National Environment Policy

1.1. The Policy Development Process and Methodology .................................................................... 7

1.2. The Current Situation .................................................................................................................. 10 2. VISION, RATIONALE, PRINCIPLES AND OUTCOMES ........................................................................... 17

2.1. Vision .......................................................................................................................................... 17

2.2. Rationale ..................................................................................................................................... 18

2.2.1. Macro-economic Policy Issues ............................................................................................. 19

2.2.2. The Millennium Development Goals ................................................................................... 21 2.2.3. Linking Poverty Reduction and Environmental Management ............................................. 28

2.3. Objectives ................................................................................................................................... 34

2.4. Guiding Principles ....................................................................................................................... 34

2.5. Expected Outcomes and Benefits ............................................................................................... 36

2.5.1. Land...................................................................................................................................... 37

2.5.2. Water ................................................................................................................................... 38

2.5.3. Atmosphere and Climate ..................................................................................................... 39

2.5.4. Biological Diversity and Safety ............................................................................................. 40

2.5.5. Economic Incentives ............................................................................................................ 41 3. Policy Measures and Approach to Implementation .......................................................................... 44

3.1. Cross-Sectoral Measures............................................................................................................. 44

3.1.1. Institutions ........................................................................................................................... 44

3.1.2. Legislation ............................................................................................................................ 47

3.1.3. Environmental Planning ....................................................................................................... 49 3.1.4. Environmental Impact Assessment, Audits and Monitoring................................................ 50

3.1.5. Environmental Education and Public Awareness................................................................. 52

3.1.6. Private Sector and Community Participation ....................................................................... 53 3.1.7. Environmental Human Resource Development and Research ............................................ 54

3.1.8. Gender, Youth and Children ................................................................................................ 55

3.1.9. Demographic Planning ......................................................................................................... 56

3.1.10 Human Settlements and Health ....................................................................................... 58

3.1.11. Air Quality and Climate Change ......................................................................................... 59 3.1.12. Conservation of Biological Diversity and Bio- safety.......................................................... 60

3.1.13. Land Tenure and Land Use................................................................................................. 62

3.1.14. Trans-boundary and Regional Conservation ...................................................................... 64

3.2. Key Economic Sectors’ Measures ............................................................................................... 65

3.2.1. Agriculture Sector ................................................................................................................ 66

3.2.2. The Tourism Sector .............................................................................................................. 67

3.2.3. The Marine Resources and Fisheries Sector ........................................................................ 69

3.2.4. The Forestry Sector .............................................................................................................. 71

3.2.4. The Wildlife Sector ............................................................................................................... 73

3.2.5. The Rangeland Sector .......................................................................................................... 75

3.2.6. The Mining Sector ................................................................................................................ 76

3.2.7. The Water Sector ................................................................................................................. 78

3.2.8. The Industrial and Commercial Sector ................................................................................. 81 a. Objectives................................................................................................................................... 81

3.2.9. The Energy Sector ................................................................................................................ 82

3.2.10. The Heritage Sector ........................................................................................................... 84

3.3. An Integrated Approach to Policy Implementation ................................................................... 85

3.3.1. Land...................................................................................................................................... 86

3.3.2. Water ................................................................................................................................... 86 3 National Environment Policy, 2015

3.3.3. Atmosphere and Climate ..................................................................................................... 87

3.3.4. Biological Diversity and Safety ............................................................................................. 87

3.3.5. Heritage Resources .............................................................................................................. 88

3.3.6. The Role of Civil Society ....................................................................................................... 88 4. IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK ...................................................................................................... 90

4.1. Time Frame ................................................................................................................................. 90

4.2. Institutional Arrangements ......................................................................................................... 90

4.2.1. Leading Partners .................................................................................................................. 90

4.2.2. Partnerships and Stakeholder Involvement ......................................................................... 92

4.2.3. Implementation Measures................................................................................................... 92

4.2.4. Decentralization ................................................................................................................... 92

4.3. Legal Framework ......................................................................................................................... 93

4.4. Monitoring and Evaluation ......................................................................................................... 93

4.5. Resource Mobilization and Financing ......................................................................................... 93

4.6. Review of the policy .................................................................................................................... 94 4 National Environment Policy, 2015 Acronyms and Abbreviations CBOs Community Based Organizations EIA Environmental Impact Assessment GIS Geographical Information Systems HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus IWRM Integrated Water Resources Management LPG Liquefied petroleum gas MDG Millennium Development Goals MoERD Ministry of Environment and Rural Development NEAP National Environmental Action Plan NEP National Environment Policy NGOs Non-Governmental Organizations RS Remote Sensing UNCBD United Nation Convention on Biological Diversity UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification UNDP United Nation Development Program UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change WASH water, sanitation and hygiene 5 National Environment Policy, 2015 6 National Environment Policy, 2015 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. The Policy Development Process and Methodology Policy development followed a systematic and structured approach based on comprehensive participatory consultative process, since its original conceptualization by the related Ministries. It was planned that the development process would be as inclusive and transparent as possible to achieve wide ownership and acceptability. The comprehensive methodology incorporated the establishment of the National Steering Committee comprised of over 20 members representing all the key ministries and stakeholders Field visits were organized to all regions; it held individual and extensive institutional stakeholder meetings with focus group discussions, workshops and specific meetings. Extensive electronic information exchanges and intensive literature reviews covering environmental and policy documents. In addition, several in-depth one-to-one meetings with representatives of stakeholder institutions were arranged. At the comprehensive consultation level National Workshops on the Policy Development Process were held. Consultations in the regions covered extensive primary data collection, organized by the Steering Committee, to provide an evidence-based and up to date situation analysis with information on key environmental issues, institutional and policy feedback and opinion on cross-cutting matters. In secondary data the following key documents was analyzed: • Constitution of the Republic of Somaliland • Law on the prevention of Deforestation & Desertification • Law on fauna hunting & Forest Conservation • National Water Act • National Water Strategy • Draft Water Regulations • Somaliland Agriculture Policy • Ministry of Agriculture Master Plan • Draft Agriculture Rules & Regulations • Agricultural Land Registration Act • Agricultural Land ownership Law • Draft Energy Policy • Somaliland Land Tenure Policy • Urban Land Management Law • National Environment Policy (NEP) 7 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Somaliland Mining Regulation • Food Security Act • National Environmental Action Plan & Strategy to combat Desertification • Rangeland Management Policy • National Livestock Policy • Draft Somaliland Gender Policy • Somaliland Policy on Disaster Risk Management • Millennium Development Goals Report for Somaliland Other environmental policy documents including; • State of Environment in Somaliland • An ecological Assessment of the Coastal Plains of Somaliland • Marine & Coastal Resources in Somaliland • Somaliland in Figures 2004 • Country Environmental Profile of Somaliland • Land use Planning Guidelines for Somaliland • Community based participatory Natural Resource & Land use Management Planning Guidelines • Regulating the Livestock economy of Somaliland • Forestry & Woodland Management in Somaliland • Millennium Development Goals for Somaliland (MDG) The policy formulation process was initiated through opening environmental issues, concerns and problems to wide discussions among stakeholders and the public. It was considered that "Environmental Policy” is defined as " a declaration of intent by the Somaliland Government that expresses the Government firm commitment to directly manage or guide the management of the Somaliland Environmental resources in order to maintain the supply of environmental goods and services to meet the needs of the current population without jeopardizing the needs of future generations for such goods and services." The process used a framework that encompassed ecosystem, sectoral and Millennium Development Goal perspectives. During the first national Workshop held on 22nd December 2010 it was agreed that the environment policy framework should adopt the Millennium Development Goals approach. The Millennium Development Goals Report for Somaliland - UNDP 2010 was adopted. This approach recognizes that socio-economic and development activities generally take place within ecosystems which can be positively or adversely affected. Thus the Policy methodology included check lists for focus group discussion and interview that took account of precautionary, deterrent, social 8 National Environment Policy, 2015 equity, equitable sharing of benefits and responsibilities and inclusiveness stemming from cross-cutting imperatives that link sectors. These are there on reflected in the overall development framework for the country The process of policy formulation started from identification of issues, demands, concerns and problems related to the environmental sector as pointed out by the consulted groups of the stakeholders. Concerned issues addressed and have been enshrined in the NEP are: • Deforestation • Loss of pastureland. • Land degradation. • Loss of biodiversity. • Loss of heritage value. • Industrial waste • Commercial waste • Urban, pollution, slum development. • Human resettlement issues. • Poor sanitation and public health. • Licensing procedures. • Inadequate legal and policy frameworks • Inadequate management of water resources. Cross-cutting aspects steer the course that the Policy and its implementation must follow to be able to achieve the strategic goal of a policy that bridges all sectors of society and engenders a widely accepted sense of responsibility and care for the environment. These include: • Inadequate inclusion of youth and gender issues. • Good governance. • Environmentally sound development planning in all sectors and at all levels. • Involvement of local communities, heritage, culture and religion. • Coordination mechanisms across all sectors. • Legal framework. • Relevance to the development objectives. • Poverty Reduction Strategy. • Population strategy. • Transitional National Development Plan. • Millennium Development Goals. • International conventions. • Trans-boundary issues. • Social and economic upheavals such as HIV/AIDS. 9 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Tourism, Social and cultural environment • Pollution. • Food security. All stakeholder consultations were guided by ecosystem, sector and MDG exigencies and focused on the following key issues: • The means for protecting the Nation's asset base. • How the asset base can be expanded. • How to co-manage and co-invest resources in partnership with the poor. • How to promote infrastructure and technology development. • How to prioritize poor areas and compensate them. • How markets can be reformed and plan them for better and more equitable access.

1.2. The Current Situation The absolute location of the Republic of Somaliland is between latitudes of 8’ North and 11’ 27’’ North; and longitudes 42 35’ and 49 East; while in the relative location, Somaliland lies eastern Horn of Africa bordering Somalia in the East, Ethiopia in the South, Djibouti in the West; and Red Sea in the North. It has 850 KM of the Red Sea coast line. Somaliland s (northern part of the collapsed Somali) population estimated in 2006 was 3.5 million persons. The former British colony, which united with the Italian colony of Somalia to form the independent Republic of Somalia in 1960. When the Republic of Somalia disintegrated into fiefdoms in 1991, Somaliland set up its own government. Unlike, Southern Somalia, Somaliland has been peaceful, and has moved toward political and economic development. Since, the right to choose traditional leaders and hold them accountable hasn’t been something new to this society; government leaders were elected by clan-based electoral colleges, which selected President and Vice President through a consensus during the shirweynihii (a community conference in Somali) in 1991. Since then, the challenge has been how to develop the governing system from clan-based to a democracy compatible with the demands of modernity. The constitutional referendum, which took place in 2001, was the first step of a gradual democratization process. Then, the municipal election was held in 2002 as prerequisite condition to register three out of all possible competing political organization as the three official political parties as mandated by the constitution. 10 National Environment Policy, 2015 The first presidential and parliamentary elections were held in 2003 and 2005, respectively; where seventy-six international observers from dozens of countries reported in their overall assessment as free and fair elections despite the lack of resources and lower literacy level of the voters. The Second presidential election was held on June 26, 2010; where an opposition party won by slide victory of 50% of votes. However, Somaliland is yet to achieve international diplomatic recognition; while most of the international community is dealing with it as sovereign state. It has become widely accepted that Somaliland’s wealth of natural and cultural resources are in danger of further widespread depletion and degradation, sometimes irreversibly as in the case of misuse of water and soil. Concern for this worsening environmental situation prompted the need to create a National Policy on Environment Recent studies carried out in by various ministries and supported by International organizations confirms the worsening environmental situation and that in relation to the economic sectors the following issues of prime importance should provide the baseline for formulation of the National Policy on Environment: a. Agricultural Sector • Policy failure to generate an optimum agricultural industry that has due regard to the supporting environment. • Generally rain-fed agricultural production and productivity is very low. • Land degradation through inappropriate use of chemical agents and improper agricultural practices. • Inadequate and uncoordinated agricultural extension services having in adequate concern for environmental issues. • Farm expansions in response to low production on existing land. • Inadequate land use planning and suitability analyses. • Inadequate capacity, experience, knowledge and skills in the agricultural sector to guide and coordinate agricultural development activities. • Lack of appropriate guidelines for sector human resource development. • Lack of coordination mechanism amongst the sector development key players leading to inefficient utilization of available resources. • Low uptake of innovative agricultural technologies Unaffordability of farm inputs • Poor marketing infrastructure and services • Lack of agriculture financing mechanism 11 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Inadequate capital for rehabilitation of infrastructure and procurement of appropriate technologies • Lack of attention to an integrated water resource management policy in agricultural policy and developments. b. Marine and Coastal Resources Sector • Over fishing in nearly all wild fisheries due to population increase and use of unsustainable fishing methods. • Reduced production of fish due to sedimentation in rivers and streams caused by seasonality of flow on account of land cover change through deforestation for farming and uncontrolled fuel wood harvesting. • Reduction in fish stocks due to harvesting, ecological and other factors. • Flack of sector policy to effectively manage and monitor the resources adequately. • The demand for fish protein cannot be met due to management and policy failures leading to local depletion of fish stocks. • Proliferation of unregulated commercial fish ponds and inadequately controlled and managed re-stocking. c. Mining Sector • Dereliction of land through erosion, toxic dumps and redundant facilities. • Water pollution due to unmanaged waste water and sediment discharge. • Air pollution by dust and refining processes. • Noise pollution in mining and adjacent urban areas. • Failure to restore mined or quarried land and insufficient focus upon urban regeneration for disused infrastructure of all kinds including housing and equipment. • Inadequate or lack of provision for post-mining, management plans • Lack of provision for social safety guards during and after mining operations d. Water Sector • A high percentage of the population does not have access to safe water supply, and access to satisfactory sanitation facilities. 12 National Environment Policy, 2015 • General sedimentation of streams. • Pollution and resultant changes in local biodiversity through soil erosion, industrial and household effluents. • Altered flow regimes through uncoordinated water harvesting schemes dams and livestock water dams. • Water resource scarcity in most areas. • Lack of access to clean potable water among many urban and rural communities. • Inadequate management of water resources and catchments e. Industry and Commercial Sector • Lack of policy framework, guidelines and standards for Soil, water and air pollution at industrial sites. • Lack of policy on solid waste and water effluent management • Lack of control in the transportation of hazardous wastes. • Lack of incentives for waste disposal management f. Energy Sector 1. Renewable energy • More than 90 percent of the national energy consumption obtained from biomass, mainly fuel wood and charcoal. • Heavy dependence on fuel wood lead to the clearing of vast forestlands for energy • The availability and the relatively low cost of petroleum energy will greatly decrease the demand on wood fuel and charcoal • Availability of LPG and kerosene and other alternative energy will reduce the dependence on natural resources • Unsustainable charcoal production requiring greater management inputs and awareness raising. • Fuel-wood demand increased and alternative energy not given sufficient attention at all levels. 2. Non-renewable energy • Lack of physical proximity to Energy carriers and service providers. Lack of committed provision of services in the long term by the key players. 13 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Lack of a legal framework to ensure planned and deliberate operational agenda to meet accessibility issues. • Lack of institutional framework to adequately provide for all players room to provide services. • General lack of requisite information, education, and awareness on the part of the supplier’s intermediaries and the consumers on the opportunities, issues, and best practices. • Lack of security of supply within the energy chain • Reliability of the systems occasioned by irregularity and poor quality of service. • Lack of resources for conversion technologies to secondary and often used types of energy; i.e. generation of electricity form primary energy like coal, wind, or sunshine. • Increasing population and growing economy hence influencing increase in demand for energy services faster than they can be realized. Undeveloped primary energy resources. • Lack of/ or poor infrastructure to deliver energy services. The war in the country contributed significantly on destruction of infrastructure. • No clear support for/or incentives to produce and deliver energy services • Poor or low affordability of energy services due to poverty. Majority of the people have low incomes and do not have disposable incomes to provide for appliances and energy costs. • Scarcity of energy services, leading to high costs. Lack of pricing policy and indifferent taxation regimes • Some of the technologies and services require some form of subsidies to trigger market development and the critical mass necessary for sustained production thus reducing costs. • Distorted or total lack of markets and marketing systems for most of the energy goods and services • Poor energy governance – accountability, coordination, and transparency in delivery of services leading to unsustainable supply. • Low Energy efficiency leading of depletion of resources. • Poor or irregular investments affecting the requisite introduction of flesh supplies into the market or chain. • Lack or low skills and expertise to sustain production and use. • Lack of capacity to produce, install operate and use energy resources. • Lack of requisite data and information for adequate planning. • Lack of capacity to plan and scale the systems. • Poor safety and operational standards 14 National Environment Policy, 2015 f. Forestry Sector • Widespread forest clearance, high deforestation rate and degradation. • Over grazing and Livestock pressures on natural resources and low levels of livestock reproduction and productivity. • Forest degradation leading to reduced biodiversity. • Failure of local assessment and implementation of forest laws to prevent over harvesting. • Unplanned clearance for farmland. • Far too much uncontrolled annual burning. • Destructive methods of harvesting. • Unsustainable management of forest resources required great efforts and lead to deforestation and land degradation • As a consequence of inadequate forest management there is widespread loss of productivity, erosion, siltation, reduction in stream flow and other negative impacts verging in many places upon desertification. • Poor management of forest covers contributing to climate change. g. Range Sector • Environmental degradation is a serious concern in different rangeland ecosystems • Range resources are threatened by the high pressure induced by increasing population of livestock and overgrazing • Low nutritional range species are dominating while preferable and high nutritional species are either endangered or distinct. • Needs for development and wider application of participatory sustainable range management approaches h. Wildlife Sector • The wildlife resource is generally under severe and increasing pressure due to increasing pressure due to increase in human population and loss of habitat as a consequence of expanding human settlements and conversion of habitat to available land. • Depletion in most places of wildlife due to illegal harvesting a consequence of high poverty levels. 15 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Deforestation and uncontrolled hunting is leading to a widespread depletion of all of wildlife • Loss of biodiversity through weak management of protected areas. • Community-based management weak and not yet widely practiced. • Potential for tourism development jeopardized through reduction in large mammals’ populations and degradation of habitats in some places. i. Emergency Relief and Disaster Preparedness • Somaliland has experienced a long sequence and diversity of natural and artificial disasters including droughts, famine, fires, floods and wars. • Extreme climate events and improper land use leading to droughts and desertification • Ethnic and economic conflicts leading to civil strife and wars • Lack of policy framework for handling, management and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes • Lack of policy framework for control and prevention of wildlife and livestock disease control and eradication. • Lack of early warning systems to monitor pest invasion. • Lack of policy framework on drug and alcohol abuse. 16 National Environment Policy, 2015 2. VISION, RATIONALE, PRINCIPLES AND OUTCOMES

