The National Center for Wildlife Development, representing the Kingdom, was awarded the champion title for its outstanding efforts in protecting migratory species. The award was granted during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14), held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from Feb. 12 to 17, 2024. The theme of the conference was 'Nature knows no borders'. The Kingdom participated in the high-level and 54th meetings of the Standing Committee of the Treaty on Feb. 11, 2024. This award recognizes the Kingdom's contribution to leading the initiative to address the illegal hunting, taking, and trafficking of migratory species in the Southwest Asia region from 2024-2026. A representative from the Kingdom's delegation was chosen to represent Asia in the negotiating committee. Furthermore, several specialists from the delegation members participated in the Birds Task Force, the Marine Species Task Force, and the Terrestrial Species Task Force. The CEO of the National Center for Wildlife Development Dr. Mohammed Ali Qurban expressed his appreciation for this international honor. He stated that this award reflects the magnitude of the Kingdom's efforts to protect wildlife and preserve biodiversity. These efforts enhance the Kingdom's pioneering and leadership role in the regional and international arenas by launching and supporting initiatives and programs to preserve and protect the environment. Dr. Qurban emphasized that this meeting is one of the most important global gatherings for biodiversity. He added that during the conference, issues of habitat conservation and restoration were highlighted, in addition to the threats to which species are exposed, such as overexploitation, loss of natural habitats, pollution, and climate change. He noted that the meeting also provides a unique opportunity to launch reports, guidelines, and major new developments. It also included the first State of the World's Migratory Species report, new global guidelines on light pollution, and best practices for infrastructure affecting migratory species. The Kingdom's efforts are distinguished by an integrated system of procedures that began with the launch of the new national environmental strategy, the regulation of hunting, and the standards for the list of protected species. Additionally, the Kingdom established special environmental forces to enforce the regulations, automate them, and enhance ecological awareness through quality programs. — SPA
