NCW Workshop Showcases Saudi Arabia's Expertise In Sustainable Hunting Practices For GCC Cooperation

The National Center for Wildlife (NCW) and the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) hosted a workshop on Saudi Arabia's hunting regulation experience. Local and international experts, along with representatives from relevant entities, royal reserves, and major projects, participated. The event aimed to share Saudi Arabia's expertise in sustainable hunting practices with GCC countries.

Dr. Mohammed Qurban, CEO of NCW, highlighted that the workshop is part of the center’s environmental initiatives. It reflects their vision to protect biodiversity and maintain sustainable ecosystems. He emphasised Saudi Arabia's leadership in supporting regional and global environmental efforts by offering innovative solutions for environmental protection.

The workshop featured a presentation on Saudi Arabia's national methodology for hunting regulation. This was followed by an overview of the Kingdom’s Environmental Law and its Executive Regulations for Wildlife Hunting. An assessment of unregulated hunting in the Arabian Peninsula was also included.

Saudi Arabia has been proactive in promoting sustainable hunting practices. The country issued the Executive Regulation for Hunting Terrestrial Wildlife Species based on its Environmental Law. These efforts led to NCW receiving a champion title at the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, February 2024.

The event also included a presentation on the Special Forces for Environmental Security's role in law enforcement and an introduction to the "Fitri" platform. Tomorrow’s sessions will cover bird status in Saudi Arabia, social and economic impacts of hunting regulation, and GCC countries' expertise in hunting laws.

The workshop will conclude with an interactive discussion session. Participants will explore challenges, opportunities, lessons learned from Saudi Arabia’s experience, and recommendations for GCC cooperation on hunting regulations to be included in the final statement.

Recognition for Conservation Efforts

Saudi Arabia's journey toward sustainable hunting was reviewed during the workshop. The Kingdom received recognition with the Leadership Award for Conservation of Migratory Species from CMS. This highlights their commitment to wildlife conservation efforts.

The program aims to enhance cooperation among GCC countries by exchanging knowledge and transferring expertise on wildlife conservation efforts. It seeks to foster initiatives that contribute to ecosystem growth and prosperity in the region.

The workshop underscores Saudi Arabia's active presence in regional environmental efforts. By sharing pioneering solutions, it contributes significantly to environmental protection across GCC countries.

With inputs from SPA