- Under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water participated in ‘The National Forum for the Arabian Tahr’ organized by the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) in cooperation with Al Bustan Zoological Centre and held from January 26 to 27, 2015 in Abu Dhabi. The workshop was hosted as part of the UAE's commitment to protect the species’ biodiversity as well as develop and implement policies for preserving plant and animal species threatened with extinction.

According to Ahmed Al Hashmi, Director of the Ministry of Environment and Water’s Biodiversity Department, the UAE continues to protect its biodiversity by taking a number of strict measures to prevent further deterioration and preserve all species and their habitats. The country boasts of a proven track record with the development and implementation of leading and successful protection programs, such as those for the Arabian Oryx, Houbara Bustard and Falcon. The UAE has achieved significant success in such programs, including protection from extinction and breeding of animals released from captivity into their natural habitats inside and outside the country. The protection programs for the Arabian Leopard, Sea Turtles, Dugongs, and some local fish stocks have been equally successful, in addition to the programs for the protection of threatened, endangered or vulnerable species of plants, including Avicennia and Prosopis trees.

 Al Hashemi added that the UAE has given considerable attention to the organization of trade in plant and animals to protect them from degradation and extinction and participates in international conventions aimed at their wellbeing. The issuance and enforcement of laws and legislations implementing these conventions reflect the environmental goals of the state and are intended to protect endangered species, facilitate their resettlement, and prevent degradation of their natural habitats.

 ‘The National Forum for the Arabian Tahr’ aims to develop a nationwide action plan for the management of the habitats and communities of the Arabian Tahr in the UAE. It is an important step in achieving one of the goals of the national biodiversity strategy, namely, the implementation of innovative and effective conservation programs for the species in cooperation and coordination with all local authorities.

 The Arabian Tahr was first released on the Sir Bani Yas Island in the mid-1990s as part of the campaign launched by the UAE to reintroduce Arabic animals into the wild areas lying between the UAE and Oman – the natural habitat of the species. The Arabian Tahr is included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of endangered species.