His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the 22nd Sharjah International Conservation Forum for Arabia’s Biodiversity at Sharjah Safari.
More than 120 experts, researchers, and specialists in the world of ecology and biodiversity from around the world are participating in the forum, which will be held from 6 to 9 February. The topics of the new edition focus on genetics, conservation, and applications at the regional level.
The opening ceremony commenced with the national anthem of the United Arab Emirates and recitals from the Holy Quran. A visual presentation followed depicting the most significant achievements from the previous sessions of the Sharjah International Conservation Forum for Arabia’s Biodiversity. Achievements featured successful cooperation with organisations, unions, and associations that contributed to the preservation of endangered animals.
Her Excellency Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah (EPAA) gave a speech in which she expressed her pride in the previous 21 years of the Sharjah International Conservation Forum for Arabia’s Biodiversity. She expressed appreciation for the support of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who has a keen vision in the world of the environment, stressing that his approach contributed to the achievement of many scientific achievements, which resonated at the global level. She highlighted Sharjah’s rich and long-standing environmental experience, which helped it remain proactive in providing opportunities and reviewing environmental issues, consultations, discussions, and exchanging ideas and information to enhance biodiversity awareness and advance international ecological efforts.
TheChairperson of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah (EPAA)confirmed that the Sharjah International Conservation Forum for Arabia’s Biodiversity has always constituted a meeting and interaction station for environmental researchers and specialists. She noted that everyone gathered in Sharjah to emphasise the importance of the forum, which facilitates the exchange of expertise, experiences, and information, creating awareness of biodiversity in the UAE and the wider Arabian Peninsula.
Her Excellency Hana Saif Al Suwaidi indicated that the forum is being held for the first time in Sharjah Safari. This leading project provides the most extensive safari trip outside Africa. The Safari extends over 8 square kilometres, distributed over 12 different environments representing life, terrain and biodiversity in Africa. Sharjah Safari hosts more than 50,000 animals and more than 120 species and comprises more than 100,000 African and local trees. She explained that visitors could explore wildlife in Africa unprecedentedly, noting the success of the efforts in Sharjah Safari. For the first time, Safari welcomed a new member of the elephant group with the birth of a young elephant, "Samra", which quickly adapted and integrated with its family and the surrounding environment.
Dr Helen Sen, an environmental expert at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, gave a visual presentation on the forum and its various themes and topics. She touched on the extraordinary efforts of international organisations in protecting diversity in life. She also shed light on global biological diversity and animal genetics and the goals achieved through workshops and seminars in animal protection, reviewing the topics and objectives to be discussed during the current edition of the forum.
The Sharjah International Conservation Forum for Arabia’s Biodiversity includes sessions, lectures, seminars, and discussions on genetics and related aspects of conservation applicable in the regional context. It is enriched by reviewing the opinions of global experts as well as regional case studies, aspects of classification, monitoring and management, and biobank experiences.
The forum also includes a series of environment field tours throughout Sharjah Safari for participants.