Dr. Wajdan Al-Aqab, President of the Kuwait Environment Protection Society and President of the National Standing Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, announced the election of Dr. Matra Al-Mutairi, a member of the committee and a researcher at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, as a regional advisor for West Asia to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, noting the success of the National Committee’s efforts in supporting her election and voting for her and communicating with many heads of national committees in the Union, as well as experts and influencers to support her election.
Dr. Al-Aqab confirmed, “The negotiations and alliances with a large number of government agencies through the Environment Public Authority, the liaison point of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the relations between Arab and international civil society institutions, and the relations of the Kuwait Environment Protection Society with many entities, culminated in the successful nomination of Dr. Matra Al-Mutairi from the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research for this scientific position and prestigious international forum.”.
In a related context, Dr. Al-Aqab praised Dr. Matra Al-Mutairi's victory in the election, stating that she is the best representative of the State of Kuwait and the West Asia region. She congratulated her on behalf of herself, her colleagues on the Board of Directors of the Association, and the members of its General Assembly, commending her national and scientific research efforts that enrich the work of the National Standing Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as she serves as its Vice-President. She also mentioned Dr. Ahoud Al-Raqam and Sharifa Al-Salem as the Committee's Rapporteurs, and Dr. Shaker Al-Hazim as Treasurer. She noted that one of the Committee's most important roles is coordinating national efforts among relevant and competent authorities in the field of protecting and conserving biodiversity. The Committee includes representatives from the Kuwait Environment Protection Society, where she serves as Chair, the Environment Public Authority, the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, and the Kuwait Water Association. Committee members participate in the IUCN Congress, which lasts for two weeks and includes elections.
Dr. Al-Aqab noted that “the State of Kuwait enjoys full membership in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), represented by all these members who form the National Committee of the State of Kuwait for the Union.” She added, “The IUCN is a membership-based organization, comprising representatives from government sectors and civil society organizations. To date, the Union includes more than 1,400 members from environmental organizations, more than 18,000 experts, and a broad network that provides a solid foundation for a large and diverse range of nature conservation projects around the world. This diversity and extensive experience contribute to making the Union the global authority concerned with the state of the environment in the world and taking the necessary measures to protect it.”.
Dr. Al-Aqab concluded, “The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was founded in 1948 and has evolved to become the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network. The IUCN is renowned for its knowledge products, such as the Red List of Species, the Red List of Ecosystems, Key Biodiversity Areas, and the Green Lists, which are widely used to prioritize conservation of threatened species and ecosystems, and to identify areas of importance for protection.”.
