Regional Cooperation in the

Caspian Sea

Caspian Environment Programme (CEP)

Environmental program initiated by Republic of Azerbaijan, I.R.Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, Russian Federation &Turkmenistan

Officially launched in 1998 Total budget of about 13m $

GEF UNDP EU/Tacis World Bank UNEP

Overall Goal of the Caspian Environment Programme(CEP)

“Environmentally sustainable development and management of the Caspian ecological resources in order to obtain the optimal long-term benefits for the human population of the region".

GEF-CEP Phase-I (1998-2002)

• Establishment of a Program Coordination Unit (PCU) in Baku• Establishment of Caspian Regional Thematic Centres (CRTCs) • Development of Framework Convention for the Protection of

the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea• Preparation of the Transboudary Diagnostic Analysis Report

(TDA)• Five National Caspian Action Plan (NCAP)• Strategic Action Program (SAP)• Priority Investment Portfolios Projects (PIPPs)• Matched Small Grant Projects (MSGPs)

CEP-Caspian Regional Thematic Centres (CRTCs):

Assessment of Transboundary Biodiversity Priorities, Kazakhstan

Water Level Fluctuations, Kazakhstan

Sustainable Management of Fish Resources and other Commercially Important Species, Russian Federation

Institutional, Legal, Regulatory and Economic Frameworks, Russian Federation

Combating Coastal Desertification and Land Degradation, Turkmenistan

Contaminant Abatement and Control Policies and Procedures, Azerbaijan

Effective Regional Information and Data Management, Azerbaijan

Regional Emergency Response Actions, I.R. Iran

Effective Regional Assessment of Contaminant Levels, I.R. Iran

Integrated Transboundary Coastal Area Management and Planning, I.R.Iran

Sustainable Human Development and Health, Turkmenistan

Definition of TDA:

A TDA is a scientific and technical assessment through which the water related environmental issues and problems of a region are identified and quantified, their causes analyzed and their impacts, both environmental and economic, assessed.

M AJ OR PERCEIVED PROBLEM S AND ISSUES

DECLINE IN CERTAIN COM M ERC IALFIS H S TOCKS , INCLUDING S TURGEON

OVERALL DECLINE IN ENVIRONM ENTALQUALITY

DEGRADATION OF COAS TAL LANDS CAPESDAM AGE TO COAS TAL HAB ITATS

DECLINE IN HUM AN HEALTH

THREATS TO B IODIVERS ITY DAM AGE TO COAS TAL INFRAS TRUCTUREAND AM NETIES

INTRODUCED S PEC IES CONTAM INATION FROMOFFS HORE OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES

EM ERGING PROB LEM S / IS S UES

EXIS TING PROB LEM S / IS S UES

Pollution Hot Spots Country

Azerbaijan     

•Baku Bay/ Apsheron Peninsula

•Sumgait

•Kura River

Iran •Sefid-Rood River area/ Bandar Anzali

•Chalus/Now Shahr ports

•Gorgan Lagoon

Kazakhstan •Ural River Delta

•Bautino/Fort Shevchenko

•Aktau

Russian Federation

•Astrakhan/ Volga River delta

•Lopatin

•Makhachkala

•Derbent

APCs:AzerbaijanBaku Bay and Absheron

Kura River

Sumgait

(A1)

(A-2)

(A-3)

Oil productmunicipal, BODNORM, Nutrigen

Pesticides, (DDTs),PСBs,Heavy metals

Iran

Sefid Rood River Bandar Anzali

Chalus/Noshahr

Gorgan Bay

(I-1)(I-2)(I-3)

(I-4)

Municipal waste water

Industrial impact ( heavy metals)

CPs, PСBs

Turkmenistan

Krasnavodsk Chelekan (T1)

(T2)

Municipal,

Heavy metals,

NORM

Kazakhstan

Ural River del Aterau

Aktau

(K1)

(K2)

(K3)

Oil and oil products

Heavy metals,

PСB,s

Russia Derbent (Terek) Makhachkala Volga River delta

(R1) (R2) (R3)

Oil productmunicipal, BOD, NitrogenNORM,

Pesticides, (DDTs),PСBs, Heavy metals

Priority Areas for Monitoring (2007-2008)

Environmental Quality Objectives (EQOs)Environmental Quality Objectives (EQOs)

• EQOI-Sustainable uses of the natural resources of the Caspian Sea

• EQOII-Balanced Caspian Environment including biodiversity conservation

• EQOIII-High quality of Caspian Sea, surface, and ground waters

• EQOIV-Sustainable multiple use of the Caspian Coastal Environment

• EQOV-Strengthened civil society participation for purposes of environmentally sustainable development

Current Status of CEP-Phase II(2003-2007) :

PCU relocated to Iran SAP and NCAPs are endorsed SAP and NCAPs are being implemented Framework Convention is Signed and

Ratified, Entered into force and its Protocols are being negotiated

Revisited SAP & NCAPS have paid due consideration to the provisions of the Convention and its Protocols

Teheran Convention ProcessTeheran Convention Process In June 1995, an international meeting in Tehran confirmed the five In June 1995, an international meeting in Tehran confirmed the five

countries’ willingness to cooperate in environmental matters, countries’ willingness to cooperate in environmental matters, regardless of the regardless of the legal status of the Caspian Sea. legal status of the Caspian Sea.

In May, 1998, at Ramsar, the first Steering Committee launched the In May, 1998, at Ramsar, the first Steering Committee launched the

Caspian Environment Programme, with assistance from the EU/Tacis, Caspian Environment Programme, with assistance from the EU/Tacis, UN agencies,WB and the Global Environmental Facility. UN agencies,WB and the Global Environmental Facility.

