SCE hosts GCC workshop on IUCN Green List
Manama, Jul. 7 (BNA): The Supreme Council for Environment (SCE), in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and with technical support from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is organising the GCC sub-regional workshop on the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs).
The workshop brought together specialists in protected area management from GCC member states, government officials, representatives of academic institutions and the private sector, as well as environmental and biodiversity conservation experts.
Amna Hamad Al Rumaihi, Chief Executive of the SCE, said the workshop aims to strengthen GCC cooperation in environmental protection and biodiversity conservation by promoting knowledge exchange, building national and regional capacities, and applying international standards and best practices in protected area management.
She said the initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to improve the management of protected areas and enhance the effectiveness of environmental programmes and projects to conserve key ecosystems, protect native species and their natural habitats, promote sustainable management, and strengthen resilience to environmental challenges and climate change.
Al Rumaihi added that the workshop provides a platform for GCC member states to exchange successful experiences and align their approaches to developing protected area management policies. She noted that this supports the member states in meeting their regional and international environmental commitments, achieving global biodiversity targets and the Sustainable Development Goals, and ensuring the sustainability of natural resources for current and future generations.
The workshop includes scientific and practical sessions, as well as specialised panel discussions focusing on the implementation of the IUCN Green List standards and the exchange of expertise to support the development of protected area management and strengthen GCC efforts to achieve biodiversity conservation and sustainable development goals.
