In a strategic initiative designed to strengthen environmental and biodiversity efforts throughout the Arab world and to make sure entry to the newest scientific insights and methodologies, the UAE Ministry of Local weather Change and Atmosphere (MOCCAE), in cooperation with the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) Secretariat, has introduced the Arabic version of the International Commonplace for the Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas to be lunched in the course of the IUCN congress.
The announcement coincides with the tenth anniversary of the KBA Partnership, marking a decade of worldwide achievements in nature conservation.
The launch was made throughout a high-level occasion held in the course of the IUCN World Conservation Congress, happening in Abu Dhabi from 9 to fifteen October.
The occasion was attended by Her Excellency Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Local weather Change and Atmosphere; Naomi Kingston, Co-Chair of the KBA Partnership, in addition to representatives from numerous KBA partnership
The International Commonplace for the Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas is among the many most important scientific references issued by the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It serves as a key device to information environmental insurance policies and investments in direction of websites of highest significance for biodiversity conservation.
Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak mentioned: “The UAE’s funding in translating environmental sciences to Arabic language represents an funding in a sustainable future for all the area. The launch of the Arabic version of the International Commonplace displays our collaborative strategy underscoring the UAE’s influential function, each regionally and globally, in advancing nature conservation and biodiversity.
“We’re delighted by this fruitful collaboration with the KBA Secretariat. This initiative offers a sturdy scientific device and fosters information alternate, empowering nations to align their imaginative and prescient and unify efforts in safeguarding our shared pure heritage. It highlights the UAE’s place as a number one advocate for local weather and biodiversity motion, each regionally and internationally. The launch of the Arabic version of the Commonplace on the IUCN World Conservation Congress serves as a strong testomony to this dedication.”
H.E. added: “The UAE performs a central function in supporting world initiatives devoted to defending our planet. This function extends past implementing greatest practices on the nationwide degree to energetic engagement in disseminating world-leading scientific methodologies. The interpretation of the Commonplace stands as tangible proof of the UAE’s dedication to empowering the nations and scientific communities of the area by equipping them with the mandatory instruments to handle the challenges of biodiversity loss. It strengthens their capability to realize environmental sustainability targets and to safeguard pure techniques for future generations”.
Naomi Kingston, Co-Chair of the KBA Partnership acknowledged: “The management demonstrated by the UAE in comprehensively updating its Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) community has considerably superior nationwide understanding of the place vital biodiversity happens. This effort has additionally clarified the place focused motion can most successfully shield nature and safe the nation’s environmental future. By making the KBA Commonplace accessible in Arabic, the UAE is catalyzing comparable efforts throughout different Arabic-speaking international locations, empowering them to evaluate and preserve their very own websites of biodiversity significance.”
“As we rejoice the primary 10 years of the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) Partnership, evaluation exhibits that international locations just like the UAE—the place complete assessments have been accomplished—have on common doubled the variety of KBAs recognized inside their territories. This demonstrates the ability of nationwide motion in uncovering and safeguarding biodiversity. We urge different international locations to replace their KBA networks as a part of their commitments to the 2030 biodiversity targets.”
A Unified Scientific Framework to Help Resolution-Makers
The International Commonplace for the Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas offers a unified scientific framework and methodology for recognising websites of excellent world significance for biodiversity conservation. The Commonplace is grounded in rigorous quantitative ideas and standards that guarantee the location identification course of is clear, goal, and replicable throughout nations and ecosystems. These standards embody assessing websites in accordance with the presence of threatened species, species with restricted geographic ranges, the integrity of their ecosystems and their vital function in sustaining key organic processes resembling copy and migration.
Empowering the Arab Area with International Instruments
The launch of the Arabic version is designed to allow governments, analysis establishments, and civil society organisations throughout the Arab area to implement the International Commonplace for the Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas successfully. It would assist harmonise nationwide efforts to strategically determine and develop protected space networks, thereby supporting the achievement of the Conference on Organic Range (CBD) targets, significantly the Kunming-Montreal International Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
Moreover, it offers researchers and specialists with an authoritative scientific reference of their native language, facilitating environmental impression assessments, informing sustainable improvement methods, and enhancing capability to safeguard the area’s distinctive ecosystems.
A Profitable Partnership and Tangible Outcomes
The launch builds on the long-standing relationship and shut cooperation between the UAE and the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and its associates. This partnership has lately achieved a major nationwide milestone, the inclusion of 9 new websites within the UAE, recognised by the Key Biodiversity Areas Secretariat and added to the World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas (WDKBA).
These websites embody necessary habitats for globally distinctive species such because the Arabian oryx, the Arabian gazelle, and the dugong Their recognition reinforces the UAE’s place on the worldwide conservation map and illustrates the implementation of its commitments, leading to tangible outcomes for the safety of endangered species.