Abu Dhabi: How best to protect the dugong species (a whale-like mammal) and its habitat will be the topic of discussion when a host of scientists, researchers and experts on marine mammals meet October 4 to 6, at Radisson Blue Hotel, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
The meeting will be for those who signed a memorandum of understanding on the conservation and management of dugongs and their habitats.
The United Arab Emirates, represented by the Government of Abu Dhabi and the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi, is hosting the forum as part of its partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme and its commitment to conserve biological diversity and migratory species at an international level in particular.
The memorandum of understanding on the conservation and management of dugongs and their habitats came into force on October 31, 2007 after it was signed by Australia, Eritrea, France, Madagascar, Myanmar, the United Arab Emirates and Tanzania. They have since been joined by India, the Comoros, Kenya and the Philippines, raising the number of signatories to 11. The UAE was the first Arab country to sign the memorandum of understanding.
The Abu Dhabi meeting is to review the implementation of the dugong conservation and management plan and provide guidance on priorities and policies to carry out the action plan.
Signatories are to inform the meeting of progress they have made in implementing the memorandum of understanding.
