GRANDE, BRAZIL — The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) awarded the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — represented by the National Center for Wildlife Development — with the “Outstanding Leadership in Migratory Species” certificate.
This recognition was presented on the sidelines of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (CMS COP15), held in Campo Grande, Brazil, from March 23-29.
Organized by the CMS Executive Secretariat, the Kingdom was honored during the “Pioneers Evening” for its leading role in promoting efforts to combat the illegal capture, taking, and trafficking of migratory species in Southwest Asia from 2026 to 2028.
Other than this being its second recognition — the previous being in 2024at the 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties in Samarkand, Uzbekistan — the Kingdom was among only 9 countries to receive this recognition out of 132 member states of the Convention, along with the European Union.
Dr. Mohammed Ali Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife Development, said: “We are proud of this recognition, which reflects the Kingdom’s extensive efforts to protect wildlife and preserve biodiversity.”
He added that the Kingdom’s strategic location along migration routes and its diverse, rich habitats have contributed to supporting migratory species during their seasonal migrations.
Through the National Center for Wildlife Development, the Kingdom has strengthened the regulatory framework governing hunting and wildlife use, developed compliance and monitoring mechanisms, and advanced technological infrastructure and digital systems for licensing and enforcement, while continuously promoting environmental awareness and encouraging community participation.
Dr. Qurban explained that the Kingdom has also worked to strengthen the environmental foundations that support migratory species by expanding and managing protected areas and restoring habitats that serve as vital stopover and breeding grounds.
The CEO of the National Center for Wildlife Development confirmed that, as part of these efforts, the Kingdom has reintroduced approximately 10,000 wildlife species through 21 breeding and reintroduction programs.
This has contributed to restoring ecological balance and enhancing the resilience of habitats on which migratory species depend, as well as to implementing protection measures to address threats to migratory species, including protecting birds from collisions with high-voltage power lines and electrocution.
The Kingdom continues to support the CMS Working Group on Combating Illegal Hunting, Taking, and Trafficking of Migratory Species in Southwest Asia by contributing to coordination, knowledge sharing, and harmonizing efforts under the Convention’s umbrella.
Source: Saudi Gazette