Task 2: Literature Review
The literature review will encompass key environmental indicators, and examine issues arising from both land-based and marine sources of pollution. The review will include sources/impacts of environmental degradation, including (but not be limited to) habitat loss, coastal land-use, unsustainable fishing and aquaculture. The scope of the review will extend to published and unpublished literature, including:
- Studies that were conducted in KSA by private sector firms (such as Aramco, Shuaib power plant, desalination facilities, etc.);
- Existing reports and studies that are available with the key governmental organizations;
- Studies conducted by international entities, such as the World Bank, UN organizations, and other key agencies operating in the region. For example, sources of information will include the regional office of MENA located in Manama, Bahrain and projects recently completed by ROPME/MEMAC;
- Studies that have been done by academic and research institutions in, and outside, the region, most notably the Faculty of Marine Science of King Abdul Aziz University and the Water Resources and Environment Division of the Research Institute of King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals on the Eastern coast;
- Monitoring reports and data that have been generated by various agencies in the country;
- Face-to-face meetings with key stakeholders from key Governmental bodies (most notably NCEC, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Ministry of Interior, Coastal Guards, Ministry of Defence, Port Authority and the Ministry of Municipalities and Rural Areas) and the private sector.
- Meetings with the communities at the selected areas of interest (‘hotspots’).
In addition, the review will identify the extent to which environment could contribute to economic growth and what gains could be made from environmental improvement in specific sectors.
