Gulf Wildlife Day celebrated in UAE

Dubai: The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrated the second Gulf Wildlife Day on Friday with the aim of enhancing cooperation in the field of wildlife conservation among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Held on December 30 every year, Gulf Wildlife Day is celebrated in the region by environmental authorities organising wide-ranging activities to raise awareness about wildlife conservation.

Dr Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: "Our country has rich biodiversity that includes a set of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems." 

"The government is working to preserve this status through developing legislation and adopting initiatives designed to achieve the national goals of the UAE Biodiversity Strategy by 2021," he said.

The government has also launched Wildlife Sustainability Programme to adopt policies, procedures and research activities concerning the conservation of native species as well as regulation of trade in animals and plants in line with international environmental conventions.