2.1. Vision “Environmental and natural resources will be used in a wise, efficient and sustainable manner according to the values and in response to the needs of the people of Somaliland, thus creating jobs and opportunities for trade that will help reduce poverty, achieve food security, and bring about improvements to the country’s physical environment” Whilst recognizing the imperative of socio-economic development in addressing the underlying causes of poverty, the resulting deterioration in the environment is now highlighted by a realization that uncontrolled development, while it may yield immediate benefits in the short-term gain, can undermine the development process; mainly by causing irreparable damage to the natural resources that support it. Optimizing development and maintaining its sustainability, will only be possible by safeguarding the environment through conserving nature and its life support systems. Legal, policy and institutional interventions aimed at addressing environmental issues have been made across the main sectors of pastoralism, agriculture, industry/commerce, tourism, forestry, marine resources and fisheries and wildlife for many years. It is now acknowledged that these actions have fallen far short of what is required to ensure that, the development process remains sustainable and that environmental integrity is maintained. Therefore, it is imperative to meet the pressing need for an environmental policy that should reconcile sectoral policies in a single policy. The overall vision of the National Policy on Environment is to provide a framework management guide for the management of Somaliland’s environment and natural resources so as to ensure that they are managed on sustainable basis and retain their integrity to support the needs of the current and future generation without compromising either of the two. The National Policy incorporates a clear set of Objectives, Guiding Principles and Strategies that will bind all organizations and individuals to exercise due care to avoid depletion of natural assets and environmental degradation. 17 National Environment Policy, 2015 The concept that provides the foundation for this new comprehensive national policy is to develop a holistic approach and accompanying strategy for implementation that will address the weaknesses in the policy framework and thereby consolidate environmental and natural resources management across all sectors for present and future generations. It is hoped that the Policy will facilitate integration, decentralization, community participation and privatization as the foundation for concerted socio-economic development. Such an over-arching approach will pave the way for sustainable development and is the basis on which the National Policy on Environment has been formulated.

2.2. Rationale The Constitution of the Republic of Somaliland, enshrines matters that relate to the environment and natural resource management thus providing the keystone to the National Policy on Environment. Article 18 of the Constitution affirms that: “The state shall give a special priority to the protection and safeguarding of the environment, which is essential for the wellbeing of the society, and to the care of the natural resources. Therefore, the care of and (the combating of) the damage to the environment shall be determined by law”. In Article 34 it states that: “Every citizen shall have the duty to care for, protect and save the environment”. The National Policy on Environment recognizes the requirements set out in the Constitution and acknowledges the responsibility of civil society and all citizens to protect and conserve the environment and all its resources and to manage the environment in all its aspects to fulfill these obligations. The National Policy on Environment underlines the commitment of government, in partnership with the people, effectively to manage the environment for the benefit of present and future generations. The aim of this Policy is to ensure sound environmental management within a framework of sustainable development in Somaliland. The Policy is supported by many other policies and strategies developed for other sectors and it now provides a holistic approach, following Millennium 18 National Environment Policy, 2015 Development Goals, to establish a national strategy based upon cross- sectoral consensus for care for the environment. The Policy emphasizes that it is the duty of any institution, government or non-governmental organization, any community group or people's organization or any individual that uses or otherwise carries out activities that affect the environment in any way, to exercise proper control to maintain the productivity and integrity of the environment. The Policy is set against a background that includes macroeconomic issues, the Millennium Development Goals, and National Poverty Reduction Strategy and it considers economic incentives for improved environmental management.

2.2.1. Macro-economic Policy Issues The Reconstruction and development Program (RDP), which is the current development framework, was prepared through participatory planning process by all stakeholders. The RDP is the product of the combination of the Interim Strategic Note, United Nations Transitional Plan (UNTP) for 2008-2010, and the EC and Norway Country Strategic Paper; and integrated with the local development input from the recommendations drawn by the national and international development experts. The RDP development vision is deepening peace and poverty reduction; and has three development pillars, which further grouped into ten development sectors, namely- governance, education, health, water and sanitation, livelihood, infrastructure, private sector, ICT, emergency and recovery and religion. However, the Somaliland development planning, funding, implementation, monitoring and evaluation are in unique situation as that of its diplomatic status, which created both opportunities and challenges. In 2009, 93 million USD out of the planned 125 million USD, which is less than three quarters was actually committed; it was more than twice of the national budget. In addition, only 6.7% of the national budget was allocated to the development. Therefore, the Somaliland public development is totally depending on the international aid. Due to the Somaliland diplomatic status; the prevailing international aid direct implementation model undermined the development coordination, which caused inappropriate prioritization, and increased the delivery cost. 19 National Environment Policy, 2015 The magnitude of aid fragmentation was measured by the Herfindahl- Hirschman Index (HHI) in Somaliland the HHI is 9, which could be interpreted as that the current Somaliland aid coordination is weak to the extent to which only 9% of the aid coordination is coordinated. Since, Somaliland government has no control of the development aid management; and the five dozen international aid implementing institutions are not coordinating their aid implementation efforts, the aid become like a rain, where no one has a say about when, where, and how much to rain. Usually, the development planning and budgeting takes the existing development expertise, available facts and figures, and the local beneficiaries’ prioritization perception. At the contrary, the development and implementation takes none of these three factors into account. Although, international stakeholders and local beneficiary development expertise based RDP planned that 34, 13, 8, 3, 26, 15, and 1 percent of the 2009 aid to be allocated for governance, education, health, water and sanitation, infrastructure, livelihoods, and private sectors; the actual allocation ended up by 16, 21, 29, 8, 1, and 4 percent of total committed development aid; respectively. Although, the Somaliland development vision is deepening peace and poverty reduction, and the available facts and figures shown that the 63 and 58 percent of the households major source of food and income are from livestock, respectively; the 2009 aid allocated only 3% of the total committed development aid to the livestock development. When asked about their development priorities; the local beneficiaries perceived livestock, water, and motorable roads (infrastructure) as their first, second, and third development priorities; while the 2009 aid allocated only 3, 8, and 1 percent of the development aid to those priorities, respectively. Therefore, achieving the MDGs development targets is demanding a different funding model, i.e. sectoral pooling funds, and strong coordination as well as local geographical distribution plan of the national budget and the development aid based on the population distribution and the development levels. In addition, the 2009 reported aid data proved that the logical linkage of one third of the development initiatives and their intended development outputs were weak and irrelevant to the local context. 20 National Environment Policy, 2015 For example, most of the international aid implementing institutions utilized the capital city concentrated media for their health, nutrition, gender, education, security, and democratization awareness raising programs implementation; while only 2 and 3 percent out of the Somaliland 1150 settlements reported that there is a newspaper and TV at their settlement, respectively; let alone household possession, watching behavior, and the perception to trust media. Therefore, any awareness raising program through the media has the minimal impact. Therefore, other more effective options should be identified. Religious scholars could be one of the appropriate source awareness raising programs through the Friday congregation speeches.

2.2.2. The Millennium Development Goals Whilst the eight UN Millennium Development Goals define the main areas of global concern that affect development objectives and related activities, the two that are of the greatest importance to the National Policy on Environment are Goal No 1,"Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger" and Goal No 7, take measures to "Ensure environmental sustainability". In particular, using the Millennium Development Goals as a guideline, the National Policy on Environment covers the socio-economic and environmental issues that affect ecosystems as follows: • Protection of the Nation's current asset base. • Improvement and possible expansion of the asset base. • Introduction of cross-sectoral approaches for co-management with communities. • Development of mechanisms for re-investment and revenue sharing with the poor. • Promotion of infrastructure and technology development without damaging the environment. • Identify and prioritize impoverished areas and develop compensatory mechanisms and incentives for rehabilitation. • Introduce effective environmental information, education and communication nation-wide. Targets set will be greatly facilitated for Somaliland through successful implementation of the National Policy on Environment. Generally, all 21 National Environment Policy, 2015 targets of the MDGs are linked to sustainable environmental management. Specifically, the targets under Goal 1 and Goal 7 have more direct linkages to sustainable environmental management. The targets are: Goal 1: Target 1 - Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 a day. Target 2 - Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. Goal 7: Target 9 - Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs and reverse the loss of environmental resources. Target 10 - Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Target 11 - Have achieved by 2020 a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers. The national strategy is to reduce poverty by reviving Somaliland’s economy. As far as possible this growth should be broad-based, thereby promoting income-generation, linkages and equity. Enhanced pastoral and agricultural productivity is given the highest priority since it combines the virtues of growth and equity. The strategy also includes programs for Industry, Tourism, Heritage, Mining, Education, Health, Water and Sanitation, Energy, Transport, Communications and Roads and further recognizes the importance of cross-cutting issues including Environment, Gender and HIV/AIDS, and Health. 22 National Environment Policy, 2015 Below is the MDG report for Somaliland as presented in the ― Millennium Development Goal Report for Somaliland -2010. 23 National Environment Policy, 2015 24 National Environment Policy, 2015 25 National Environment Policy, 2015 26 National Environment Policy, 2015 27 National Environment Policy, 2015 Somaliland faces many challenges in achieving the MDGs. Persistent insecurity, coupled with natural disasters such as floods and droughts, have contributed to Somaliland's stunted development and economic growth, and to some of the most dismal MDG indicators worldwide. Since poverty increases the risk of civil war and insecurity, poverty reduction efforts are vital. Without peace and security, nothing can be achieved. Somali women's lack of education and the country's cultural norms give women limited control over resources. They remain minimally represented in the government and judiciary, though this trend is slowly changing. Violence against women and female genital mutilation are still rife in the country. Only a quarter of all births are attended by skilled health personnel and 1,100 women per 100,000 live births die in childbirth each year. Extensive deforestation in Somaliland undermines livelihoods and threatens an already deeply fragile environment. Less than half the population has access to sanitation, and less than a quarter can access clean drinking water. Programs and interventions on a local and national basis have, however, helped progress towards the MDGs in some areas. There has been an increase in primary school enrollment, a decrease in child mortality, improvement in maternal health and alleviation of extreme poverty and hunger. In other areas, however, indicators have remained stagnant or even worsened, and some cannot be calculated at all due to lack of reliable data.