One of the main Outcome of the CEP was development of a Frame work One of the main Outcome of the CEP was development of a Frame work

Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian SeaSea

During the ensuing years, nine working meetings were held to discuss During the ensuing years, nine working meetings were held to discuss and amend the text of the and amend the text of the Framework Convention on the Protection of Framework Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention), which the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention), which was signed in November, 2003. was signed in November, 2003.

Tehran Convention entered into force on 12Tehran Convention entered into force on 12thth August 2006, announced August 2006, announced as the as the “Caspian Day”.“Caspian Day”.

Convention’s SecretariatConvention’s Secretariat

Following the signature of the Tehran Convention in 2003, Following the signature of the Tehran Convention in 2003, UNEP was assigned as Interim Secretariat.UNEP was assigned as Interim Secretariat.

Three proposals for hosting the Permanent Secretariat have Three proposals for hosting the Permanent Secretariat have been submitted by the Caspian Littoral States (Azerbaijan, been submitted by the Caspian Littoral States (Azerbaijan, I.R.Iran, and Russian FederationI.R.Iran, and Russian Federation

Political Negotiations are going on. It requires a Political Negotiations are going on. It requires a “Package “Package Deal”Deal”

At the First Conference of the Parties At the First Conference of the Parties (COP)(COP) in Baku, April 2006, in Baku, April 2006, no decision on the location of the Permanent Secretariat was no decision on the location of the Permanent Secretariat was mademade

It is envisaged to finalize the location of the Permanent It is envisaged to finalize the location of the Permanent Secretariat at the Secretariat at the Second COPSecond COP, which is to be held in Iran, which is to be held in Iran by the Summer 2008 by the Summer 2008

Second Conference of Parties (COPII)Second Conference of Parties (COPII)

will be held in I.R.Iran, Summer 2008will be held in I.R.Iran, Summer 2008

Pending few issues, negotiations on finalization of the texts for three Pending few issues, negotiations on finalization of the texts for three Protocols: Combating Pollution from Land-based Sources and Protocols: Combating Pollution from Land-based Sources and Activities; Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Activities; Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context; and Biodiversity Conservation are in progressContext; and Biodiversity Conservation are in progress

Protocol Protocol Concerning Regional Preparedness, Response and Co-Concerning Regional Preparedness, Response and Co-operation in Combating Oil Pollution Incidents will hopefully be operation in Combating Oil Pollution Incidents will hopefully be signed at the COP-IIsigned at the COP-II

Decision on the location of the Permanent Secretariat and Financial Decision on the location of the Permanent Secretariat and Financial Arrangement Arrangement

Convention and CEP alignmentConvention and CEP alignment

Other ProtocolsOther Protocols

Commendable efforts by Caspian Countries to encourageCommendable efforts by Caspian Countries to encourageinternational and regional cooperation :international and regional cooperation :

Almaty Declaration of 21 December 1991 between the four CIS countries Almaty Declaration of 21 December 1991 between the four CIS countries stating that the new states would continue fulfill international obligations of stating that the new states would continue fulfill international obligations of the USSR.the USSR.

Tehran Communique of October 1992, which committed the states to Tehran Communique of October 1992, which committed the states to

cooperation in environmental management of the Caspian Sea. cooperation in environmental management of the Caspian Sea. Astrakhan Communique of 1993, which reinforced the need to cooperate in Astrakhan Communique of 1993, which reinforced the need to cooperate in

environmental matters.environmental matters. Almaty Declaration of Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection Almaty Declaration of Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection

(May, 1994)(May, 1994)

Agreed on the need to jointly implement the Convention on Biodiversity Agreed on the need to jointly implement the Convention on Biodiversity and a and a project for protecting the biodiversity of the Caspian and its coastal project for protecting the biodiversity of the Caspian and its coastal zone, to cooperate in environmental protection of the sea and sustainable zone, to cooperate in environmental protection of the sea and sustainable management of its resourcesmanagement of its resources

Called on the international community to support the implementation of Called on the international community to support the implementation of an environmental programme.an environmental programme.

Commendable efforts (cont.):Commendable efforts (cont.):

In June 1995, an international meeting in In June 1995, an international meeting in Tehran confirmed the five countries’ Tehran confirmed the five countries’ willingness to cooperate in environmental willingness to cooperate in environmental matters, regardless of the legal status of the matters, regardless of the legal status of the Caspian Sea.Caspian Sea.

In May, 1998, at Ramsar, the first Steering In May, 1998, at Ramsar, the first Steering

Committee launched the Caspian Environment Committee launched the Caspian Environment Programme, deciding on Baku, Azerbaijan, as Programme, deciding on Baku, Azerbaijan, as the location for the PCU for the first four years the location for the PCU for the first four years of the CEP, and initiating implementation with of the CEP, and initiating implementation with assistance from the EU/Tacis, UN agencies, assistance from the EU/Tacis, UN agencies, WB and the Global Environmental Facility. WB and the Global Environmental Facility.

The Caspian Sea: Restoring Depleted The Caspian Sea: Restoring Depleted Fisheries and Consolidation of a Permanent Fisheries and Consolidation of a Permanent

Regional Environmental Governance Regional Environmental Governance FrameworkFramework

PIF and PPG approved by the GEF CEO in PIF and PPG approved by the GEF CEO in February 2008February 2008

PPG April – September 2008PPG April – September 2008 Start Implementation of the CEP III- October-Start Implementation of the CEP III- October-

November 2008November 2008

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