Dubai: The Ministry of Environment and Water recently took part in the 65th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) in Geneva, Switzerland.
During the meeting, held from July 7-11, the UAE delegation presented a report on its efforts to curb the proliferation of the illicit ivory trade.
The report covered the country’s various initiatives to combat ivory smuggling, which includes collaborative efforts with various government agencies, the organisation of a series of national capacity-building workshops, and the launch of awareness campaigns targeting different segments of society.
The UAE delegation was headed by Dr Shaikha Al Daheri, executive director of terrestrial and marine biodiversity at the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi; and Ahmad Al Hashemi, director of biodiversity at the ministry.
The participation was in line with UAE’s efforts to reduce the proliferation of wildlife crimes, particularly through the implementation of standards and requirements introduced by Cites.
The meeting covered the review of Cites’ wild fauna and flora strategy. Also presented were reports from regional and international organisations. Discussions focused on the accumulation of confiscated specimens, sea shipments, electronic permits, animal transport and the review of reports on cheetah and ivory smuggling.
