Iran (Islamic Rep, of)
Maldives
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Nepal
Sources:
1.
2.
3.
22.7
129.2
2.1
1 013.7
65.6
0.29
142.3
18.8
22.9
Annual growth
Population
rate in
density (person
population (%)
per km2)
2.9
1.7
2.7
1.5
1.5
2.7
2.6
1.0
2.4
38
965
16
330
38
875
171
291
160
National Initiatives
Notable initiatives have been undertaken by
the governments of South Asia in recent years to
strengthen institutions; improve regulatory systems;
implement financial and policy reforms towards
sustainable development; and enhance private sector
involvement. Many new public sector institutions
348
21.9
21.2
7.1
24.8
61.6
28.3
37.0
23.6
11.9
Annual growth
Total GNP
rate of urban
(US$ millions)
population (%)
1998
5.8
4.0
6.1
2.8
2.2
3.3
4.2
2.6
4.8
–
44 224
354
427 407
102 242
296
61 451
15 176
4 889
Per capita
GNP (US$)
1998
–
350
470
440
1 650
1 130
470
810
210
World Bank 1999 and 2000
ESCAP 2000
United Nations 1998
POLICY RESPONSE
A.
Urban
population
as % of total
have been established, including environmental
ministries, while independent environment agencies,
departments and pollution control boards have also
been created to support them.
A number of common limitations are, however,
observed in relation to achieving sustainable
development in the subregion. These relate to
bottlenecks facing the legal, industrial, policy, and
NGO communities, and are as follows.
SOUTH ASIA
Legal Legislation in several countries of the
subregion has failed to respond to changing
paradigms of development, and many resource
laws and statutes have been rendered obsolete
by recent developments. Moreover, there is a
weak regulatory framework, and problems of
implementation and enforcement are acute.
This is manifested in slow adoption of EIA
practices, and inadequate public participation
in formulation and implementation of laws.
The paucity of financial resources to implement
laws, inadequate penalties for violation and
lack of political commitment are also observed.
Industrial Environmental awareness among
the industrial sector is increasing and is
substantially better today than a decade ago.
However the region is dominated by small and
medium scale industry, a significant number
of which produce hazardous wastes. The scale
of industry in the subregion is analogous with
meagre budgets and scant, if any, resources for
allocation to research and development. A need
for closer ties between industry and the
universities is recognized, together with the
development of appropriate environmental
management capacity.
Policy While it may be difficult to gauge the
overall impact of environmental policies on the
environment, it appears from the existing
literature that local level decentralized
approaches are having a far greater impact on
resource management than other policy
instruments. This is borne out, for instance,
by the success of water user organizations in
much of India and Nepal and also through
similar approaches in forestry. A critique,
however, has been that such approaches have
focused exclusively on the accomplishment of
physical targets, often to the detriment of
participatory goals (Khan 1996).
NGOs Several factors hamper the working of
NGOs in the subregion, including lack of
financial resources, training and strategic goals.
In addition, numerous cases have been
identified where, even when funds have been
available, NGOs remain unable to access them
due to insufficient organizational capabilities.
B.
Subregional Cooperation
Opportunities for subregional policy
cooperation are promoted through two principal
programmes:
The South Asia Cooperative Environment
Programme (SACEP); and
The South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC).
1.
The South Asia Cooperative Environment
Programme (SACEP)
Since its inception in 1982, SACEP has initiated
a number of projects, which are building national
capacity to manage environmental issues. The overall
focus of SACEP’s activities includes capacity building
and institutional strengthening; conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity; ecosystems
conservation and management; environmental
information and assessment; and education and
awareness-raising. SACEP’s members include
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran (Islamic
Republic of), Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri
Lanka.
(a)
The SACEP South Asian Regional Seas
Programme
The formulation of the Regional Seas
Programme was a major achievement under the aegis
of SACEP, and it is one of the few major
transboundary environmental programmes of South
Asia. Under this programme, a South Asian Seas
Action Plan was also prepared along with national
and regional overviews and action plans. The
implementation activities relate to integrated coastal
zone management; development of national and
regional oil and chemical contingency plans; and
protection of the marine environment from the
impacts of land-based activities.