2.2.3. Linking Poverty Reduction and Environmental Management Addressing environmental issues that matter to the poor is critical to sustained poverty reduction and achieving the MDGs. But this requires a ―pro-poor‖ and integrated approach-linking action at local, national and global levels. To achieve the above, four priority areas for sustained policy and institutional change are important: • Improving governance to create a more enabling policy and institutional environment for addressing the poverty-environment concerns of the poor, with particular attention to the needs of women and children. • Enhancing the assets of the poor to expand sustainable livelihood opportunities and to reduce the poor’s vulnerability to environmental hazards and natural resource related conflict. 28 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Improving the quality of growth to promote sound environmental management and protect the environmental assets and livelihood opportunities of the poor. • Reforming international and industrial- country policies to address the poverty and environment concerns of developing countries and the poor. Policy opportunities exist to reduce poverty and improve the environment. The environment matters greatly to people living in poverty. The poor often depend directly on a wide range of natural resources and ecosystem services for their livelihoods; they are often the most affected by unclean water, indoor air pollution, and exposure to toxic chemicals; and they are particularly vulnerable to environmental hazards (such as floods, prolonged drought, and attacks by crop pests) and environment related conflict. Addressing these poverty-environment linkages must be at the core of national efforts to eradicate poverty. Many opportunities exist to reduce poverty by improving the environment but there are significant and often deeply entrenched policy and institutional barriers to their widespread adoption. The decade of experience since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio reveals some important lessons that help point the way forward. Three broad lessons are highlighted here: • First and foremost, poor people must be seen as part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Efforts to improve environmental management in ways that contribute to sustainable growth and poverty reduction should reflect the priorities of the poor. Supportive policies and institutions are needed, including access to information and decision making that expands the poor’s opportunities to invest in environmental improvements that can enhance their livelihoods. At the same time, it is essential to address the activities of the non-poor, since they are the source of most environmental damage. • The environmental quality of growth matters to the poor. It cannot be assumed that environmental improvement can be deferred until growth has alleviated income poverty and rising incomes make more resources available for environmental protection. This ignores the importance of environmental goods and services to people’s livelihoods and well-being, and how the diversity of these goods and services contribute to the poor’s opportunities for moving out of poverty. Further, there are many examples of how bad environmental management is bad for growth, and of how the poor suffer most from environmental degradation. 29 National Environment Policy, 2015 Ignoring the environmental soundness of growth even if this leads to short-run economic gains can undermine growth itself and its effectiveness in reducing poverty. • Environmental management cannot be treated separately from other development concerns. Rather, it must be integrated into poverty reduction and sustainable development efforts in order to achieve significant and lasting results. Improving environmental management in ways that benefit the poor requires policy and institutional changes that cut across sectors and that lie mostly outside the control of environmental institutions changes in governance, domestic economic and social policies, and international and industrial-country policies. Improving Governance • Integrate poverty-environment issues into national development frameworks by addressing the environmental concerns of the poor in nationally owned poverty reduction strategies and related macroeconomic and sectoral policy reforms, so that they can become national sustainable development strategies. • Strengthen decentralization for environ- mental management by integrating poverty-environment issues into sub-national policy and planning processes and sectoral investment programs. • Empower civil society, in particular poor and marginalized groups, to influence environmental management policy and planning processes at all levels by expanding public access to environmental information, decision making, and justice. • Address gender dimensions of poverty- environment issues by ensuring that they are fully integrated into the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of poverty reduction strategies and related policy reforms. • Strengthen anti-corruption efforts to protect the environment and the poor by improving legislative and regulatory frameworks and oversight mechanisms, by increasing the penalties for violators, and by ensuring effective mechanisms for feedback from communities to enforcement agencies. • Reduce environment-related conflict by improving conflict resolution mechanisms in the management of natural resources and biodiversity and by addressing the underlying political and economic issues that affect resource access and use, including the role of corruption. 30 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Improve poverty-environment monitoring and assessment by strengthening government and civil society capacity to monitor environmental change and how it affects the poor, by integrating poverty-environment indicators into national poverty monitoring systems, and by building capacity to apply monitoring and assessment results to poverty-environment policy formulation and implementation. Enhance the assets of the poor • Strengthen resource rights of the poor by reforming policies and formal and informal institutions that influence land and natural resource access, ownership, control, and benefit-sharing, with particular attention to resource rights for women. • Enhance the poor’s capacity to manage the environment including conservation and sustainable use of land, water, and biological resources, and access to clean energy, water, and sanitation services by strengthening local management arrangements and capacity and by supporting women’s key roles in managing natural resources. • Expand access to environmentally sound and locally appropriate technology such as crop production technologies that conserve soil, water, and agro-biodiversity and that minimize the use of pesticides, or appropriate renewable energy and energy- efficient technologies that also minimize air pollution by improving protection of and access to indigenous knowledge and technologies, by improving incentives for pro-poor technology development, and by involving the poor in technology research, demonstration, and dissemination. • Reduce the environmental vulnerability of the poor by strengthening participatory disaster preparedness and risk reduction and mitigation capacity, by supporting the formal and informal coping strategies of vulnerable groups, and by expanding access to insurance and other risk management mechanisms. 31 National Environment Policy, 2015 Improving the quality of growth • Integrate poverty-environment issues into economic policy reforms by expanding the use of strategic environmental assessment and poverty social impact analysis approaches and by strengthening environ- mental management standards and monitoring capabilities. • Increase the use of environmental valuation in adjusting national income accounts and determining appropriate price levels to better reflect the value of environmental goods and services and to improve economic decision making. • Encourage appropriate private-sector involvement by strengthening government and community capacities to partner with the private sector to expand environmental services for the poor, by providing incentives for local enterprise development based on the sustainable use of biodiversity (such as community-based ecotourism or sustain- able harvest of natural products), and by putting in place appropriate regulations and voluntary codes to safeguard the interests of the poor and the environment. • Implement pro-poor environmental fiscal reform by pricing natural resources appropriately, particularly energy and water; by expanding the use of fiscal incentives to promote environmentally sound practices and sustainable use of biodiversity; by improving the use of rent taxes to better capture and more effectively allocate natural resource revenues; and by improving the use of pollution charges to better reflect environmental costs in market prices. Reforming international and industrial-country policies • Improve international and industrial- country trade policies by addressing trade- environment-poverty links in the negotiation and implementation of multilateral trade agreements, by reforming trade- distorting agricultural subsidies and trade barriers to give developing countries equitable access to international markets and to encourage environment-friendly products and trade practices, and by eliminating subsidies that lead to unsustainable exploitation—such as subsidies for large-scale commercial fishing fleets that encourage overharvesting in developing- country fisheries. • Make foreign direct investment more pro-poor and pro- environment by encouraging corporations’ compliance with the revised Code of Conduct for Multinational Enterprises from the Organization for 32 National Environment Policy, 2015 Economic Co-operation and Development, by raising awareness among shareholders and investors of corporate social and environmental responsibility issues, and by expanding the United Nations Environment Program’s Global Reporting Initiative and other approaches to improving corporate social and environmental reporting. • Enhance the contribution of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) to poverty reduction by strengthening developing-country capacity to participate in the negotiation and implementation of MEAs (for example, to ensure that the Clean Development Mechanism promotes investments that benefit the poor and the environment), by improving coordination among MEAs so that scarce developing-country capacity is used most effectively, and by increasing funding for the Global Environment Facility as a major source of finance for global public goods in the environment, such as a stable climate, maintenance of biodiversity, and protection of international waters and the ozone layer. • Encourage sustainable consumption and production. Industrial- country consumers and producers through their trade, investment, pollution, and other activities affect the environmental conditions of developing countries. Making rich-country consumption and production more sustainable will require a complex mix of institutional changes— addressing market and government failures as well as broad public attitudes. • Enhance the effectiveness of development cooperation and debt relief in addressing poverty-environment issues, particularly for the poorest countries, where aid and debt relief continue to have a valuable role to play in helping governments make many of the changes needed. This includes ―mainstreaming‖ environment in donor agency policies and operations through staff training; development and application of new skills, tools, and approaches; and revisions to the way resources and budgets are allocated. Improved monitoring of progress against stated objectives and targets is needed in order to hold development agencies accountable and to ensure that a commitment by senior management to addressing poverty-environment issues is put into practice throughout organizations. This policy looks ahead with some degree of hope and optimism for the future of Somaliland there are some- times win-win opportunities, and there are rational ways of dealing with tradeoffs. Environ- mental degradation is not inevitable, nor is it the unavoidable result of economic growth. On the contrary, sound and equitable environmental management is key to sustained poverty reduction and achievement of the MDGs. There 33 National Environment Policy, 2015 are significant policy opportunities to reduce poverty and improve the environment, but more integrated and pro-poor approaches are needed. The World Summit on Sustainable Development is an opportunity to focus on what is most important and to forge a coherent framework for action, with clear goals and achievable targets backed up by adequate resources and effective and transparent monitoring mechanisms. The most important goal should be to reduce and ultimately eradicate poverty in the Republic of Somaliland.

2.3. Objectives The goal and overall objective is to have a national policy on environment that will support the Government’s development priority to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of the people of Somaliland. The immediate and specific objectives are: 1. To promote the sound protection and management of Somaliland's environment and natural resources in their entirety, balancing the needs for social and economic development and environmental integrity to the maximum extent possible, while keeping adverse activities to the minimum. 2. To manage the environment by linking together the activities, interests and perspectives of all groups, including the people, non-governmental organizations and government at both the central and decentralized local levels. 3. To accelerate environmentally and economically sustainable growth in order to improve the health, sustainable livelihoods, income and living conditions of the poor majority with greater equity and self-reliance 4. To ensure broadly-based environmental awareness and commitment to enforce environmental laws and to the promotion of environmental accountability 5. To build individual and institutional capacity to sustain the environment. 6. To regulate and enforce environmental laws. 7. To promote the development of sustainable industrial and commercial processes having full regard for environmental integrity

2.4. Guiding Principles The principle that guides the Policy on Environment is to establish a fundamental set of premises for integration of decision-making, legislation, 34 National Environment Policy, 2015 financing mechanisms, regulation and enforcement in relation to Somaliland's environment and in some specific circumstances those that concern trans-border and regional matters. Underlying the entire Policy is the Government's commitment to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development for the Nation as a whole on the basis of "development without destruction". 1. The guiding principle of environmental management will be the polluter to pay and the need to conserve resources, reduce consumption and recycle and reuse material to the maximum extent possible. 2. Where costly measures required for prevention of pollution and degradation, as well as rehabilitation are concerned, then cost effectiveness and cost-benefit in terms of national and local priorities will be recognized as essential elements in development planning. 3. When biotic resources are used, it will ensure that such use will be wise, sustainable and consistent with maintaining the integrity of ecosystems and ecological processes. 4. When non-living resources are used, including social and cultural assets, it will be ensured that such use will be consistent with environmental best practice bearing in mind at all times the need to maintain traditional Somaliland values and to provide for future generations. 5. Traditional knowledge and time-tested practices will be respected in the development of ownership and environmental management systems, wherever possible to underpin community commitment to conservation. 6. Effective governance through decentralization of environmental management services will be ensured through equitable distribution of government resources and cross-sectoral strategic planning. 7. The Policy serves not only as a practical guideline for environmental management but also as a symbol of society's commitment to Somaliland and the outside world, to maintaining principles of sound resource utilization, social justice, equitable resource allocation and care for the environment. 8. The profile of national concerns, aspirations and contributions of those people and agencies involved in conservation, protection and utilization of the environment and natural resources will be raised taking into account environmental externalities that may influence costing of products and services in an equitable manner. 9. To further the complex requirements for achieving poverty alleviation, food security and development objectives, the Policy will help focus on the means to meet priority needs and to establish new prospects for the improvement to the standard of living which enable people to become self -sufficient and realize their own potential without damaging the environment. 35 National Environment Policy, 2015 10. The Policy will catalyze the implementation of sustainable environmental, social and economic development tenets bringing together in an holistic strategy all aspects of preventive and precautionary actions, equitable benefit sharing, community participation, information dissemination, environmental education and awareness raising and gender equality in order to fully harness the Nation's latent capacity in this regard. 11. An effective framework and legislative mechanism will be created for common goals, collective action and cooperation. Coordination of strategies and actions relating to the environment and natural resources among concerned bodies, including government, non- government, private sector and other stakeholders is a fundamental tenet of the Policy. 12. The policy will provide the means for mainstreaming environmental concerns and ensuring that this is reflected in other related policies and programs, including means for corrective action. 13. It will ensure that strategic planning at all levels will incorporate Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as an essential development tool and will incorporate monitoring and evaluation of sector policies and programs that affect the environment and the natural resources sector.

2.5. Expected Outcomes and Benefits The National Policy on Environment provides a direction and framework for managing and caring for the environment. It sets out the approach, objectives, principles and strategies for implementation. The Policy recognizes the pressing need to manage the impact of human activity on the environment as a whole throughout Somaliland, having particular regard to the following main areas of environmental concern: • Deforestation. • Wildlife depletion. • Land degradation. • Heritage destruction. • Inadequate management of water resources, water pollution and inadequate sanitation. The Policy is defined in terms of the four basic natural resources of climate, land, water and biological diversity together with the major sectors of economic importance including heritage. 36 National Environment Policy, 2015

2.5.1. Land Effective implementation of the National Policy on Environment in land management should be done in order to achieve the following outputs and benefits: 1. Good land management and sound management practices should be adopted for all forms of land use, especially agriculture, pastoralism, mining, urbanization, forestry, wildlife and protected areas. 2. Land, whether it is State land, Trust Land, Reserve or Leasehold or other kinds of tenure should be allocated for its appropriate function and developed to its optimum: production, protection or development, based upon land form and land capability values. 3. Special protection should be give to land prone to erosion, degradation or that exists in an impoverished state. 4. Land tenure agreements should only be adopted in with proof of commitment to promotion of good land management through EIA and environmental management planning provisions. 5. Sound production systems should be adopted for productive use of all agricultural land thereby ensuring that the quality of land will either be maintained or improved. 6. River catchments, watersheds, wetlands and static water bodies will be protected through maintaining existing natural vegetation, protection of stream banks and sound soil conservation in adjacent agricultural lands, as a major cross-sectoral matter. 7. Intervention should be provided in the form of suitable training and resources to increase agricultural production and at the same time retain land values. 8. Where wetlands are concerned their ecological, economic and social values will be safeguarded through sound conservation and dissemination of conservation information to users. 9. All activities, in particular mining, infrastructure development and urbanization, should incorporate measures to avoid environmental damage. 10. Where mineral deposits are mined, in old or new operations, this should be done in a systematic and planned manner to ensure long- term, optimum benefits to the people and with due regard to maintaining ecological values. 11. Central and local government agencies in all sectors should take appropriate measures to protect Somaliland’s attractive landscapes, 37 National Environment Policy, 2015 cultural and religious sites, historical monuments, heritage sites and natural wildlife heritage, as a matter of immediate and practical concern. 12. Environmental changes will be the subject of time-series audits conducted by central and local government and will be monitored to determine trends and the real cost of environmental damage which should be assessed on the basis of recognized priorities and appropriate indicators. 13. In all places and under all circumstances a clean and healthy living environment will be maintained.

