The Arab Group for the Protection of Nature and the Arab Network of Food Sovereignty participated in the meetings conducted in the Arab Forum for Environment and Development that took place on 10th of November 2016 in Beirut.

Razan Zuayter, President of the Network led the Civil Society workshop which was concluded with a declaration that was read at the general plenary. The declaration stressed that civil society is key to the growth of modern nations, and more effort should be put to strengthen partnerships between civil society and governments.

It also admitted that it is impossible to achieve the ministerial declaration on the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 in Arab countries without stopping conflict and civil strife. Indeed, the ministerial declaration itself states that efforts should be put to end the Israeli occupation, establish peace and prevent conflicts from emerging.

The final delaration included the following statements:

Firstly:  Demand the establishment of national and regional bodies with wide and high level representation to set sustainable development strategies. Such bodies should include civil society as full active partners in setting priorities, planning, implementation and monitoring.                                                                                                                                                                       

Civil society organizations should also be working closely with national institutions and local authorities such as elected municipalities.

Secondly: Advocate the culture of environmental volunteerism.

Thirdly:  Recommend the “localization and regionalization” of sustainable development goals in an understandable manner for the local community.

Fourth: Focus on developing scientific research to build an environmental data base that is accessible to local communities including through curriculums.

Fifth: Call on governments to increase the budget allocated to the implementation of sustainable development goals, and assigning a share for civil society initiatives.

Sixth: Encourage the forming and institutionalization of civil society networks to unify efforts and increase influence on policy makers

Seventh: Link natural resource conservation with enhancing community livelihoods and social protection through building capacities on the use of traditional and rural knowledge to produce and market products. Also, build the capacities of youth and provide them with green job opportunities.

Eighth:  focus on Food security and sovereignty over food and natural resource that are compulsory for political sovereignty needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.