Manager Profile: Ashraf Saad Al Cibahy

Position: Head of Marine Protected Areas (since 2001), Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA) of Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates.

Age: 38

Background:

• Served as Deputy Manager of South Sinai Protected Areas (marine and terrestrial) of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, and was Egypt’s national representative for MPAs to the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA).
• Has taught courses on environmental management, protected-area management and networking, and wetland management to practitioners from throughout the Arabian Peninsula and eastern Africa.
• Holds M.Sc. in application of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) for environmental studies from Alexandria University.
• Is a PADI Advanced Diver with more than 700 dives.

Responsibilities:

• Manages the 5561-km² Marawah Marine Protected Area (see box at end of this profile), the first designated MPA in what is expected to become a network of marine protected areas within Abu Dhabi Emirate by 2007.
• Recommends sites for establishment of new MPAs.
• Communicates with local people to raise awareness of protected areas.
• Develops and promotes MPAs as ecotourism destinations and environmental education centers.

Challenges he faces:

• Managing conflicts among stakeholder groups, including fishermen, oil/transport industries, coast guard, municipal officials, and the general public.
• Building the capacity of rangers, whose career is fairly new in the Arabian Gulf region.
• Directing research and monitoring programs to benefit and support MPA management decisions.

Lessons learned, according to Al Cibahy:

• Lesson 1. Gain adequate social and political support before applying management decisions. “Always avoid abrupt decisions since they are dangerous and will not be accepted by the community.”
• Lesson 2. Prove the benefits of MPA management to people inside and outside the MPA. “Theoretically, all target user groups receive economic benefits from the MPA and its components. Practically, it is the role of management to emphasize these values. The direct economic value is obvious for some stakeholders, while for others the indirect or intrinsic value of the MPA must be explained. An explanation could start with questions such as ‘What is the value of conserving a mangrove tree?’, ‘What is the value of its shade and shelter?’, ‘What are the links between this tree and the fish stocks, birds’ nests, water quality, etc.?'”
• Lesson 3. Introduce the law gently. “Do not apply legal approaches to enforce regulations unless public awareness has been developed and alternatives have been provided. Before enforcing a no-anchoring regulation, for example, you should provide mooring buoys or an anchorage area and clearly define this to the public.”

For more information:
Ashraf Saad Al Cibahy, ERWDA, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Tel: +971 2 681 7171; E-mail: aalcibahy@erwda.gov.ae; Web: www.erwda.gov.ae.