2.5.2. Water Effective implementation of National Policy on Environment in water management should be done to achieve the following outputs and benefits: 1. An uninterrupted and adequate supply of water of the required quality should be maintained in order to meet national needs. 2. The catchments of all streams should be properly managed to ensure good infiltration and sediment-free runoff. 3. Adequate protection should be given to streams, and other waterbodies and the manner in which they are used properly regulated to avoid or minimize negative environmental impacts. 4. Irrigation water should be managed such that there is elimination of wastage and secure optimum use. At the same time it should be ensured that water bodies used by the public and the ecologically fragile areas are not adversely affected by runoff a n d flash - flooding. 5. Water supplies and sewage services should be improved to avoid wastage and to upgrade delivery in the commercial and non- commercial sectors. 6. Productivity of water use should be optimized by selection for appropriate agricultural crops under irrigation, while giving due consideration to the need for food autarky. 7. Agricultural water use should be judiciously done and with care and attention to soil factors and downstream users. 8. Use of ground water should be regulated to ensure sustainability and good water quality. 9. Wastage of water from urban and rural water supply schemes should be minimized. 38 National Environment Policy, 2015 10. Agricultural and aqua-cultural practices that minimize the use of chemicals and other unnatural substances while maintaining high productivity would be encouraged. 11. Industries, especially mining enterprises, should practice waste and water recycling and take measures to avoid discharging harmful effluents into the environment. 12. Consideration should be given in planning and management, to drainage patterns, location of water bodies and present and future uses, to ensure that the quality and quantity of existing surface and ground water resources would not adversely affect development activities. 13. Polluted water bodies should be restored to their original clean condition and maintained accordingly. 14. Pollution of surface and ground water by human and domestic wastes should be prevented through improved sanitation and effective waste disposal systems. 15. New construction of hydro-electric dams, irrigation or other water- related construction should incorporate EIA and should be designed to avoid negative impacts upon the environment or other national heritage.

2.5.3. Atmosphere and Climate Effective implementation of National Policy on Environment with respect to atmosphere and climate should produce the following outputs and benefits: 1. Healthy ambient atmospheric environment should be maintained. 2. The emission of gaseous and particulate matter that are injurious to health, in households, from industry, transport, uncontrolled forest fire and other anthropogenic sources should be reduced to a minimum so that their presence in the ambient air is kept within the permissible levels specified for maintaining good health. 3. The release of green-house gases and the phasing out of ozone- depleting substances should conform with what is applicable to Somaliland under the respective international conventions and their protocols to combat global warming and climate change. 4. Crop varieties and forestry rehabilitation activities that can harness effectively atmospheric carbon dioxide should be selected and their use encouraged. 5. Noise caused by industry and by other activities such as heavy transport vehicles and equipment within or near the vicinity of residential areas or loud sound emanating from public or private 39 National Environment Policy, 2015 buildings should be kept within limits specified for maintaining a healthy human environment. 6. Emission of ionizing, electromagnetic and micro-wave radiation should be kept within safe levels. 7. Small-scale disposal of household or commercial refuse should be conducted in such a way as to have due care for the environment and to avoid environmental pollution in any form. 8. Use of environmentally noxious or hazardous materials in construction such as asbestos should be addressed

2.5.4. Biological Diversity and Safety The following outputs and benefits are expected to accrue from the effective implementation of National Policy on Environment with respect to biodiversity and bio-safety: 1. Degraded ecosystems and eroded landscapes should be restored and further depletion of the Nation's biodiversity arrested. 2. Adequate areas of forest and wetland ecosystems within which the Nation’s diverse landscapes, habitats, flora and fauna are mainly represented, in some places providing refuge for endemics, rare and endangered species, should be protected for the conservation of biodiversity. 3. Key representative ecosystems and their flora and fauna should be given priority protection in existing and new protected areas. 4. Adequate protection should be provided by in-situ conservation selectively for all species of fauna and flora that area threatened including wild relatives of cultivated specie 5. Captive breeding and propagation should be encouraged for species that are in demand and that rare and threatened in the wild 6. Collection of species from natural ecosystems should be regulated to within sustainable level and such activities are organized to provide benefits mainly to local resident communities, while collection of threaten or endangered species is restricted or prohibited 7. The propagation and cultivation of local cultivars of food species that represent a valuable and threatened agricultural gene pool should be encouraged. 8. The ex-situ conservation of genetic stocks of agricultural species and their wild relatives should be provided for. 9. Effective measures should be adopted to prevent the entry into Somaliland of noxious, invasive or deleterious exotic species of 40 National Environment Policy, 2015 plants, animals and micro-organisms and environmentally harmful genetically modified organisms 10. The spread within the country of invasive and noxious species of plants, animals and micro-organisms should be controlled. 11. The economic, social and cultural value of biodiversity should be recognized in national accounting and by the public at large. 12. Research and studies should be carried out on aspects of conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The national interests in bio-prospecting and bio-technology should also be safeguarded under the law. 13. Somaliland's traditional knowledge of biodiversity should be protected and access to indigenous biodiversity by foreign organizations and individuals is prevented unless equitable benefits to the Nation are arranged.

2.5.5. Economic Incentives To engender widespread support for better environmental management and better resource utilization, it is essential that economic incentives should be identified and introduced wherever feasible since this is very often the only way that support can be obtained for policies which may affect those individuals or organizations that currently pursue short-term gains at the detriment to the environment. Objective should be agreed that will ensure that individuals and economic entities are given appropriate incentives for sustainable resource use and environmental protection. To this end the following guiding principles are set out: • Economic incentives can often induce changes in the behavior of people and these can be more effective than enforcement. Priority will be given to establishing and enabling economic environment in which market price provide appropriate incentive for sustainable natural resource use and environmental protection. • Implementation strategies will focus more on establishing an appropriate economic environment to promote sustainable natural resource use and less on traditional government-run development projects. • Prices should reflect opportunity costs and externalities where these have a bearing on environmental concerns. 41 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Market failure with regard to the pricing of natural resources will be corrected through the assessment of user fees and taxes or the use of tax reductions and other incentives. • Awareness and incentives should be provided to enhance a better understanding and management of the demographic transition. • Government departments, local authorities and local communities shall have the right to revenue generated from sustainable utilization on natural resources on public and customary land in order to provide positive incentives and self-finance for such continued use particularly in regard to wildlife, forestry, fisheries, heritage and tourism. • Once the private sector has acquired land they should be encouraged collaborate with appropriate ministries to foster sustainable utilization of natural resources on their land. Strategies to effect these guidelines include:  Establish the economic values of natural resources so that incentives can be introduced to equate market prices or user fees with those economic values that take cognizance of the environment and resource conservation.  Ensure that the opportunity cost of using natural resources and the economic values of conserving natural resources are reflected in market prices or non -market mechanisms used to allocate or regulate their use and conservation.  Offer land users (private sector, government departments and local communities) a reduction on their land or property taxes or rents for soil and water conservation efforts, agro-forestry techniques, good husbandry practices, development and maintenance of tree plantations or woodlots, or use of appropriate livestock stocking rates.  Improve the capacity of the tax and land administration to effectively collect land rents and property taxes and to handle the proposed incentives.  Develop the capacity in all government departments for natural resource management to formulate and implement pricing policies that equate the market prices or user fees for natural resources, to their real economic values or opportunity costs.  Establish the price of inorganic fertilizer, by carefully weighing the trade-off between its contribution to soil fertility and macro- economic constraints. 42 National Environment Policy, 2015  Establish and manage community-based user revolving funds generated from sustainable utilization of natural resources and any other sources, and facilitate environmental management at the local level through use of these funds  Ensure that the penalty for non-sustainable use of natural resources exceeds the financial benefit accruing to the user.  Define property rights of natural resources on customary and private land.  Provide economic incentives for the introduction of appropriate community-managed small-scale water purification technology and low cost distribution. 43 National Environment Policy, 2015 3. Policy Measures and Approach to Implementation

3.1. Cross-Sectoral Measures The National Policy on Environment emphasizes sectoral and cross- sectoral rights and responsibilities and that fundamentally it is the duty of any institution, government or non-governmental organization, any community group or people's organization or any individual, that uses or otherwise carries out activities that affect the environment, to exercise care to maintain the integrity of the environment and the Nation's resource base. The policy defines objectives, guiding principles and strategies that are incorporated in the policy for each sector to attain this goal.

3.1.1. Institutions a. Objectives To create the institutional mechanisms needed to implement the National Policy on Environment, building on existing institutions and creating new where these may be required to bridge the weaknesses in links, functions and cross-sectoral cohesion. Governance of the Environmental Sector “Objective: To adapt the stipulated functions of the Ministry of Environment and Rural Development (MoERD) to meet the national challenges, continue to build its capacity to meet those functions and strengthen regions& District environment administrations, to maximize their contribution to the national goals while fully fulfilling their regional & District duties. Both government levels work to empower local communities and private sector in order to contribute effectively to environmental sector development” b. Guiding Principles • As a matter of principle environmental management needs a powerful proponent not only for advocacy of environmental 44 National Environment Policy, 2015 protection and conservation but also to ensure effective cross-sector coordination. • The Ministry of Environment and Rural Development (MoERD) should act as the coordinating institution strengthened to oversee activities relating to the environment that can be implemented by sector departments and institutions. • The role of the MoERD as the environmental affairs and coordinating institution should be strengthened for increased capacity to coordinate and provide technical and information services to relevant users. • The coordination role of the MoERD should be actively enhanced for synchronization of overall environmental policies and coordination of environmental activities of sector ministries through strengthened liaison at a very high level within the Government's administrative structure, probably at Cabinet level or preferably, above that .The MoERD in its extended role as the focal institution for overseeing environmental affairs should be seen as an impartial professional body whose opinions are considered as such and should be beyond political or other interference. • The MoERD should derive its authority in this regard under provisions of a broad legal framework for environmental management. It should have a legal mandate to enforce compliance with national standards and have legal authority to seek legal redress whenever there is non-compliance working in close collaboration with the Environmental Inspectorate. • There must be close links and liaison between all concerned line Ministries and Ministries responsible for finance, economic and social planning, regional administrations, and Regional Development Coordinating Committees, local and municipal authorities, the Decentralization Policy Implementation Committee and the private sector. c. Strategies The location of the MoERD within the Government's organizational structure is critical to the effectiveness of the institution and its responsibility for implementation of the National Policy on Environment must be supported through provision of the requisite legal and administrative authority. Effective implementation of this aspect of the NPE should involve the following strategies: 45 National Environment Policy, 2015 Provide the Ministry of Environment and Rural Development with the necessary means to carry out its mandate to facilitate the implementation of the National Policy on Environment through the following actions: i) In close collaboration with line ministries, advise Government on all environmental matters ii) In light of prevailing needs, review and formulate environmental policies, amendments to the legislation and strategies for consideration by the Government. iii) Assist sector ministries to integrate environmental consideration into their sector strategies where this concerns improving the standard of living, management of resources, institutional re- organization, improving bylaws and infrastructure development and maintenance. iv) Strengthen institutional linkages, coordinate and liaison with line ministries, local governments, local committees, the private sector, the NGO community, and international and bilateral donors. v) Assist line ministries and agencies to develop guidelines, and advise concerned ministries, agencies or other duly authorized institutions in enforcement of environmental legislation, regulations and standards; monitor compliance with environmental legislation and arbitration of environment-related conflicting interests. In order to further strengthen the community • Environmental Management Programs that will promote more widespread community participation in natural resource management and care for the environment at regional management level. • Monitor adherence to international treaties and agreements and provide advice to the Government on actions that may be required. • Ensure that all projects have provision for cost recovery, economic and social cost benefit analysis and adequate internal rates of return whenever appropriate. • Enhance national capacity for environmental management through the promotion and wider coordination of the environmental Education and Public Awareness programs of the MoERD for environmental information, communication and education, to substantially raise capacity and awareness throughout society 46 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Advise and support government initiatives on decentralization as it relates to the environment through such measures as strengthening regional level capacity for environmental management, enforcement of standards, community-based environmental activities, environmental extension to villagers and farmers • Ensure that sectoral policies and supporting legislations to be implemented by line ministries, departments and other institutions are consistent with and support the guiding principles and specific provisions of the National Policy on Environment. • Support the National Decentralization Policy implementation in regard to effective transfer of responsibilities to regions where these concern community-based natural resource management, land rights, water and sanitation, infrastructure development and maintenance, mobilization of local resources, management and conservation of natural and wildlife resources and environmental service. • Forge a strong partnership and in an Implementation Framework for environmental care with all major stakeholders.

3.1.2. Legislation a) Objective To create a legal framework for the implementation of the National Policy on Environment and sustainable environmental management b) Guiding Principles The laws that require amendment or new laws that require promulgation will: • Be formulated within the political, social, cultural and economic situation prevailing in the country and will not compromise the principles of sustainable development. • Ensure that all people living in the country have the fundamental right to an environment suitable for their health and well-being. 47 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Provide a framework for formulating, review, updating sectoral laws and reforming institutions on the management of the environment to ensure harmony • Provide a broad framework for both enforcement and incentive measures. • Foster regional and international cooperation through agreements, conventions and treaties on sustainable utilization of natural resources and environmental management. • Develop a forum to achieve maximum participation of individuals, communities and the private sector in the development of policies, laws and plans for the management of the environment. c. Strategies Promulgate an environment management law that will provide the legal framework for the regulation and establishment of guidelines for the conservation and management of all environmental concerns in Somaliland including: • Empower the Ministry of Environment and Rural Development and its Department to coordinate and facilitate implementation of the National Policy on Environment o Support extension of the requirement for Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in all development projects. • Strengthen laws that enable the Government to declare environmentally sensitive sites or areas of particular ecological value as protected areas. • Ensuring that sectoral and cross-sectoral acts are consistent with the provisions of the environmental management laws. • Ensure that cross-sectoral environmental issues are incorporated in re-structuring and re-organization of resource and environmental management responsibilities during implementation of the National Decentralization Policy. • Empower the citizens to take legal recourse against those committing environmental and natural resource crimes that violate their right to livelihoods and health • Empower the citizens to take legal recourse against all competent bodies for negligence of or failure to execute their environmental duties and mandates 48 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Promulgate rules and regulations that allow for claims and compensation for environmental damage

3.1.3. Environmental Planning a) Objective To ensure that national, regional and local development plans integrate environmental concerns, in order to improve environmental management and ensure sensitivity to local concerns and needs. b. Guiding Principles • A National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) should be prepared and to be formally recognized by all government ministries as the key instrument for national environmental planning and the implementation of development programs. • Regional Environmental Action Plans shall take into consideration local concerns and needs and be disseminated to the public. • Ensure that the Regional Environmental Action Plans are prepared and are consistent with the NEAP. • Ensure that Community Environment Action Plans are prepared and are consistent with the NEAP. • Identify and zone environmentally critical areas in a national network to facilitate planning and investment prioritization. c. Strategies Carry out periodic review of the implementation status of the National Environmental Action Plan whose purpose is to: • Identify and assess the principal environmental problems facing the country. • Provide a framework for integrating environmental concerns into plans and programs for the development of Somaliland and prepare a new NEAP to up-date and meet current needs. • Identify strategies for preventing, controlling or mitigating any adverse impacts on the environment. 49 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Assist in the determination of priorities for action in respect of the environment. • Up-date and revise land use and zoning plans to reflect the current situation and the needs of development and conservation. • Develop a national awareness of the importance of the efficient, sustainable and equitable use and management of the environment and natural resources through an Environmental Education and Public Awareness Program. • To develop and review environmental plans at all levels. • To encourage community -oriented planning and to discourage random slum development in all Regional Development Plans. • Environmental management plans should be embraced in all development activities at all levels of development and by all stakeholders to ensure sustainable environmental management • Promote the adoption of principles of sustainable development in development and investment plans Support the development of a national integrated database incorporating Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) information as a mechanism for systematic cross-sectoral data storage and retrieval and for sharing environmental and natural resources information required in planning, monitoring and management at all levels. Taken overall, national, regional and community-level planning should be rationalized so that environmental concerns are incorporated and adhered to through development of a collective attitude to conservation and to nationally accepted strategies.

