KUWAIT, March 8 (KUNA) -- By establishing Kuwait's "Environmental Monitoring Information System", the state is taking a major step towards increasing awareness and helping decision makers reach well-informed decisions regarding the environment, a specialist said here, Monday.
In an interview with KUNA, Chairman of the new project said the center would provide crucial data that would help efforts at preserving and rehabilitating the environment as well as improve national staff's capabilities in the area of environmental data systems and monitoring the environmental situation.
The official expressed appreciation for the support of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Chairman of the Supreme Council for the Environment Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubrak Al-Sabah for the idea and for the project, which he stressed would prove a huge leap in environment action in Kuwait.
On objectives of the center, he said these would include bolstering the EPA's monitoring capabilities and performance, encouraging and assisting in environmental development, and push for adopting policies and practices which help in the area of environmental preservation.
Another main objective is compilation of a reliable database on the environment in Kuwait through a mechanism of thorough analysis, evaluation, and proper documentation, the official said.
As to awareness on environment issue in Kuwaiti society, he said the center would help in this area by providing access to information as well as providing training opportunities within the region.
Access to the aspired databases would benefit the new system's technical staff, environment specialists and activists, researchers, students, and state and other workers in this field.
Al-Ahmad stressed the importance of providing interactive maps and other content via reliable and trusted portals to help the public become more aware and help staff be more capable in terms of analyzing data and planning mechanisms for "effective" monitoring.
Al-Ahmad expressed thanks to the team members who are working on the project.
© KUNA (Kuwait News Agency) 2010
