Abu Dhabi, 25th October 2024: Hosted by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), the Fifth Leaders’ Meeting of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) kicked off today in the capital of the UAE.
The meetings, running between 25th and 28th October in Abu Dhabi, will bring together 300 leaders and experts in species conservation from across the globe.
Speaking during the opening ceremony were: Her Excellency Razan Khalifah Al Mubarak, President of IUCN via video; Her Excellency Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, EAD’s Secretary General; Dr. Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General, who addressed the audience virtually, and Dr. Jon Paul Rodríguez, Chair of the SSC. In attendance were His Excellency Ghanim Al-Hajeri, General Manager of Al Ain Zoo, His Excellency Abdulla Ahmed Al Qubaisi Managing Director of the International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC) and His Excellency Abdulla Ghurair Al Qubaisi, Director General of IFHC.
During the opening ceremony, EAD was honoured by the IUCN SSC for improving the Scimitar-horned Oryx (SHO) status from ‘Extinct in the Wild’ to ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List, marking a global first after over 20 years. The Agency’s collaboration with Chad’s Ministry of Environment and partners has helped Oryx numbers exceed 650 in total.
Her Excellency Razan Khalifah Al Mubarak on the occasion, said: “This gathering holds a special place in our hearts, as it reunites us in the spirit of our 2008 initial meeting in Al Ain. The United Arab Emirates, guided by the enduring legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, continues to prioritise species conservation on the national and global stage.”
She added: “Today, as we convene, the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference is also taking place in Colombia. This synchronicity between our meeting and the conference highlights the global momentum for biodiversity conservation. It also serves as a reminder of the significant strides made during COP28, hosted by the UAE, where we placed nature at the centre of the climate dialogue. This pivotal moment recognised the crucial connection between biodiversity and climate action, affirming nature's role as an essential ally in our efforts to mitigate climate change, enhance resilience, and promote sustainable development.”
She elaborated: “The work of the Species Survival Commission, supported by the critical data from the Red List of Threatened Species, is pivotal in this context. This information is essential to meeting the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, empowering policymakers, conservationists, and communities to make informed decisions and take effective actions rooted in scientific evidence.”
She stated: “We are thankful for Abu Dhabi's support of these vital efforts. The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, which marks 15 years of significant contributions, have supported almost 3,000 projects affecting 1,800 species globally. Many of these grants have directly contributed to Red List assessments, exemplifying our belief that species conservation is a shared responsibility that transcends borders.”
Her Excellency Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, during her opening statement, said: “Today, species conservation entails more than just government endorsements. With 300 experts gathered here and backed by the SSC’s vast network of over 10,000 members and nearly 200 specialist groups, which represent the critical mass for global species conservation.”
She added: “The IUCN is recognised globally for its knowledge products, such as Red Lists, and as species experts, you carry a crucial responsibility to advance species conservation, especially in regions that lack the capacity and resources. Establishing Centres for Species Survival is a positive step forward, and I am pleased to learn that 20 such centres have been set up.”
She stressed: “Though we face large-scale species extinctions, our collective efforts can change this trajectory. Together, we can protect, restore, and reverse the fortunes of many species. Here in Abu Dhabi, we deeply value this and have taken bold steps to protect and restore our biodiversity. Restoration of the two iconic species deeply intertwined with our environment and culture—the Arabian Oryx and the Houbara – is among our most notable conservation achievements. The Scimitar-horned Oryx reintroduction in Chad is another noteworthy example. The restoration programme we started along with our partners, precisely a decade ago, has been hugely successful with over 650 individuals now living in the wild in Chad, leading to improvement in the species’ conservation status.”
Dr. Jon Paul Rodríguez, expressed what makes the meeting unique: “The 5th SSC Leaders' Meeting stands out for its focus on the interconnected crises of biodiversity loss, climate change, and human well-being. This gathering will uniquely highlight how the regenerative power of nature and the role of animals, fungi, and plants in regulating ecosystems offers solutions to these global challenges. With a special emphasis on how conservation and ecological restoration can address these crises together, the meeting will provide an invaluable platform for exploring sustainable strategies to secure the future of our planet.”
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 member organisations and around 16,000 experts, and is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) is a science-based network with over 10,000 members in 186 territories. Being the largest of the IUCN’s seven expert Commissions, the SSC’s members work independently and with various IUCN Units to build knowledge on the status and threats to species, and provide advice, develop policies and guidelines, and facilitate conservation planning. Via this approach to its work, SSC catalyses conservation action and enables IUCN to influence policy and assist societies in biodiversity conservation.