His Excellency Dr. Thani Alzeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, praised national environmental organizations for their efforts in preserving wildlife and combating all forms of its illegal trade.

In a statement released on the occasion of World Environment Day, celebrated this year under the theme “Zero Tolerance for Illegal Wildlife Trade,” H.E. emphasized the country’s commitment, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the UAE, in fighting illegal wildlife trade.

 That commitment is manifested through contributing to the international efforts in this area and backing related international agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the London Declaration on Illegal Wildlife Trade.

 “After it had reached unprecedented levels in recent years, illegal wildlife trade has become one of the major concerns on the international agenda. It is a threat for biodiversity and has contributed to making several species fall under the endangered list. The size of illegal wildlife trade has reached 15 or 20 billion US$ dollars and according to UN data nearly 40% of global national conflicts in the last 60 years are related to natural resources,” Dr. Alzeyoudi said.

H.E. explained that the preservation of local wildlife has always been a major concern for the UAE. Several laws and regulations to protect and develop the indigenous wildlife have been put in place in the UAE since the early 1970s. These included: developing the legislative and organizational procedures to protect biodiversity and wildlife, establishing more wildlife sanctuaries (well-recognized around the world for the protection of wildlife and as touristic destinations) and launching programs for the protection of endangered animals, such as the programs for releasing falcons, the Houbara and the Arabian oryx.

 The efforts, led by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to preserve the endangered Arabian oryx, show the early national interest in preserving and protecting the indigenous wild life.

 Dr. Alzeyoudi added: “Our concern regarding the preservation of wildlife has gone beyond our borders. The UAE has led a concerted effort over several years that led to the establishment of several programs for wildlife protection and such as the Sheikh Zayed program for the releasing of falcons, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed’s program for the releasing of the Arabian oryx, the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund and the International Fund for Houbara Conservation. These programs and funds have contributed to an increase in the number of animals that were deemed endangered and led to their return to their original habitat as well.”

 The UAE has put in place regulations and legal legislations that have strict penalties for those engaging in illegal wildlife trade. It has also developed its capability to detect the trade at the borders and the mechanisms to exchange information with the relevant regional and international organizations.

 H.E. said that the UAE continues to support international measures and standards that relate to wildlife protection through adding an amendment to the federal law pertaining to animal protection and the issuing a federal law regarding the ownership of wild animals.

 In the end of his statement, H.E. Dr, Alzeyoudi said that biodiversity, including that of wildlife should be considered heritage and hence must be protected. “This protection requires a concerted, organized global effort in addition to building the capacities in this area, developing information exchange mechanisms between countries and related organizations and putting in place national and international policies and legislations that increase the penalty of those involved in illegal trade. It is essential to launch awareness programs that introduce to the public the economical, social and environmental implications of illegal wildlife trade,” he added.