Dr. Wajdan Al-Aqab, President of the Kuwait Environment Protection Society, announced that the Society has obtained the presidency of the National Standing Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature for the next two years, noting that Dr. Matra Al-Mutairi was chosen as Vice President, Dr. Ahoud Al-Raqam and Sharifa Salem as rapporteurs of the Committee, and Dr. Shaker Al-Hazim as treasurer, pointing out that the most important role of the Committee is to coordinate national efforts between the competent and relevant authorities in the field of protecting and conserving biodiversity.
Dr. Al-Aqab explained that a meeting that included representatives of the member bodies of the committee discussed several related matters, most importantly the preparations for the Regional Forum for Nature Conservation, which will be held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, next September, in addition to the main preparations for the International Congress meeting of the Union next year, indicating that the committee is comprised of the Environment Public Authority, the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, the Kuwait Environment Protection Society, and the Kuwait Water Association.
She noted that the State of Kuwait enjoys full membership in the Union, represented by all those members who constitute the Kuwait National Committee for the Union. She added, “The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership-based organization, comprising representatives from government sectors and civil society organizations. To date, the Union includes more than 1,400 member environmental organizations, over 18,000 experts, and a vast network that provides a solid foundation for a wide variety of nature conservation projects worldwide. This diversity and extensive experience contribute to making the IUCN the global authority on the state of the world’s environment and on taking the necessary measures to protect it.”.
Dr. Wajdan Al-Aqab noted that the World Conservation Congress of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which is held every four years, is the highest body in the Union and brings together accredited delegates of the IUCN members, adding, “One of the main tasks of the Congress is to elect the President, Treasurer, Regional Advisors and Chairs of Committees, who will form the Council of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.”.
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.”.
