Saudi Arabia Collaborates With UNEP On Biodiversity Workshop To Shape National Framework

The National Center for Wildlife (NCW) in Saudi Arabia, alongside the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has launched the Comprehensive National Biodiversity Framework (CNBF) workshop. Held on July 9th and 10th in Riyadh, this event is crucial for shaping Saudi Arabia's biodiversity strategy.

Dr. Mohammed Qurban, CEO of NCW, stated, "This workshop aims to forge a unified national model through collaborative efforts among relevant stakeholders to harmonize national objectives with global framework goals. This effort strengthens the Kingdom's commitments to the Fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, where national goals were set and strategies built to implement the framework."

The workshop seeks to align Saudi Arabia’s biodiversity conservation efforts with global targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This framework was established during the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2022. The initiative also supports environmental sustainability as part of Saudi Vision 2030.

Throughout the workshop, NCW plans to initiate CNBF development using a multidisciplinary participatory approach involving all relevant stakeholders in Saudi Arabia. This includes establishing a knowledge base, fostering national consensus on defining goals, and implementing mechanisms to support Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets.

Dr. Qurban emphasized that this workshop aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative. He noted, "Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative, this workshop signifies our national commitment to restoring ecological balance and achieving sustainable development, paving the way for a prosperous future."

The event aims to raise awareness about Saudi Arabia's efforts in protecting biodiversity and ecosystems. It also aims to cement its leadership in fulfilling international commitments related to biodiversity conservation.

Collaborative Efforts and Stakeholder Engagement

The workshop involves defining roles and responsibilities and establishing a national network of experts and decision-makers. This network will ensure sustainable implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity at a national level.

During the first day, participants from NCW, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and UNEP presented concise reports on strategies implemented under the Montreal Protocol on Biodiversity framework. They reviewed their contributions to developing national goals aligned with this framework and Saudi Vision 2030 targets.

Supporting Urgent Actions

The workshop aims to enable urgent actions to meet National Biodiversity Framework goals. It contributes to United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity objectives by discussing mechanisms for developing, updating, and implementing national policies.

Additionally, it enhances transparency in monitoring progress at all levels. The event explores avenues for collaboration among stakeholders while establishing a core national network of experts supporting framework implementation.

This initiative underscores Saudi Arabia's dedication to advancing environmental sustainability through comprehensive planning and stakeholder engagement.

With inputs from SPA