The Cabinet approved during its meeting held on January 11, 2015 the UAE’s participation at the 3rd session of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) plenary meeting.

H.E. Sultan Alwan, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Water Resources and Nature Conservation, Ministry of Environment and Water, said the Cabinet’s decision forms part of the government’s efforts to achieve UAE Vision 2021’s objective to preserve the country’s natural environment, strengthen the UAE’s international standing, and highlight its status as a leading role model regionally and globally. H.E. pointed out that part of the Ministry’s strategic initiatives are to improve the management and protection of ecosystems, promote wildlife sustainability, and enhance international cooperation as enshrined in the National Strategy for Biological Diversity which contains an integrated framework for biodiversity protection in the country.  

 H.E. Alwan said the IPBES aims to support sustainable development and strengthen the link between science and policy in biodiversity and ecosystem services for conservation and sustainable use. The IPBES also provides a mechanism recognized by relevant scientific and political groups for evaluating services and collecting and reviewing data from state academies, scientific groups, and non-government organizations.   

   He added that the IPBES consists of 123 member countries, including 12 Arab states the UAE, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain from the GCC. He pointed out that international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) support the IPBES.

 H.E. said the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi participated as observers at the 3rd session of the IPBES’ general meeting held in Bonn, Germany from January 12 to 17, 2015. Following the Cabinet’s approval, the Ministry will establish communications and coordination between local authorities and partners to maximize the benefits from relevant programs and key platforms.