The health of the global shared marine environment is at the top of the agenda at the Marine Conservation Forum 2010 held today through the 16th in Abu Dhabi. The event, organised by Emirates Wildlife Society in association with WWF (EWS-WWF) and the Pew Environment Group, gathers experts from around the world to discuss the state of the marine environment and to work toward common solutions for habitat and species conservation.
The coasts of the Gulf region support rich and diverse populations of marine species of which many are threatened. The orange-spotted grouper (Hamour) has experienced significant decline due to overfishing. The hawksbill turtle is critically endangered due to habitat loss and coastal development. Dugong, king fish, shark, coral and numerous other species are facing significant challenges to their survival, as well.
Co-chaired by H. E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director of EWS-WWF and Dr. Susan Lieberman, Director of International Policy for the Pew Environment Group, the 3-day forum provides a platform for conservation representatives from Gulf and regional States to discuss the future of marine species on a regional scale, along with locally relevant conservation and management strategies.
Commenting on the region’s marine environment, H.E. Razan Al Mubarak said: “We are privileged to have a rich and abundant marine ecological system that also forms an integral part of our regional cultural heritage. Recently, it has come under threat due to natural and human-caused disturbances. It is encouraging to see experts from NGOs, government and academic institutions actively collaborate to find effective solutions to address these threats.””
Dr. Susan Lieberman from the Pew Environment Group commented: “The Pew Environment Group is very pleased to partner with EWS-WWF in co-sponsoring this event. The protection of marine species and habitats is gaining attention globally, and we look forward to working with experts from this region as they share scientific information and experiences on marine conservation issues. I am hopeful that attendees at the Forum will be able to come up with national and regional solutions that can be put in place to address the threats to the ecologically and culturally important marine biodiversity of this region—including whales, dolphins, dugongs, sharks, sea turtles, coral, and their habitats”.
At the Marine Conservation Forum 2010 experts will discuss several key themes including habitat protection; mitigating the environmental impact of coastal development; shark, whale, coral reef, and dugong conservation; and regional marine conservation programs in Yeman, Oman, Kuwait, and the UAE. Key speakers include: Liz Mclellan- WWF International, Simon Stuart- International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Robert Baldwin- Environment Society of Oman, Dr. Thabit AbdelSalaam- Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
EWS-WWF leads a number of marine conservation initiatives in the region. Its Marine Turtle Conservation Project aims to map and identify key habitats and feeding grounds of hawksbill turtles across the region to guide the design of comprehensive and adapted conservation programmes necessary to the survival of this species. The NGO also addresses the issue of overfishing by providing UAE residents with specific, practical steps they can take to reduce fishing pressure on vulnerable species through the ‘Choose Wisely’ campaign (www.choosewisely.ae).
For more information, please visit:www.ewswwf.ae/mcf2010
