Environmental concerns have been mounting in the MENA region over the past 20-30
years and governments have been developing different action plans to protect the environment
and properly manage natural resources. To achieve such objectives, these countries
have to deal with far reaching and costly actions. This means that economic analysis
of the environmental and natural resources management issues need to have a more
prominent and effective role in decision and policy making, particularly when compared
with early stages of environmental actions. Such a move may enable these countries
to base their decision and policy making on more sound and integrated analysis of
different issues.
The Middle East and North Africa Network for Environmental Economics, which was
established as a joint venture between the Beijer Institute of Resource Economics
and the Library of Alexandria, is a regional network that aims at strengthening
the capacity of individuals and institutions in the region in the field of environmental
and resources economics. It also intends to highlight to policy and decision-makers
the linkages between economic development and environmental changes.