(b)
Improvement of the Legal and Institutional
Framework
Another major programme undertaken by
SACEP has been the improvement of the legal and
institutional framework in the countries of the
subregion with technical assistance from UNEP
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Under this
programme, national workshops were organized in
Bangladesh and Nepal covering environmental law
from both national and international convention
implementation perspectives. In the Maldives,
support was given for a National Planning Meeting
to develop Draft National Environmental Legislation.
In Sri Lanka, activities were carried out in
development of regulations; preparation of a model
statute; establishment of environmental standards;
preparation of the state of environment report;
training programmes; and, an environmental
awareness raising programme for children.
(c)
Private and Public Cooperation Initiative
SACEP launched this initiative to promote
cooperation between governments and the private
sector, with support from UNEP and NORAD. Under
the initiative, a Regional Seminar on Cooperation for
the Promotion of Environmentally Friendly Business
349
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Practices is being convened. The objective of the
seminar, which will be attended by representatives
of the Governments and business sectors of the seven
South Asian Countries, is to share experiences in
improving industrial, agricultural and business
management and to identify present and future
challenges for advancing towards sustainable
development goals. The seminar expects to initiate a
regional dialogue by promoting networking among
national private sector institutions including
Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Employers
Federations; and, Industrial/Agricultural Research
Institutions.
2.
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC)
SAARC was established in 1983, with its
headquarters in Kathmandu, and includes the
countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives,
Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. SAARC has a
particular focus on economic cooperation, although
it also covers many aspects of regional cooperation
(including environment). SAARC has grown steadily
and, as a result of recent coordination initiatives
between the two programmes, its environmental
activities are complementary to those of SACEP.
SAARC has set up several technical committees
in many fields. The Committee on Environment was
given the status of a Technical Committee in 1992, in
which year a special session of this Committee was
held in Pakistan to prepare modalities and
programmes of action. The implementation of the
recommendations of the Regional Study on
Greenhouse effects has also been mandated to this
Committee.
3.
International Programmes and Projects
Countries of the subregion are also
participating in four transboundary efforts being
promoted by the World Bank in Asia and the Pacific.
URBAIR and the Two-Stroke Vehicle Engine Initiative
address the rapidly worsening air pollution problem
in South Asia’s largest cities. The Bay of Bengal
Environment Programme funded by GEF and jointly
350
implemented with FAO, addresses fisheries research,
environmental emergencies, large marine ecosystems,
and coastal zone management in and around the bay.
Both South and East Asian countries are involved in
this programme. The South Asia Development
Initiatives seeks to improve regional cooperation in
the poorest part of South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan,
Nepal and eastern India) in water resource
management, energy development and trade, and
transport and commerce. Lastly, a programme for
the preservation of Cultural Heritage in South Asia
is being implemented in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
to promote active involvement and financial support
of the public, NGO, and private sectors to rehabilitate
and protect national heritage sites.
SUBREGIONAL OUTLOOK
A distinctive feature of the South Asian
subregion, is that, while the last five years has seen a
growth in cooperation and coordination of intraregional sustainable development initiatives,
historically this has been lacking. However, many of
the South Asian countries, like those of other
subregions, are also party to several international
agreements, covering many aspects of economic
development and environmental conservation, and
as such their intra-regional cooperation on these could
be of considerable future mutual benefit.
What is imperative in the region is the
continued move toward the decentralization of
environmental management, the increased
involvement of the public sector in environmental
decision making, and importantly, concentration on
the key concern of poverty alleviation. In this respect
SACEP and SAARC are considering several further
proposals. Indeed, it is expected that within the next
few years, there will be a substantial portfolio of
subregional environmental programmes underway,
which will benefit the individual countries as well as
the subregion as a whole, and improve the quality of
life of the population. It is hoped these programmes
will also yield positive results that will spread far
beyond the boundaries of South Asia.