Selected environmental and sustainable development indicators for the Kingdom of Bahrain

A selected set of indicators were highlighted based on the criteria of the UN-Commission for Sustainable Development. Data were collected from the Central Information Organisation in Bahrain and relevant ministries and twenty measurable indicators were identified. The results of this study are divided into three main groups: the first included data on indicators that meet the definition laid down by the Commission, such as: emission of CO2, arable and permanent crop land area, annual withdrawals of groundwater and mortality rate of less than five years of age. The second group needed further extraction, formatting and interpretation and these included: use of fertilizers, annual catch by major species and protected area as percentage of total area. No adequate data was available for the third group of indicators. These included: coastal water quality, change in surface water discharge, and threatened plant species as percentage of total known plant species. The indicators used were those belonging to the first two groups. It is recommended that more environmental and sustainable development indicators for Bahrain should be established through supporting databases. This duty should be assigned to a specified organization and/or a national multiparty committee. A yearly book on the indicators should ideally be issued, revised and approved. Non-governmental agencies participation in setting up the indicators and data collecting is essential. Technological knowledge and tools such as Geographical Information System should be utilized in order to manage the environmental and sustainable development indicators.