3.1.4. Environmental Impact Assessment, Audits and Monitoring a) Objective To develop a system and guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Initial Environmental Examination (IEE), approval, audits, monitoring, and evaluation so that adverse environmental impacts can be eliminated or mitigated and environmental benefits enhanced. b. Guiding Principles 50 National Environment Policy, 2015 • EIAs will be required as deemed necessary to ensure that public and private sector development options are environmentally sound and sustainable and that any environmental consequences are recognized early and taken into account in project design, and implementation. • Obligatory IEE screening will precede EIAs to determine whether full EIAs are required for the specific site in question. • EIAs will consider not only biophysical impact but will also address environmental impact in terms of existing social, economic, political and cultural conditions. • Environmental Mitigation Plans for social and environmental impacts will be required for all activities where the EIA has determined a negative environmental threshold. • Environmental Audits, including inspections, record-keeping and monitoring will be required for activities as determined by the mitigation plans or otherwise. • Environmental Impact Assessments and Statements shall be made public and public comments on them invited and taken into consideration. • EIA procedures should be cost effective, appropriate, reasonable and commensurate with the size, scope and relative impacts of the project or program in question. • Obligatory decommissioning plans are required for mining operations and major industrial undertakings for specific locations c. Strategies • Review guidelines and existing standards for IEEs and EIAs in light of the National Policy on Environment. • Gazette the types and sizes of all projects for which environmental impact assessment may be required. • Require that any person, private or public organization desiring to develop a project for which an environmental impact assessment may be required must submit a project brief to the MoERD. • Prescribe guidelines and regulations concerning the conduct of environmental impact assessments and the preparation of environmental impact statements, monitoring and evaluations. • Review Environmental Impact Assessments and take necessary actions to ensure that no projects proceed that may cause significant and irreparable damage to the environment. 51 National Environment Policy, 2015

3.1.5. Environmental Education and Public Awareness a) Objective To increase public and political awareness and understanding of the need for environmental protection, sustainable natural resource utilization, conservation and management as essential partners in development b. Guiding Principles • Environmental protection requires political and public support and understanding of its importance and relevance to daily life. • Promote the establishment of a central integrated database for storage and retrieval of all environmental data in an iterative manner within the MoERD and with links to all relevant agencies and to all development projects in the provinces. • Environmental education shall be taught on a multi-disciplinary basis and integrated into on-going curricula at all levels and on a continuous basis. • Environmental education and awareness need to be promoted through formal and non-formal education channels by all government institutions, NGOs, and the private sector. • An environmental information, education and communication program to enhance public understanding and awareness shall be targeted to all those in public and private sectors whose activities affect the environment in one way or another. c. Strategies • As a high priority provide the means and incentives in the formulation of environmental management programs to become pro-actively involved in environmental awareness and information dissemination programs. • Develop a national plan for carrying out public awareness by increasing the scope of the existing Environmental Education and Public Awareness Program, through non-formal, informal and formal environmental education programs 52 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Develop publicly accessible environmental information system to provide all relevant information on key environmental resources and use of technologies and modern methodologies such as Remote Sensing data to provide valuable inputs on the extent and quality of forests, wildlife habitats, biodiversity, marines, etc. • Develop guidelines for the formulation of following programs: i) Intensified awareness programs publicizing the scarcity and vulnerability of the natural resources of the country aimed at pupils, students and the general public. ii) Environmental component in the adult literacy materials so that the program can facilitate public awareness and community participation in natural resource management. iii) Establishment of environmental education associations and clubs. iv) Mandatory environmental education in all formal and non - formal education institutions. • Ensure that local communities have free access to environmental management information

3.1.6. Private Sector and Community Participation a) Objectives To mobilize initiatives and resources in the private sector, NGOs and CBOs to achieve sustainable environmental management To involve civil society in general and local communities in particular, in environmental planning and actions at all levels and empower them to protect, conserve and sustainably utilize and benefit from the Nation's natural resources. b) Guiding Principles • Natural resource conservation, protection and sustainable utilization can only be promoted if local authority and community participation, empowerment and social and economic benefits from natural resources are guaranteed. • Government Ministries and Departments shall move towards becoming supervisory and regulatory bodies which provide enabling 53 National Environment Policy, 2015 policy and legislative frameworks, for sustainable resource management activities. • Implementation strategies will focus more on establishing an enabling environment to promote community-based sustainable natural resource use and less on traditional government managed development projects. • Significant tangible benefits should remain with local communities when there is utilization of natural resources on public and customary land. c. Strategies • Train and re-orient extension officers in all line ministries and NGOs to facilitate community participation in natural resource management. • Return a significant portion of the benefits from sustainable utilization of natural resources on public and customary lands to the local authorities and local communities whose collaboration is needed to conserve the resources. • Integrate local representatives into the decision-making process in order to empower local communities in the management of natural resources. • Provide incentives to private sector to encourage their involvement in natural resource management. • Sector resources to achieve environmental objectives through attractive pricing policy, contracts, leases and concessions. • Facilitate and empower local administrators and local authorities to monitor environment and natural resources management in their areas of jurisdiction

3.1.7. Environmental Human Resource Development and Research a) Objectives To provide training needed to implement a national program of environmental protection, conservation and management. To carry out the basic and applied research needed to support sustainable management of the environment. 54 National Environment Policy, 2015 b. Guiding Principles • Pure and applied environmentally-related research will be promoted and shall be demand-driven and prioritized. • Adequate capacity building is critical in environmental management, planning, assessment of impacts, monitoring, evaluation and capacity for these should be reviewed in the core ministry (MoERD) line ministries and other relevant sector stakeholders. c. Strategies • Encourage and finance research programs on environmental management. • Include an environmental component to the training offered at all training institutions. • Provide training in specialized areas of environmental education such as planning, environmental economics and law, environmental and geographic information systems, GIS, and related technology, environmental control, waste management and environmental bio-engineering.

3.1.8. Gender, Youth and Children a) Objective To integrate gender, youth and children concerns in environmental planning decisions at all levels to ensure sustainable social and economic development as an integral component in gender and development policy. b. Guiding Principles • Both women and men including the youth should play a key role in the sustainable utilization of renewable natural resources and other development programs. • Basic training in environmental and natural resource management will include analysis, methodologies and tools for gender mainstreaming 55 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Training, research and program implementation should incorporate techniques for finding solutions to gender issues. • Developing an environmental awareness among youth and children is critical to environmental sustainability now and in the future. c. Strategies • Promote the participation of the women and the youth in environmental management activities at all levels. • Ensure that public awareness campaigns on environmental management include women and facilitate women's participation in decision-making in environmental management processes. • Collect and desegregate by gender information related to the environment. • Recognize the importance of gender roles and gender analysis in environmental management in all training programs, at all levels. • Plan public awareness campaigns, formal and informal education, and extension services in environmental and natural resource management in line with different roles and priorities of men and women including the youth. • Develop and implement an environmental education program for the youth and children • Encourage youth and women involvement in pilot projects in environment and natural resources programs.

3.1.9. Demographic Planning a. Objective To ensure that the growth of the country's population does not lead to environmental degradation b. Guiding Principles • While it is the right of each individual and couple to decide for themselves the number of children they wish to bear, child spacing should be encouraged. 56 National Environment Policy, 2015 • The annual growth rate of the Somaliland population should be reduced substantially so that the growth of the population is more consistent with that of the economy. • Information, Education and Communication (IEC) is vital in creating increased demand for family planning services and therefore IEC activities must be well coordinated to ensure that the messages of all agencies involved are synchronized. • Population education in schools and colleges will make a major contribution to the implementation of the national population program that fully comprehends the relationships between national demography, the economy and the environment. • In order to ensure effective family planning delivery, it is also necessary to improve maternal and child health, provision of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation, educational services, opportunities of productive employment and increased agricultural productivity. • Success in achieving the objective of population policy crucially depends on changing negative traditional attitudes and practices as they impinge on the present disadvantaged status of women in Somaliland. • It is essential that responsibility for coordinating population policies and programs be entrusted to a high-powered body. c. Strategies • Strengthen programs which increase awareness of the population problem and benefits of small family sizes. • Integrate population and environmental education in the formal school system and other institutions of learning. • Undertake social, cultural, economic and demographic research that will assist the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of population policy. • Prepare appropriate population policy messages for specific audiences and disseminate them. • Strengthen family planning services through provision of community-based family services, rather than facility based. • Include women in the design, management and implementation of public and private sector population-influencing programs. 57 National Environment Policy, 2015

3.1.10 Human Settlements and Health a. Objective To improve the settlement conditions of the urban and rural population with a view to boosting the implementation of health, environmental conservation and poverty reduction strategies To promote urban and rural housing planning services that provide all inhabitants with a healthy living environment and strengthen existing strategies to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS upon the people, the economy and the national development process. b. Guiding Principles • Urban, district and rural planning and development activities should incorporate human settlement and health concerns. • Human settlements should incorporate environmental concerns as well as disaster preparedness. • Temporary settlements for refugees and other displaced people are managed using the same guidelines for environmental, pollution and health concerns as for all other human settlements including environmental impact assessment and monitoring. • Development and improvement of human settlements should incorporate the concept of community development with focus upon social services, particularly water supply, schools, health facilities, recreation facilities, communications, transport and security which is difficult to maintain and tend to be environmentally unfriendly • Every person has the obligation to bring an action against any person whose activities or omissions have or are likely to have an adverse impact on the environment. c. Strategies • Develop urbanization master plans and particular development plans for towns • Develop sanitation master plan and provide environmentally friendly services to regional and town councils. • Improve water borne sanitation systems and solid waste disposal using appropriate technology as well as proper design, selection and licensing of disposal sites and routes. 58 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Enforce existing policies and laws through strengthening institutional capacity and mechanisms for compliance. • Encourage adoption of systems that sort industrial, clinical and domestic and other waste at source in order to facilitate recycling of materials wherever possible. • Encourage privatization of waste management. • Educate the public and local experts on best systems for design and implementation of sanitation projects and approaches to control and ameliorate the spread and impact of HIV/AIDS upon communities. • Strengthen the health inspectorate for urban and rural areas in order to assess the risks and consequences of environmentally related health problems. • Ensure that all hospitals, clinics, public places and residential areas have appropriate sanitation and waste and effluent disposal systems • Strengthen inspections of work environments and improve knowledge of occupational hazards and safety measures. • Promote efficient water use as a major cross-sectoral concern. • Enforce fire safety measures in all settlements, transport systems and public places.

3.1.11. Air Quality and Climate Change a. Objective To minimize the adverse impact of climate change and to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and to ensure that all citizens should have access to outdoor air without significant risk to their health b. Guiding Principles • The climate is a fundamental natural resource which, if not well managed, can become a major constraint to socio-economic development. • Air pollution should be reduced in order to provide a healthy and sustainable environment for social and economic development. • Greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced and greenhouse gas sinks must be enhanced in order to prevent interference with the climate system. 59 National Environment Policy, 2015 • It is necessary to control localized air pollution, especially in the urban environment, so as to reduce incidences of airborne diseases. • Bush fires must be controlled to reduce air pollution and environmental hazards. c. Strategies Develop a data base on air pollution through the establishment of a sound air quality monitoring system. • Sets out a framework for air quality strategy • Support funding for research on air quality and climate change. • Develop and promote alternative energy sources to fuel-wood and technologies in order to reduce the use of fuel-wood and enhance carbon sinks. • Enact a clean air act. • Develop and enforce regulations regarding air emission • Strengthen the existing national climate and meteorological database and monitoring networks. • Assess and monitor the potential impact of climate change on ecosystems, vegetation and net carbon sinks • Use climate data to help guide land-use and economic development decisions. • Ensure adequate regional and international cooperation for the smooth exchanges of climate information and control of trans- boundary atmospheric air pollution. • Reduce gas emissions from the transport sector, and the manufacturing industry. • Promote use of ozone friendly technologies. • Environmental awareness campaigns should include dangers of uncontrolled bush fires and proper management of bush fires.

3.1.12. Conservation of Biological Diversity and Bio- safety a. Objective To conserve, manage and utilize sustainably the country's biological diversity, ecosystems, natural and anthropic habitats, genetic resources 60 National Environment Policy, 2015 and plant and animal species by preservation of the Nation's natural heritage for the present and posterity. To ensure an appropriate level of protection of human, animal and plant health and habitat, while ensuring the well-being of the country b. Guiding Principles • Recognizing the importance of protecting its people, environment and biodiversity while promoting sustainable social and economic development of Somaliland • Conservation of biological diversity is a form of natural resource management which has as its primary goal the maintenance of Somaliland's biological resources to meet the needs and aspirations of both present and future generations. • Biodiversity has an intrinsic value and is vital for agricultural, medicinal, scientific, research, tourism and other socio-economic developments. • The conservation of biodiversity both within and outside protected areas is critical to environmental sustainability together with other policies such as land use policy and sustainable agriculture policies. c. Strategies • Identify valuable areas of biodiversity, particularly outside protected areas, and in consultation with local communities, explore means of protecting such areas, including gazetting as protected areas, purchase of land-use rights or of conservation easements, especially where critical areas are concerned. • Ensure that programs undertaken by the relevant departments to protect biodiversity involve and provide benefits to local communities so that they are motivated to conserve the resources and use them in a sustainable manner. • In view of the extensive importance of biodiversity to the Nation, promulgate a separate Biodiversity Act to support existing legislation. • Promote eco-tourism as a means of conserving natural resources and biodiversity and of earning income, particularly for local communities. • Provide a mechanism for fair distribution of costs and benefits deriving from protected areas between central and local 61 National Environment Policy, 2015 governments and local communities, bearing in mind costs as well as revenue. • Foster public support and encourage private investment in biodiversity conservation through public awareness campaigns and appropriate incentive schemes. • Establish and develop biodiversity networks, both national and international for information exchange and consultation. • Establish, Promote and strengthen activities of a national gene bank. • Provide alternative income generating activities as a means of assisting the conservation of biodiversity. • Establish a Pilot Environmental Fund for community-based environmental projects to incorporate biodiversity conservation, nature-based tourism and new livelihood enterprises. • Adhere or conform to international biodiversity treaty obligations through systematic introduction of requisite enabling legislation that are relevant to Somaliland's situation. • Provide an institutional framework for national decision making, networking, monitoring R&D, and international cooperation in all matters relating to biosafety.

