Arabian Oryx experts discuss enhancing national conservation efforts in UAE

ABU DHABI, 24th November, 2015 (WAM) -- The General Secretariat for the Conservation of the Arabian Oryx, GSCAO, has gathered key experts to the UAE to enhance collective Arabian Oryx conservation efforts. The National Workshop for Arabian Oryx Collections in the UAE, which was hosted last week by the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve and sponsored by Al Maha Desert Resort, was integral in providing a platform for collaboration on conservation efforts for this iconic species. Dr. Majid Al Qasimi, Director of Terrestrial Biodiversity at Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi, EAD, explained, "The GSCAO General Secretariat has been established to coordinate and support Arabian Oryx conservation efforts on both the national and regional levels. In line with this mission, GSCAO has been actively working on bringing collection managers and conservationists together to facilitate the exchange of information and support capacity building both nationally as well as in the range states." "The support of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, Chairman of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, has been central to both EAD and GSCAO’s efforts in conserving the Arabian Oryx. According to GSCAO’s most recent survey, some 6,000 Arabian Oryx exist in the UAE and to date, our combined regional conservation efforts have resulted in international recognition for the programme which contributed to changing the status of the Arabian Oryx from ‘Endangered’ to ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN Red List Assessment," Dr. Majid concluded. The GSCAO, established in 2000 and hosted by EAD, is the Secretariat for the Coordinating Committee for the Conservation of the Arabian Oryx, CCCAO, a regional initiative that aims to establish a regional network for capacity building and knowledge sharing with relevant Arabian Oryx conservation entities in the range states and worldwide. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395288354452.html