Piracy in Somalia

Piracy is a symptom of the collapse of the Somali State characterized by ongoing conflict, instability, and lack of rule of law and livelihood opportunities. What can be done by the authorities and other stakeholders to counter piracy off the coast of Somalia?

World Environment Day, Sunday, June 5, 2011 – UNDP Somalia

The World Environment Day will be celebrated on Sunday, June 5, 2011. This year's theme is 'Forests: Nature at Your Service'. It underscores the intrinsic link between quality of life and the health of forests and forest ecosystems. The theme also supports this year's UN International Year of Forests. The global host of World Environment Day 2011 is India.

Forests play a key role in our battle against climate change, releasing oxygen into the atmosphere while storing carbon dioxide.  Forests feed our rivers and are essential to supplying the water for nearly 50% of our largest cities.  They create and maintain soil fertility; they help to regulate the often devastating impact of storms, floods and fires.  Forests are the most biologically diverse ecosystems on land, and are home to more than half of the terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects.  They also provide shelter, jobs, security and cultural relevance for forest-dependent populations. 

Most of Somalia is typically sparse savanna with few forested areas. FAO statistics reveal that Somalia has 6,747,000 ha of Somalia of forested landmass of which 3,000 ha is classified as primary forests. Between 1990 and 2010 Somalia lost 1,535,000 ha of forest cover at an average rate of 76,750 ha annually. Somalia's forests contain 394 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass. This is mainly due to deforestation owing to demand for wood fuel domestically and also for export to the Gulf States.  The most visible results of this action are desertification, soil erosion, and general environmental degradation. The highest price will be the long-term effect in desertification.

It is for this reasons that UNDP Somalia has placed great emphasis on environmental management in the 2011-2015 Country Programme Document. UNDP Somalia plans to support relevant ministries to develop natural resources management policies and regulatory frameworks, with focus on climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction and; strengthen protection of environment through public awareness, use of appropriate technology and conservation of natural resources.

What can the different stakeholders do to conserve forests and increase forest cover in Somalia?