3.1.13. Land Tenure and Land Use a. Objective To promote sustainable use of the land resources of Somaliland, primarily, but not exclusively, for agricultural purposes by strengthening and clearly defining security of tenure over land resources including State Land, Reserves and Trust land in the process and To establish a land tenure system conducive to increasing long term investment in the environment and natural resources sector and ensure the continuity of activities that guarantee sustainable resources use b. Guiding Principles • The provision of security of tenure for smallholder farmers against estate or ranch land expansion is important for sustainable use resource-based production systems. • Empowering CBOs to regulate resource management on common property in their respective areas should be given high priority. 62 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Customary rights to land and resource use will be recognized and protected, or alternatives provided, including the opportunity to convert to leasehold. • A comprehensive land tenure and land use policy shall encompass not only property rights to land but also other natural resources. • Inappropriate land management that results in adverse environmental impacts on the environment and damage to natural resources would be used a basis for re-entry and revocation land lease. c. Strategies • Develop efficient system of land administration and land management that secure land ownership, promote investment in land for socio-economic development and poverty reduction • Develop a land use policy to guide and ensure sustainable land utilization and development and strengthen the concerned Ministry to facilitate better inter-ministerial coordination. • Review information on land resources, use, occupation and ownership, and establish a computerized land information data base to provide up-to-date information for current and future planning. • Empower local communities to manage common property resources in an environmentally sustainable manner. • Review existing land laws in relation to all land tenure systems. Where necessary, new legislation will be introduced for customary, leasehold, freehold and public lands, including that providing for the introduction of land taxes to safeguard the productivity of land resources. • Develop and implement a national program to rehabilitate highly degraded land. • Strengthen the Ministry in order to cater for improved land use and compliance of the lease covenants relating to good land husbandry practices and tenure issues. • Establish a civic education committee to inform the public about the central role of land in political, economic and social development and also about current and impending legislation and procedures. • Increase incentives to promote sustainable productivity of leasehold land, including the increase of rents to reflect the land's market value or opportunity cost. • Improve co-ordination between ministries, other institutions and the environmental management institution with respect to land use and 63 National Environment Policy, 2015 improved cultivation practices. This encompasses improvement at both the policy-making and field officer levels.

3.1.14. Trans-boundary and Regional Conservation a. Objective To ensure that Somaliland contributes to all trans-boundary conservation initiatives where these are of direct concern to maintaining the integrity of Somaliland's ecosystems, biodiversity conservation, protected area network and economic and cultural development, within the region. To ensure that transboundary rich biological diversity resources is conserved and sustainably managed toward enhancing social, economic and environmental wellbeing. b. Guiding principles • Trans-boundary conservation as a source of ecosystem, habitat and species conservation and promotion of international accord for mutual benefit. • Rationalize unnaturally divided natural areas in order to link politically fragmented systems whether these are on the land or on water. c. Strategies • Actively participate in the development of regional initiatives in the development of trans-boundary conservation areas. • Actively participate in the development of regional initiatives in the development of shared water courses. • Contribute to establishment of a functional regional network to promote capacity building in developing inventory of the biological resources and bio-safety measures of the Region • Assess areas where international political boundaries and physical developments may interfere with integrity of ecosystems and associated flora and fauna. • Devise plans and procedures for establishing common positions, including resource conservation practices, between neighboring countries on conservation and development. • Identify possibilities for extending protected areas to link up with neighboring protected areas and regional biodiversity corridors and 64 National Environment Policy, 2015 agree common management and development goals especially for community-based tourism, soil, and water and species conservation. • Strengthen efforts to control transboundary trade in wild fauna and flora

3.2. Key Economic Sectors’ Measures The use of environmental resources by key economic sectors should be reviewed in relation with their impacts on environmental resources. There is no Poverty Reduction Strategy for Somaliland and hence no underlying theme that links the policies in relation to environmental management and sustainable use of natural resources. In the absence of the poverty reduction strategy, it is acceptable to adopt the MDG indicators. Somaliland is not on track toward achieving most of the MDGs unless there is a dramatic turn-around in its security, economic and human development prospects. The economic and human development situation varies across the different parts of Somaliland, across rural and urban areas, and across social groups. Similarly, the capacities and resources of local governing authorities vary widely across Somaliland, with local authorities in Puntland and Somaliland relatively better established and more capable of providing services than in other parts of the country. However, the resources available to them remain meagre, and a large share of these resources is spent on security. The Ministry of Environment and Rural Development establish the requisite partners in environmental care and management to see that a time bound Action Program for implementation is developed and agreed. This will include legal, fiscal and institutional arrangements as well as a wide range of activities focusing on environmental care and sound environmental management spelt out in the National Policy on Environment and within the sphere of the economic development programs for each of the different sectors. Partners in implementation will include government ministries, government departments and line agencies, the regional and district administrations, statutory boards and parastatal organizations, non- governmental organizations, the traditional rulers, people's organizations, the private sector and the general public. The main economic sectors are given below: 65 National Environment Policy, 2015

3.2.1. Agriculture Sector a. Objective To promote environmentally sound agricultural development by ensuring sustainable crop and livestock production through ecologically appropriate production and management techniques, and appropriate legal and institutional framework for sustainable environmental management. b. Guiding Principles • Increased agricultural production should be based on improving farming systems and increased security of land tenure, on currently allocated land rather than on expansion of cropland. • Appropriate legislation, Agricultural policy and planning should involve local community and NGO participation at all levels. • Agricultural policy and planning should be closely coordinated with land use, water, and natural resources policy and planning. • Agricultural policy and planning should incorporate the environmental costs of soil erosion and loss of soil fertility. • Watershed management activities should be accorded highest priority to conserve water, prevent further soil degradation and to improve soil fertility. • To be effective, land husbandry and rehabilitation interventions have to be implemented on a catchment and community basis. • Balanced use of organic and inorganic fertilizers taking into consideration their contribution to soil fertility and budgetary requirements. • New appropriate legislation is required to promote sustainable agriculture. • Promotion of sustainable agriculture production practices through spreading of eco-friendly farming practices c. Strategies • Intensify production on suitable lands to avoid expansion into marginal or fragile areas. • Integrate environmental awareness and education in community participatory agricultural extension and research programs. 66 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Train research and extension staff on the community based participatory approach for environmental concerns. • Prevent or minimize the environmental impact of cultivation and other development on marginal lands through improved cultivation of agricultural production. • Review, evaluate and develop agricultural policies and the legislative and institutional framework on a regular basis for the purpose of incorporating environmental concerns and inter-sectoral links. • Review and enact legislation to protect environmentally fragile areas from agricultural encroachment. • Embark on intensive education, extension and mass awareness programs and promote community participation in soil conservation measures and integrated land use systems in all parts of the country. • Promote research into appropriate and sustainable soil and water conservation techniques. • Promote proper animal husbandry practices to avoid overgrazing, spread of disease, soil erosion, loss of soil fertility, air, land and water pollution, loss of biodiversity and overall environmental degradation. • Promote community participation in environmental conservation programs, including communal catchment protection and conservation. • Ensure that trade policies on agricultural commodities and inputs encourage environmentally sound production systems. • Promote conservation -oriented farming practices especially in areas prone to laterization and nutrient leaching. • Introduce area -specific technologies including fertilizers, seed varieties and soil conservation.

3.2.2. The Tourism Sector a) Objective To contribute sustainably to the economic well -being and enhanced quality of life for Citizens through Government led, private sector driven quality product developments that are consistent with the protection of the Nation's unique natural and cultural heritage. 67 National Environment Policy, 2015 b. Guiding Principles • Protection of the environment is central to tourism in Somaliland. • Ensure that growth in tourism is environmentally sustainable and should be accessible to future generations. • Ensure that the World Tourism Organization's global code of ethics for tourism is enshrined in tourism development. • Support should be provided to develop a frame-work for sustainable to tourism development by all tourism players based upon the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development 1996, Agenda 21. • Local communities should share in the management and revenues of eco-tourism in order to enhance care for the environment and all plants and animals. • Land use planning and tourism developments should ensure that aesthetic and scenic features of tourist sites are protected. • Tourism should facilitate maintenance where appropriate, of biodiversity and protection of National Parks and Game Management Areas and cultural heritage sites, natural heritage sites, National Monuments and World Heritage site, where these form part of the tourism asset. • Health regulations should be an integral part of enabling sustainable tourism. • The Institutions of Tourism should be empowered further to enforce tourism standards, rules and regulations, with emphasis upon cultural, environmental and inter-sectoral issues. c. Strategies • Develop plans for tourism management and promotion that address environmental sustainability and ensure that all sector strategies include tangible concern for the environment and eco- tourism ethics, in every regard. • Promote Tourism as an industry within which there is abundant scope for new community and village-based tourism developments that provide incentives for care for the environment. • Effective engagement by the Tourism Development institutions in setting standards, raising cultural and environmental awareness and enforcing rules and regulations that affect the environment wherever tourism takes place. 68 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Promoting environmental sustainability, preserving and restoring heritage sites, and advancing cultural protection, as an approach to the management of the tourism sector • Institutional capacity building in the tourism sector should be promoted as it is imperative to ensure smooth operations and maintenance of set standards. • Promote fair access to tourism market opportunities for all potential participants through encouragement of partnerships, especially where local CB eco-friendly tourism can be introduced. • Develop and implement a tourism training program including local communities, ensuring that environment and natural resources are in the curricula. • Monitor compliance with tourism regulations and ensure that health, littering, vandalism and pollution rules are adhered to at tourism sites. • Encourage eco-tourism to protect, conserve and manage the environment and natural resources to ensure sustainability and maximize benefits to local people.

3.2.3. The Marine Resources and Fisheries Sector a. Objective To manage Marine resources for sustainable utilization and to conserve aquatic biodiversity To achieve the full economic potential of the marine resources in harmony with the marine environment b. Guiding Principles • Efforts must be made to establish the maximum sustainable yield from the Nation's marine stocks. • Harvesting should be based on agreed sustainable yields of different species and stocks. • The involvement of the private sector and local communities is critical to improved management, conservation and sustainable utilization of Somaliland's marine resources. • Opportunities to expand existing and develop new aquatic resources must be explored. • The roles of law enforcement and extension should be kept separate to ensure transparency and accountability. 69 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Inventorying and monitoring is an integral part of sustainable fisheries management and should be supported • Access for all citizens and local communities to conduct fishing, fish processing and trading shall be guaranteed and safeguarded. c. Strategies • Strengthen the Fisheries institutions as the line agencies responsible for fish stocks so that it is able to manage and conserve the Nation's fisheries in a sustainable manner. • Contain over-exploitation and destruction of habitat through strengthened research efforts and adequate planning, controls and monitoring. • Strengthen fisheries management and fish stock assessment having due regard for resources that are shared across international boundaries. • Promote aquaculture development as a means of raising farm incomes, increasing the supply of fresh fish and decreasing pressure on artisanal capture fisheries. • Carry out research into fish stock dynamics in order to understand their dynamics; to identify and quantify under-utilized fish resources and to encourage the appropriate exploitation of such under-utilized resources as are identified. • Promote inter-territorial co-operation in fisheries matters on all shared waters to minimize resource duplication and obviate any risk of over-exploitation. • Subject all proposed introduction of exotic species into aquatic ecosystems to detailed ecological impact studies. • Prevent and reverse the process of catchment degradation in order to conserve rivers as breeding habitat for endemic fish. • Give local communities adequate responsibility for the management of fisheries resources and strengthen the local management capacity so that local communities retain rights to control access to resources and to the means of harvesting. • Accord greater attention to enforcement of fisheries laws and regulations, combined with a separate fisheries extension service which should collaborate with NGOs and other extension officers to Promote community participation in fisheries resources management. • Take early steps to eliminate the use of non-sustainable and destructive fish harvesting methods and ensure that the Department of Fisheries has adequate resources to establish and monitor Community-Based management of fish stocks. 70 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Enact a Marine resource Conservation and Management Act to provide the necessary legal framework for achieving the objectives and implementing the strategies outlined here. • Up-date the inventory of all the species that occur in the rivers, lakes, dams and other waters of Somaliland. • Prepare in collaboration with other ministries and local communities, rules regulating access and settlement on lakeshores, beaches and riparian areas where fish harvesting is a significant activity.

3.2.4. The Forestry Sector a. Objective To manage the Nation's forest resources in a sustainable manner to maximize benefit to the Nation and especially forest dependent communities retaining their ecological integrity. To effectuate the protection, enrichment and sustainable management of the existing forest reserves and to establish new reserves in order to meet the country's demand for forest goods and services, while enhancing participation of all actors including local communities, private and local institutions . b. Guiding Principles • Deforestation is a major factor in soil erosion, siltation of lakes, rivers, and dams and other water bodies, loss of biodiversity and climate change. • The involvement of the private sector, NGOs and local communities in forestry is critical to improved management, conservation and sustainable utilization. • Promotion of private plantation and homestead forestry should be encouraged. • Community-based participation in the management of forest Reserves, Protected Forest Areas and forests on customary lands shall be promoted. • Local communities that participate in the management of indigenous forest resources shall receive financial and other benefits from their sustainable utilization. • Inventorying and monitoring should be an integral part of sustainable forestry management. 71 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Sustainable forest resource management and control of deforestation should best be enhanced on the basis of appropriate research, production forestry development and extension. • Appropriate subsidiary legislation and regulations at the regional level are essential to effective implementation of forest policy. c. Strategies • Formulate an innovative strategy for increase of forest and tree cover by afforestation of degraded forest land, wastelands, private and communal land through implementation of multi-stakeholder partnerships involving the forest authority, land owners, local communities and investors • Provide an enabling framework for promoting the participation of local communities, NGOs and the private sector in forest conservation and Joint Forest Management. • Establish appropriate incentives that should promote the effective contribution of Somaliland's forest resources and on-farm trees to the alleviation of poverty, sustainable economic development and environmental protection. • Provide economic incentives and the necessary legal framework and technology to encourage and facilitate rural communities to introduce alternative source of energy to gradually reduce reliance upon fuel wood and charcoal. • Take direct measures to control charcoal production and organize sustainable practices which include rehabilitation of seriously degraded woodland. • Promote development and dissemination of agro-forestry practices. • Promote dissemination of indigenous knowledge about the medicinal and other properties of Somaliland’s indigenous forest resources and where possible assist in marketing such knowledge for the benefit of the custodians of the knowledge. • Introduce marketing and pricing policy reforms that provide industrial fuel wood users with incentives to invest in tree planting and woodland management. • Ensure the sustainable utilization of forest resources by practicing conservation in the use of forest products, improving specifically the efficiency of fuel wood conservation, recycling paper through incentives and regulations and substituting fuel wood with alternatives such as paraffin, solar energy, biogas, electricity and coal where feasible. 72 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Promote and support the conservation and protection of forest ecosystems and the growing of trees by individuals, companies, estates, local communities and authorities, including the integration of forests and trees into farming systems, soil conservation activities and land-use systems. • Involve local communities in afforestation and rehabilitation of bare, fragile or erosion-prone areas. • Have particular regard to protection and rehabilitation of evergreen riparian, especially along upper river drainage lines. • Assist communities to set up appropriate management institutions to control the use of forestry resources on customary land on a sustainable basis. • Promote forest conservation measures for civil works, including minimal tree destruction when constructing roads, prohibiting encroachment of protected areas. • Provide alternative income generating activities that should reduce pressure on forestry products such as the commercial use of Non- timber Forest Products. • Establish a forum where interested parties in forestry issues can share ideas. • Conduct well designed research programs or adapt exogenous technologies to local conditions in order to generate usable technologies for the sustained management of planted and natural forest resources. • Ensure that the provision and development of the oil industry and alternative energy will lead to the improvement of the country's forest cover through lowering the dependency on biomass energy, diminishing the need for wood fuels and through providing funds that contribute to better forestry development • Promote the establishment a land tenure system conducive to increasing long term investment in the forestry sector and ensure the continuity of activities that guarantee sustainable forest use • Provide reliable alternative energy sources for the development and promotion of forest conservation

