Ministry Of Climate Change And Environment Hosts Two-Day Workshop To Discuss Invasive Species Action Plan
Climate change and the environment discuss the development of a national framework for the protection of biodiversity from invasive species
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) in collaboration with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) today concluded a two-day workshop to discuss the development of a National Action Plan for Invasive Species Management. The session focused on the current status of invasive species in the country and aimed to identify key goals, objectives, and initiatives for their management.
The workshop at Dubai Festival City drew the participation of the competent government authorities across the UAE as well as private sector interests, representatives of NGOs, academia, and universities. The session continued the conversation from an earlier workshop that aimed to present UAE-specific checklists of invasive species.
As per the checklist, invasive species are defined as any plants, animals, and other organisms that can adversely impact human health and the economy, in addition to causing environmental degradation and the irreparable loss of natural habitats. A survey carried out as part of the National Program for the Sustainability of Wildlife revealed the existence of 24 invasive plants, animals, and other organisms in the UAE. MOCCAE attributes the alarming number to the irresponsible behaviors of some individuals or businesses that lose the alien species in their possession accidentally or deliberately release them as unwanted pets.
Once approved, the National Action Plan for Invasive Species Management will align with the National Biodiversity Strategy and work to identify all invasive species and their pathways by 2021. In addition, it will aim to improve the conservation status of 70 percent of the most threatened species while also endeavoring to reduce the loss of natural habitats, including critical habitats by 25 percent by 2021.
Speaking on the relevance of the workshop, Salah Abdalla Yousif Al Rayssi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary, Biodiversity & Marine Life Sectors at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, said: "Invasive species often compete with native species for the already scarce resources - soil, water, and food - as well as breeding sites. This ultimately leads to the extinction or decline in population of the native species, which can, in turn, adversely impact the environment and the economy through harming the agricultural and fisheries sectors. also spread diseases such as malaria and bird flu, thereby affecting human health. "
He noted that the proposed National Action Plan will outline strategies for better managing and controlling the spread of these invasive species.
According to the UNEP's fifth Global Environment Outlook Report, the numbers of invasive alien species continue to increase. Data from Europe shows that the number has surged 76% since 1970, a pattern that is likely to be similar on other continents. According to another study, invasive alien species were a factor in more than half of vertebrate extinctions, and the sole cause of 20% such extinctions. Invasive alien species cost the world as much as US $ 1.4 trillion annually.
The first workshop on assessing and identifying invasive species in the UAE took place in May 2016. Around 60 UAE experts participated in that event, also held in cooperation with the International Union for Conservation of Nature, to build capacity and increase awareness. In addition, some 23 federal and local government entities as well as interested businesses from the private sector attended the workshop.
