Towards a Gulf Ecological Union: Pathways for Recovery and Resilience

The Iran–USA conflict in the Persian Gulf has generated unprecedented ecological and socioeconomic disruptions across Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. This study examines the environmental consequences of tanker strikes, refinery explosions, and port attacks, highlighting their impacts on coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass meadows, wetlands, and migratory corridors. Case studies from Basra, Kharg Island, the Strait of Hormuz, Fujairah, and the Gulf of Oman illustrate how oil spills, chemical leaks, and acoustic disturbances have impaired biodiversity, fisheries, aquaculture, desalination, and eco‑tourism.
The analysis reveals systematic violations of international conventions (UNCLOS, CBD, Ramsar, CMS, AEWA, MARPOL), regional agreements (Kuwait Regional Convention), and national environmental laws, underscoring the legal dimension of ecological degradation. A comparative framework of location‑specific impacts and solutions demonstrates that recovery is possible through coral transplantation, mangrove regeneration, seagrass restoration, biodiversity health monitoring, and pollution control.
The paper advocates for the establishment of a Gulf-wide ecological union under the auspices of UNEP and UNESCWA to coordinate restoration, resilience planning, and conflict-sensitive environmental governance. By harmonizing legal frameworks, strengthening rapid response capacity, and promoting community‑based ecotourism, Persian Gulf states can transform ecological recovery into a cornerstone of regional peace, stability, and sustainable development.
The research paper relied on publicly available sources to conduct its analysis and formulate recommendations. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the affiliated research institution.

Persian Gulf conflict; Ecological resilience; environmental law violations; Regional ecological governance: Gulf ecological union

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