Biosphere reserves in the region are facing imminent threats and must be preserved, changemakers highlighted during the ‘Rewild Arabia: UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in A New Era’ event, held at Expo 2020 Dubai’s UN Hub today (27 February).
Failing to protect biosphere reserves – areas that aim to conserve animals and plants – would have major repercussions on food security in the region, as well as increase the likelihood of natural disasters such as floods, droughts and forest fires, according to Michael Maunder, the Director of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative in the United Kingdom.
He said: “We have the opportunity to make a difference in working to revitalise natural reserves in the region, and our current work will have great benefits for future generations. Therefore, it is very important to commit to preserving the environment in the region.”
The Middle East and North Africa region must work towards ensuring that diverse ecosystems are not only preserved but protected for the generations to come, Maunder added.
One of the ways individuals can make a difference is through donations, said Nicolas Heard, Head of Fund Management at The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund in Abu Dhabi. Countries around the world spent about AED 287 billion (USD78 billion) to ensure biodiversity is conserved, and that figure is expected to grow exponentially if ecosystems are not protected.
Heard said: “The preservation of biodiversity and natural reserves requires more funding and assistance, and therefore it is very important to think about how we can mobilise resources and finance the programmes carried out by countries in order to achieve the goals they have set.”
About 86 per cent of funding for biodiversity conservation in the region comes from the public sector, such as government agencies, while only about 14 per cent is donated by charitable organisations and the private sector.
The session was part of the Ecology and Earth Science Programme (EES) at UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States, held from 26 to 27 February.
The EES programme aims to draw strong pathways to develop communities in the Arab region through innovation in research and development. It also strives to build strong national, local, institutional and individual leaderships with effective tools and instruments to propel a culture of biodiversity and geodiversity conservation.
The two-day event brought together international and regional experts from various organisations including the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI), the Global Geopark Network (GGN), Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), Geopark M’Goun Association in Morocco, UNDRR – Regional Office for Arab States, Arab Scientific and Technical Advisory Group (ArabSTAG), Civil Defense in Jordan, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, and The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund – Abu Dhabi.
The UN Hub, located at Mission Possible – the Opportunity Pavilion – is the dedicated space for the United Nations, providing the organisation with a platform to bring together leaders, change-makers and experts to discuss a range of topics, including water, food and energy – the key elements of the Sustainable Development Goals.