3.2.4. The Wildlife Sector a) Objective To conserve and manage wildlife resources and ecosystems in such a way as to ensure their protection, sustainable utilization and reduction of people-wildlife conflicts 73 National Environment Policy, 2015 b. Guiding Principles • Conservation, protection, management and utilization of the Nation's wildlife assets and resources are vested mostly in the Ministry of Livestock, Environment and Pastoral Development. • Local communities within and adjacent to National Parks and Game Management Areas shall be involved in their planning and in case of Game Management Areas in their management by means of planned devolution and capacity building. • Local Communities and local government should have fair access to benefits and revenue that accrue from sustainable utilization of National Parks. • There should be a fair distribution of benefits and revenue from sustainable utilization of Game Management Area s’ resources involving central government, local government, the local communities that take into account both revenue and costs. • Inventorying, research and monitoring is an integral part of sustainable wildlife use. c. Strategies • Prepare and implementation a Wildlife Policy and Act. • Ensure that sufficient technically qualified research and management staff are posted to the field in protected areas to validate local management decisions, for time series monitoring and to help co-ordinate research activities and to guide Community Based Natural Resource initiatives. • Undertake appropriate programs of research and monitoring in relation not only to the protection and conservation but also the sustainable utilization of resources in ways that are socially and economically important and the minimization of the negative impacts on Rangeland, wildlife and natural habitats. • Expand the Protected Area network of the country, including Conservation and Community Reserves giving representation to all bio-geographic zones of the country • Develop and implement programs for conservation of endangered species outside protected areas, while reducing the scope for man- animal conflict. • Manage, protect and conserve the Nation's National Parks and Game Management Areas, Trans-border Conservation Areas and 74 National Environment Policy, 2015 biodiversity corridors, according to comprehensive management plans, including adequate financial planning for operations and foster greater community participation and rights in the process. • Provide economic incentives and the necessary policy and legal framework to encourage the private sector to invest in revenue generating activities based on the sustainable utilization and responsibility for National Parks and Game Management Areas with full local community participation. • Involve local communities and local authorities in planning; establishment of integrated resources Development Boards; hands- on management and administration of National Parks and Game Management Areas • Increase benefits to local communities and local authorities from the National Parks and Game Management Areas. • Improve the law enforcement and extension capability of the Wildlife Authority and provide effective support for the involvement of local communities in community based management in order to reduce poaching and other illegal off-takes.

3.2.5. The Rangeland Sector a. Objective To develop and adopt an environmentally friendly scientific management system by involving local communities for the sustainable rangeland management so as to conserve and increase the productivity of the rangelands b. Guiding Principles • Conservation, protection, management and utilization of the Nation's rangelands and resources are vested mostly in the Ministry of Environment and Rural Development. • Local communities within and adjacent to the rangelands shall be involved in their planning by means of planned devolution and capacity building. • Local Communities and local government should have fair access to benefits and revenue that accrue from sustainable utilization of rangelands. • Inventorying, research and monitoring is an integral part of sustainable rangeland utilization. 75 National Environment Policy, 2015 • National and international commitments made by the state on bio- diversity conservation will be fully observed in rangeland management c. Strategies • Entrepreneurship development and value addition of rangeland products at local level will be encouraged and necessary infrastructures to be developed along with awareness raising and capability building • Promote the commercialization of forage resources • Develop and implement sustainable management plans of rangeland ecosystems • Encourage and facilitate the active participation of the local communities in the sustainable planning, management and utilization of rangeland resources • Enhance the capacity of the local community and local institutions to promote and market rangeland products and ensure their involvement in rangeland development • Ensure ecosystem stability through sustainable utilization of forage, water and soil resources • Delegate responsibility for the sustainable utilization of forage, water and soil resources to the lowest possible level of individual users of rangeland resources • Ensure the supply, enhance the quality, and improve the marketability of livestock and their products • Promote co-ordination and co-operation between the ranches and other agencies and bodies in the public and private sectors in respect of the utilization of rangelands of Somaliland. • Improve understanding and methods of managing ecosystems for multiple benefits • Provide arbitration in conflicts between and within different grazing industry stakeholders and other land users.

3.2.6. The Mining Sector a. Objective To provide for responsible and globally competitive exploitation of the country’s mineral resources that results in sustainable economic and social 76 National Environment Policy, 2015 development while minimize or eliminate the adverse social and environmental impacts of mining development To ensure that mining activities conform to sustained natural resource utilization and protection of the environment. b. Guiding Principles • As a major polluter, the mining development both old and new requires considerable improvement to pollution control measures. • Current mining operations and post-mining should be managed to avoid adverse impacts to the communities and the environment near such facilities • Safe waste disposal is key to environment management in mining development and this should be improved. • A safe and healthy operating environment is essential for mining operations and should be incorporated in internal regulations and management regulations up to international standards • Use of alternative, environmentally friendly and energy saving industrial and mining technologies enhance sustainable development and should be introduced wherever possible. c. Strategies • Review and adopt as necessary, mining policies that are consistent with proper management of natural resources and the environment. • Ensure that plans for development and construction mining sites have adequate and appropriate waste disposal and pollution control facilities up to international standards. • Enact new mining laws for prevention of environmental pollution and maintenance of ecological balances through the cleaner Production program. • Strengthen the Geological Survey to enable it to compile, generate and interpret basic geological information, and to disseminate the resulting geo-scientific data to potential investors and the general public • Encourage development of use of technology that is appropriate for the local environment and does not do irreparable damage. • Adopt product quality and standards that conform to environmental protection to enhance competitiveness in international markets. • Provide incentives to encourage the adoption of environmentally friendly mining technologies incorporating energy saving, reduction of health hazards, pollution control and safe disposal of waste measures, wherever appropriate. 77 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Provide support for Comprehensive Environment Management plans to help reduce negative environmental impacts and to make provision for rehabilitation. • Prohibit or reduce imports of potentially harmful substances such as asbestos. • Promote the use of concrete blocks in construction in order to decrease use of burnt bricks which require fuel wood. • Promote use of environmental guidelines and EIA before mining sites are developed and ensure application of a monitoring and auditing system for operating mines. • Ensure that rehabilitation measures are included in any new concessions that may incur environmental disturbance that distracts for conservation and aesthetic values. • Ensure that environmental assessments incorporate, as important component decommissioning plans and mitigation strategies for social impacts.

3.2.7. The Water Sector a. Objective To prevent, reduce and control degradation of the marine and fresh water resources environment so as to maintain and improve its life-support and productive capacities To manage and use water resources efficiently and effectively so as to promote its conservation and availability insufficient quantity and acceptable quality for all people b. Guiding Principles • Somaliland's people should have access to clean potable water in order to reduce the incidence of water borne diseases and reduce the time devoted by individuals to water collection. • All programs related to water should be implemented in such a manner that mitigate environmental degradation and at the same time promote enjoyment of the asset by all beneficiaries. • In planning and providing water supply services, consideration should be given to safe disposal of the resultant waste water. • The development of strategies for the efficient allocation of water, for investment to create new assets to provide water services and for pricing all require a common approach to the value of water. It 78 National Environment Policy, 2015 should be recognized that water has not only a social value, but also an economic value, both at the point of use and at its source. • The responsibility for water-borne sanitation should be integrated into the water sector. • Maximum use should be made of market determined prices for water allocation. • The involvement of stakeholders should become the normal procedure in the development of the sector. This should ensure maximum participation and a sense of ownership which should in turn contribute to the efficiency, sustainability and success of projects, as local stakeholders often have more detailed knowledge of the local areas which may not be available to the agencies implementing or financing the projects. • The sustainable development of irrigation, based on surface water resources via the construction of small dams and diversion of water in stream, is totally dependent on the improvement and stabilization of soil conservation and reforestation measures in the catchment areas serving these schemes and should be viewed as a major issue for cross-sectoral co-ordination. • The precautionary approach to water quality management shall be pursued with a focus on pollution minimization and prevention. c. Strategies • Establish a department to be responsible for the management and development of the water resources of the Nation and constituting the prime source of policy advice to the Government on water resource management issues • Develop an integrated approach that should guide the allocation of water, the allocation of investment and the pricing of water services. This should enable the achievement of maximum net benefit to Somaliland from its water resources while recognizing both the social, environmental and economic value of water. • Where water supply and sewage disposal is the responsibility of private companies, greater care must be taken to avoid wastage and negative impacts upon the environment. • Adoption of the integrated water resources management (IWRM) of freshwater systems and their related coastal and marine environments. • Implementation of integrated management plans, programs and legal frameworks, for surface and groundwater management 79 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Strengthen and institutionalize the Water Sanitation Health (WASH) Education for sustainable service delivery of water supply and sanitation. • Capacitate local authorities to develop and manage municipal solid waste systems, including engineered land fill sites. • Ensure that local by-laws incorporate community based rules for proper management of village -based furrows, irrigation channels and other local water off-takes. • Promote and devise methods of harvesting rain water using low cost structures which can be easily managed and maintained by the smallholder farmers and villagers. • Promote the development of small -scale beneficiary managed irrigation schemes with emphasis on efficient water management, while ensuring and maintaining environmental integrity. • Review existing information on wetlands and, where necessary, undertake further studies in order to develop guidelines for their proper utilization. • Develop and renew master plans for the conservation and utilization of water resources including solid and liquid waste management on land and water bodies and contingency plans for droughts and floods. • Rehabilitate catchment areas, bore holes and gravity-fed water supplies as a safeguard to reduce the impact of supply shocks from droughts. • Promote effective water pollution monitoring and prevention programs based on enforceable water quality guidelines and standards. • Compile hydrological information required to determine sustainable surface and groundwater yields. • As part of a national awareness raising campaign, include formal and informal education in water use and conservation; promote efficient water use. • Ensure that the interface between water and land in the extensive wetlands that occur throughout the country receives proper management and conservation in sectoral planning and in development activities. • Train, encourage and empower local communities to assist in the maintenance of water points and water sources. 80 National Environment Policy, 2015

3.2.8. The Industrial and Commercial Sector a. Objectives To build the industrial sector into a modern, competitive and dynamic sector that ensure sustainable and effective utilization of natural resources and other resources of nature, rationalization of the input of energy and work, as well as the development of technologies and the protection of environmental and cultural heritage b. Guiding principles • Ensure that all industrial activities and new developments incorporate pollution control measures in their operations. • Ensure that all industrial activities and new developments incorporate measures of voluntary disposal of all forms of waste at all points of consumption of their products. • Ensure that safe waste disposal should form part of staff training curricula for environment management in commerce, industry and mining development. • There should be adequate provisions for safe and healthy operating environment for large and small-scale industries in their internal regulations, rules and management practices. • Use of alternative, environmentally friendly and energy saving industrial technology should be encouraged and incentives provided as appropriate to support sustainable development. c. Strategies • Review and adopt as necessary, industrial policies that are consistent with proper management of natural resources and the environment. • Ensure that plans for development and construction of industries have adequate and appropriate waste disposal and pollution control facilities organized to meet international standards. • Enact new industrial laws for prevention of environmental pollution and maintenance of ecological balances in the area concerned and over which the owners have responsibility. • Ensure that plans and incentives for voluntary waste disposal are enshrined in the production plans of all industries. • Provide support for the Cleaner Production program. 81 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Encourage development of industrial technologies that do not pollute or irreparably damage the local environment and that maintain proper health and safety standards for workers. • Adopt product quality and standards that conform to environmental protection to enhance competitiveness in international markets. • Provide incentives to encourage the adoption of environmentally friendly technologies where possible, incorporating energy saving, reduction of health hazards, pollution control and safe disposal of waste. • Provide support for Comprehensive Environment Management plans to help reduce negative environmental impacts and to make provision for rehabilitation. • Prohibit imports of environmentally harmful industrial substances. • Discourage use of burnt bricks in construction as a means of reducing on fuel wood demand and deforestation. Instead encourage use of other forms of energy and concrete blocks. • Ensure the use of environmental guidelines and EIA before sites are developed and ensure application of a monitoring and auditing system for operating industries. • Ensure that all industrial and commercial premises have appropriate sanitation and waste and effluent disposal systems and that their immediate surroundings are kept clean.

