14 May 2018
The first ever global summit for
migratory birds brought together key players from all over the world in Abu
Dhabi, UAE this April. In addition to global strategies, great progress was
made in tackling threats to birds in the Middle East. Here are the main
outcomes.
By Dima Obeidat
“A Summit for the Flyways” united
100 different organisations from 70 different countries to address one problem:
how to protect migratory birds on their incredible journey. And with millions
of migratory birds passing through the Middle East, it was the perfect
opportunity to tackle regional issues, too.
BirdLife took advantage of the
fact that conservation giants of the Middle East would be under one roof by
holding a Middle East Partnership Meeting prior to the launch of the Summit.
H.E. Majid Al Mansouri, Board Member, Rapporteur of IFHC Governing Board and
Managing Director, opened the meeting with a speech on the value of
collaborative work, praising Birdlife’s partners for their hard work across the
region, despite the challenging political climate.
The meeting’s keynote speaker, Dr
Mike Clarke, CEO of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), took
the opportunity to highlight the crucial role that local organisations play in
spreading awareness of bird conservation among younger generations. Mike went
on to share valuable insights on preserving bird habitats in the region. The
meeting concluded with participants recommending strategies to further the work
being done, with the support of BirdLife Chair Council, Mr. Khaled Irani.
Fruitful discussions continued
throughout the Summit, with participants from the Middle East holding sessions
on issues important to the region. For instance, illegal hunting and killing is
still a major threat to birds. Assad Serhal, the Director General of the
Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), urged the need to take
action, and showcased success stories where collaborative work had made a big
impact in the country.
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