The review focuses on development andthe environment in Yemen, particularly analyzing theenvironment resource base, where renewable fresh water isscarce, mainly ground water, and its over exploitation isone of the country's major environmental problems.Fisheries resources are also important, while oil and gasare significant resources contributing to some eighty fivepercent of Yemen's export revenues. Environmentalproblems are caused fundamentally due to: population growth;poverty; and institutional weaknesses. Main issues discussedinclude water depletion, pollution and supply; land, andhabitat degradation, in addition to soil erosion; and, lossof biodiversity, mostly resulting from poor management ofwater and eco-tourism. Waste water and solid wastemanagement, including hazardous waste and pesticidemanagement, are outlined as serious environmental problems,requiring immediate appropriate disposal. Priority actionsof the national environment action plan identify the needfor institutional capacity building regarding environmentalmanagement, to include local pilot programs, as well asdisaster preparedness at Aden, and Hodeidah ports concerningoil spills. Likewise, the water resources authority shouldbe strengthened, to include the development of waterresources information systems, and a comprehensive WaterLaw. Land use planning should be established to promote landzoning, and registration; a desertification control programshould be implemented, and grazing reserves, and pestmanagement techniques promoted. It is suggested wastemanagement would be improved through privatization of solidwaste collection, of water treatment, and of disposal ofhazardous wastes, while the regulation of hospital wastedisposal, should undergo pilot testing.
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