3.2.9. The Energy Sector a. Objective To meet national energy needs with increased efficiency and environmental sustainability. To develop and promote an integrated strategy for sustainable utilization of renewable energy and ensure that the development of the oil and other energy alternatives will lead to the improvement of the country's forest cover through lowering the dependency on biomass energy and attain economic competitiveness. b. Guiding Principles • Environmental externalities of all energy sources shall be identified and incorporated into policy design and project costing. 82 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Sustainable fuel wood production may not only be economically efficient, but can also make a contribution to the arrest of global warming. • Safe and efficient use of local coal resources shall be encouraged. • Alternative energy systems to fuel wood should be developed for both rural and urban communities in Somaliland. • The provision of infrastructure for rural electrification should be viewed as a primary social service that is able to make a significant contribution to the arrest of deforestation and inevitably improves the quality of rural life. c. Strategies • Strengthen the coordination of energy sector developments and improve the energy planning capability of those agencies involved in energy matters. • Ensure environmentally conscious exploitation and utilization of Somaliland’s energy resources in the overall interest of our people for the present, and the future generations. • Provide additional support to the Energy Regulation Board in respect to matters relating to better resource conservation, public awareness and management. • Promote energy saving and renewable energy technologies. • Developing and maintaining a regular inventory of the country energy resources, current and projected needs including human and material • Promote hydro-power electrification of all urban and rural areas as an alternative to fuel wood • Promote the control of production of charcoal and develop alternative environmentally friendly sources of household energy, including bio-gas, wind and solar power. • Explore means to make electricity more affordable and accessible in order to reduce the dependency on fuel wood. • Develop indigenous coal resources to the extent that this is economically viable and implement an oil exploration program to be undertaken and financed by competent private companies with a full Environmental Impact Assessment and mitigation measures. • Encourage Government and rural communities to build more infrastructure and work together towards providing more affordable. 83 National Environment Policy, 2015

3.2.10. The Heritage Sector a. Objectives To seek to the conservation, enhancement and restoration of the abundance, quality, diversity and distinctiveness of the Somaliland’s natural heritage to ensure that biological and geological diversity are conserved and enhanced as an integral part of social, economic and environmental development To conserve and preserve Somaliland’s natural and cultural heritage for sustainable utilization and appreciation by the public, in order to significantly contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of rural communities and to the growth of the national economy. b. Guiding principles • Heritage conservation, preservation and management should be government driven. The government at all levels should need to demonstrate the priority it places on heritage as a factor for economic growth by introducing conducive policies and allocating appropriate resources to encourage private sector investment. Government should benefit directly from tourism at heritage sites and in promoting the national identity that heritage achieves. • Heritage development should be private sector driven for it to contribute significantly to the national and local economy. • Heritage should be considered as an integral part of the resources belonging to local communities and therefore its management should be community based for it to be utilized in a sustainable manner. • Heritage is appreciated and interpreted better in context and when value is added to it. • Heritage conservation should enshrine a culture of excellence of service and a service ethic for heritage development and management through planning, research, presentation, conservation, and program monitoring. • Heritage is meant to meet current society’s needs without compromising the needs of future generations. c. Strategies • Increasing the number of visitors at museums and heritage sites thereby increasing revenue earnings by launching an aggressive heritage promotion campaign. 84 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Increasing private sector investment at Heritage by providing a package of investment opportunities at museums and heritage sites. • Assist in meeting international, national and local responsibilities and obligations in the protection and enhancement of the natural heritage • Initiating programs to accelerate community stewardship and involvement in heritage. • Tourism development promotion through identification and documentation of diverse heritage resources. • Establishing appropriate and clear policies, standards, procedures and guidelines to ensure planned and sustainable heritage tourism expansion. • Identifying infrastructure need heritage sites and national Museums and supporting public infrastructure investment programs that affect them. • Establishing appropriate systems to achieve excellent facilities and ancillary information services • Initiating co-operative and bilateral efforts to enhance the Community-based management of heritage resources .

3.3. An Integrated Approach to Policy Implementation The strategies described for the different economic sectors should do much to ensure that environmental care and sound environmental management are achieved for the Nation. However, matters of policy, planning, regulation and control relating to ecosystems, natural landscapes and natural resources, together with issues relating to natural resource management, cut across all sectors having specific sector-related policies. These cannot be fully addressed through sector- based management alone. Whilst it is clear that most matters should need to receive the attention of the ministries concerned and parastatal authorities, the weaknesses in policies, deficiencies in concern for the environment in sector legislation, absence of links and any forum for their creation, can be overcome through a strategic holistic approach and integrated framework that deals with the key environmental resources as a single national asset under the management of the Ministry of Environment and Rural Development with direction from the Cabinet office. This policy would have due regard to the five main incontrovertible environmental resources of land, water, atmosphere and biological 85 National Environment Policy, 2015 diversity, and national heritage, are associated. Cross-sectoral implementation would follow an integrated strategy for each as follows:

3.3.1. Land A policy is required for the use of all categories of land with suitable guidelines and the necessary legal instruments for its implementation that would give high priority to the following: • Conservation and enhancement of environmental quality. • Setting aside protected areas to maintain, under natural conditions biodiversity, soils and water resources. • Rehabilitation of degraded areas. • Sustainable land use for identified purposes. • More efficient resource use. • Special attention given to land prone to erosion. • Prohibition of practices that lead to soil erosion or land degradation. The pursuit of these objectives should become part of an inter-ministerial arrangement with close collaboration between the Ministry of Lands and Ministry of Environment and Rural Development and other related ministries and authorities,, with the lead role taken by the Ministry of Environment and Rural Development

3.3.2. Water Just as for land, water is required for all human activities. It is needed for drinking, for sanitation and a wide range of domestic uses; it is needed for industry and mining; it is the main source of national power generation and it is essential for sustaining the Nation's agriculture, fishing industry, some local transport systems and to a large extent for tourism as well. Thus all economic sectors involved in development require this basic natural resource and therefore have a part to play in its conservation and sustainable management. Water resource management and water affairs are the responsibility of the Ministry of Water Resources which should have to be at the forefront of forging links with other line ministries and agencies to generate enough critical mass to achieve levels of national awareness for water conservation and improved management in urban and rural areas. Since water affairs concern every individual and organization in the country, the Ministry of Tourism, MoERD should have to work closely with the Ministry Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and all municipal and 86 National Environment Policy, 2015 local authorities to ensure that environmental concerns are reflected in the national policies and development plans for water management at all levels. Water resources that are shared with other countries should receive appropriate planning and management co-ordination to safeguard the integrity of Somaliland's hydrological assets ensuring that the Nation's interests are regarded as paramount.

3.3.3. Atmosphere and Climate The earth receives life-giving solar radiation through the atmosphere, thus whatever affects the atmosphere inevitably impacts upon the environment on primary vegetative production and on all living organisms. The atmosphere is as important as land and water for the sustenance of life and the National Policy on Environment underlines this central role in environmental management. To be effective there is a powerful need for national policies to coordinate measures that are designed to curb atmospheric pollution that are the responsibilities of the respective sectors, especially, industrial, mining, energy and forestry. As for water management, civic authorities and those agencies that control emissions from motor vehicles and industries and line agencies concerned with control of bush fires, particularly the Department of Mines, and the Forest Department, should need to coordinate their awareness and extension programs, control, enforcement and management arrangements through inter-ministerial and inter- departmental sharing of responsibilities and exchange of ideas and viable strategies. A formal institutional mechanism should be put in place in order to properly structure such arrangements and to ensure long-term sustainability. There is need to support the department of meteorology to enhance its monitoring and weather forecasting function to buttress development and resource management activities.

3.3.4. Biological Diversity and Safety Biological diversity and bio -safety are important for protection and maintaining ecological balances and for economic, scientific, cultural and technological development. Somaliland has a rich biological diversity of plants and animals but in recent times there has been a tragic loss of species on account of inadequate conservation practices and insufficient monitoring and enforcement of the laws. The National Environmental Policy provides guiding principles and management strategies to rectify this situation which requires a full commitment by all associated public and private sector stakeholders since biodiversity and bio-safety issues should be of concern to everyone. 87 National Environment Policy, 2015 As for land, water and the atmosphere, institutional arrangements need to be made under the direction of the Ministry of Tourism, MoERD, to coordinate management and to strengthen links with local authorities and People’s organizations to effect greater community participation and community-based natural resource management with special emphasis upon biodiversity and natural habitats. Efforts should now be made to determine the legal instruments that exist or may be required to organize implementation of the National Policy on Environment through strengthening links between all relevant agencies in both the public and private sectors. An action plan should be prepared and funding sought to back this essential initiative if the Policy is to be successfully applied.

3.3.5. Heritage Resources Heritage resources are important for purposes of fostering national identity, education, research and as a record of social, cultural, scientific and overall development of Somaliland. The Nation is rich in natural and cultural heritage sites. In many instances these resources are threatened by developmental projects. This is attributed largely to a lack of awareness about the value of heritage and recognition of its significance. At present there no adequate conservation and monitoring of heritage programs and associated laws are poorly enforced. There has been no participation in heritage management by local communities and private sector making it difficult to have a symbiotic relationship. Heritage resources are seldom well conserved since local communities have no tangible benefits from the existence and use of most of these sites. There is a pressing need to coordinate developmental activities with conservation activities where heritage resources are concerned so that they are not wantonly lost through insensitive developments.

3.3.6. The Role of Civil Society Whilst it is axiomatic that the Central Government and local authorities, non-governmental organizations, traditional rulers and elders, and the private sector have a major responsibility in implementing the National Policy on Environment, there is an over-arching responsibility for the general public and civil society. In the quest for sustainable socio - economic development much should hinge upon national awareness and collective attitude towards environmental problems and their solution. 88 National Environment Policy, 2015 An appreciation of the role of civil society in helping maintain a healthy environment in Somaliland is generally lacking. This is clearly evident in the deterioration of many national parks, the incidence of uncontrolled bush fires, loss of biodiversity especially vulnerable and valuable species, littering in towns and pollution of water sources and degradation of river catchments by deforestation. Public awareness campaigns and information, education and communication strategies can be used to good effect to raise the public conscience and create a better understanding of environmental situation. Despite this optimistic scenario it is clear that there should always be people who should disregard their responsibilities and to deal with this the controlling legislation with attendant mechanisms for accountability, should have to be in place and the regulatory bodies should need to move into action. 89 National Environment Policy, 2015 4. IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK

4.1. Time Frame The time frame for implementation of this policy is 3 years from the time of its approval by Parliament.

4.2. Institutional Arrangements The prospects for effective implementation of the National Policy on Environment should be greatly enhanced through the identification of all partners and key stakeholders who have a direct or indirect interest in environmental conservation and sustainable natural resource management and obtain their concurrence to the Policy and its holistic implementation strategy. The Rationale behind the Policy is that taking care of the environment and making proper use of resources should be the concern of all citizens and the National Policy on Environment should provide a way forward to bring all concerned parties together in a concerted thrust to create a legal and institutional base on which society can build enough support and momentum to attain the national priority goal of the Government to eradicate poverty and improve the quality of life of all the people of Somaliland. It is held that this can only be through better care for the environment and sustainable use of the resources that it provides so that they can stand on their own feet and realize their own potentials.

4.2.1. Leading Partners The leading partners in environmental care and resource management framework which should be established under the auspices of the MoERD to implement the National Policy on Environment include: Government ministries and line agencies, particularly those concerned with natural resources management: 90 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Ministry of Agriculture • Ministry of Fisheries & Coastal Development • Ministry of Livestock • Ministry of Industry • Ministry Commerce • Ministry of Sport , Tourism and Youth Development • Ministry of Health • Ministry of Interior • Ministry of Planning & Development • Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Transport • Ministry of Water Resources • Ministry of Mineral and Energy These shall ensure that environmental provisions stipulated under the respective sectors in this policy are enshrined in sector policies and are internalized and integrated in their sector plans. The government ministries shall work in close collaboration as appropriate with following statutory institutions and other environmental stakeholders: • National Environmental Research and Disaster Preparedness Authority • International and local NGOs working in environment and natural resources management The statutory and body corporate institutions will ensure that execute policy provisions within the context and confines of their legal mandates. The Ministry of Environment and Rural Development as the lead environmental and natural resources management institution will have the following responsibilities under this policy: • Promulgate, in consultation with other staked holders, appropriate environmental and natural resources policies that will facilitate the implementation of the National Policy on Environment, • Coordinate all policy implementation functions of sector and cross sector nature, indicators and resources through the logical framework approach. Under this function the Ministry will also develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system for all entities. Where necessary, and specifically at community level, the ministry will build the capacity for self- participatory monitoring and evaluation. • Ensure that all cross-sector issues are addressed by respective entities, while each entity will have the responsibility to conduct internal monitoring of the policy implementation, the Ministry will retain the mandate to externally monitor and evaluate all policy implementation activities. 91 National Environment Policy, 2015 • At regional and local level the elders, traditional rulers, and local communities will have the duty of participating in planning, including the development of relevant environment and natural resources action plans, and ensuring that the plans are implemented. Under this provision, local communities with their elders will have the mandate to monitor their progress. The National Policy on Environment recognizes the role of Local Authorities in environment and natural resources management. Then NGOs and development agencies working in communities will ensure that they consult with relevant partners and authorities at entry point to ensure that provisions of the locally developed environment and natural resources action plans are integrated in development plans. Added to this is the donor community that concerns itself with providing support to the Nation within development projects on poverty eradication and environmental issues and greatly helps to reinforce the Nation's ability to manage the economy and the environment. Integral with this is the Poverty Reduction Strategy Program, the Sector Advisory Group for Environment, the National Policy on Environment and coordination through the Ministry of Environment and Rural Development.

4.2.2. Partnerships and Stakeholder Involvement Implementation of the policy and conservation of the environment requires the participation of all partners and stakeholders including multilateral and bilateral development partners, who may bring to bear their respective resources and competencies. Different possible partnerships are as follows: • Public-Community Partnerships • Public-Private Partnerships • Public-Community-Private Partnerships • Public-Voluntary Organization Partnerships • Public-Private-Voluntary Organization Partnerships

4.2.3. Implementation Measures should not only require an integrated framework of partners that spells out responsibilities, administrative arrangements, consolidation of sector policies, legal and financial provisions but also a Strategic Action Plan which could be formulated in a comprehensive investment program, within an agreed Institutional and legal framework, harmonized at all levels with mutually agreed time bound targets.

4.2.4. Decentralization: much should also depend upon successful decentralization processes, which cannot in themselves be a panacea for solving national environmental problems. Central and local government should 92 National Environment Policy, 2015 need to rationalize their responsibilities within an agreed Framework. Active community participation in collaboration existing local institutions at regional and harmony with civil society and recognizing responsibility for the policy, should be required

4.3. Legal Framework To be able to implement this policy the Government shall review existing legislation and establish a comprehensive legal framework for an integrated approach to environmental care. Initially, the Government should promulgate legislation on environmental management and co-ordination. An inventory of all policies and legislation with relevance to the environment should be undertaken and specific legislations harmonized. It is also important that sector ministries review relevant policies with a view to greening them as provided for in this policy.

4.4. Monitoring and Evaluation The Government through the Ministry of Environment and Rural Development shall develop a monitoring and evaluation system for the implementation of the policy. The ministry shall assist all entities involved in environmental care and implementation of any portion of this policy in developing specific result oriented monitoring systems.

4.5. Resource Mobilization and Financing Since lack of financial resources remains one of the major constraints to the ability of most concerned agencies to enforce existing environmental laws and regulations, it is essential that the NEP initiative and associated activities of all kinds should have sufficient funding and political will to be able to carry out the Strategic Action Plan. Options include creation of a decentralized environmental fund, direct Government grants and proceeds of a share of fees from environmental assessments, concession fees, licenses, leases and mitigation measures. In addition the Government shall raise funds from other sources as • Participation in mechanisms and arrangements under multilateral agreements for enhancing flows of resources for sustainable development. 93 National Environment Policy, 2015 • Multilateral and global agreements and conventions (UNFCCC, UNCCD &UNCBD) • Regional and bilateral programs for environmental cooperation .

4.6. Review of the policy The environmental, social and economic issues are dynamically and continuously evolve and changes over time. Accordingly, the National Environment Policy should be reviewed and updated. Undertake consultations with different groups of all stakeholders every five years is necessary to review and update the National Environment Policy. This includes environmental issues, objectives, principles, and the Strategic guidelines Periodic review of implementation of the different elements of the National Environment Policy is also essential. The MoERD should review the implementation of the National Environment Policy every two years and the findings of the review should be publicly disclosed to all stakeholder and partners 94