Sharjah International Conservation Forum to discuss dangers faced by species of vulture, develop Red List for Arabia's trees

SHARJAH, 30th January, 2017 (WAM) -- The Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) is gearing up to organise the 18th Sharjah International Conservation Forum for Arabian Biodiversity ( previously known as the International Conservation Workshop for Arabia’s Biodiversity), which will be held next February, under the generous patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The forum is aimed at highlighting the dangers faced by species of vulture, developing a Regional Red List assessment of the trees of the Arabian Peninsula and organising a series of workshops on veterinary medicine. The Sharjah International Conservation Forum for Arabian Biodiversity helps experts and professionals identify the nature of wildlife in the UAE and the Arabian Peninsula due to the biodiversity in this area. According to studies and research conducted by the EPAA, the Arabian Peninsula is home to a wide variety of fauna and flora affected by the urban expansion in the region. The forum will facilitate the development of biodiversity conservation plans for the Arabian Peninsula, through the exchange of theoretical and practical experiences during the workshops. The forum will also update the existing wildlife database in the Arabian Peninsula. The event will boost the role of Sharjah in consolidating the principles of sustainable biodiversity, as Sharjah’s protected areas are home to old mangrove trees and rare species of birds. This means that there should be conservation and breeding programmes without human intervention. International participants will discuss the economic, environmental, veterinary and nutritional benefits of biodiversity, for the vegetation and species of animals and birds. A vulture multi-species action plan will also be held under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Raptors Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia. Various experiences from the KSA, Oman and the UAE will be presented during the workshops. The Arabian Peninsula is home to natural treasures such as fauna and flora which should be protected from going extinct. Therefore, experts will share experiences with the aim of improving the biodiversity not only in Sharjah, but also in the Arabian Peninsula. According to the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, the UAE desert is rich in organisms and vegetation, which are characterised by tolerance to drought, salinity and high temperature, in similar properties to the tropical plants. The UAE desert’s vegetation are easily adapted to harsh climate and seen as true assets to existing and future generations. The Sharjah International Conservation Forum for Arabian Biodiversity, which will be held at the Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife in Sharjah, will discuss ways to protect the vultures from going extinct, with the participation of more than 100 international experts and researchers from around the world. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395306601359.html