The Ministry of Environment and Water has hosted today (Sunday October 26, 2014) the high-level 5th Sub-Global Assessment (SGA) Network Annual Meeting which will run from October 26 to 28, 2014 at Hyatt Regency Hotel Dubai. The event gathered practitioners and experts from across the globe to share their progress and individual experiences in SGA, address common challenges and opportunities, and discuss the Network’s advancement and how it can best move forward into the future. The Ministry expressed its full support for and commitment to the global convention, saying that the inputs to be gained from the annual meeting will help further its initiatives to protect the country’s ecosystem
Co-convened by the SGA Network Secretariat and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Office for West Asia, the annual meeting is a combination of presentations, discussions and interactive sessions. This year’s event aims to increase the skills capacity of individuals and organizations in terms of developing and using ecosystem assessments. During the three-day sessions, members of the SGA Network from industry, academia, government and research organizations will be involved in thorough discussions of their respective experiences in undertaking ecosystem assessment, thus providing a platform for peer-to-peer learning.
Additionally, in-depth presentations will highlight emerging tools, methods, concepts and issues in the evolving field of ecosystem assessment. The wide range of topics to be discussed include capacity development assessment tools, valuation tools and ecosystem assessments, update and reflection on the ‘SGA lessons learned’ document, ecosystem assessment mainstreaming, and the SGA Network mentoring scheme. On the last day of the event, a training session focusing on a particular aspect of the assessment process will be conducted.
HE Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad Minister of Environment and Water said in his opening speech which was delivered on his behalf by HE Sultan Alwan Assistant Undersecretary of water resources and nature conservation :” I would like to say in this regards that the launching of the5th Sub-Global Assessment (SGA) Network Annual Meeting comes in line with creative lab meeting which was held recently under the patronage HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Vice president, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and organized by the Ministry of Environment and Water. Where during this meeting HH Mohammed Bin Rashid has adopted several initiatives such as “UAE Smart map of Natural capital” and the “National Program of Sustainable Wildlife initiative”, these two will promote our efforts in protecting UAE ecosystems and achieving our National strategies that was recently adopted concerning the Biodiversity, the Marina and Costal Sustainability and Desertification”.
Bin Fahed also said: “The Ministry of Environment and Water welcomes the holding of the 5th Sub-Global Assessment Network Annual Meeting in the UAE. We fully support the event in recognition of its importance and crucial role in the global campaign towards promoting ecosystem protection. The event comes at an opportune time when we at the Ministry are intensifying our efforts to promote environmental sustainability and proper ecosystem management and protection. These efforts fall in line with our strategy to assist international campaigns aimed at conserving biological diversity and sustainability.”
“By further delving into the causes of ecosystem change and their impact on human health, we are confident that we will be able to establish relevant measures and policies to help us address the effects and successfully secure a healthy ecosystem,” added Bin Fahad.
The Sub-Global Assessment Network seeks to create a common platform for practitioners involved in ecosystem assessment at regional, sub-regional, national and sub-national levels. It strives to promote and facilitate improved capacity in undertaking and using assessments.