Riyadh: The National Center for Wildlife (NCW), in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), today organized a workshop titled 'The Kingdom's Experience in Hunting Regulation,' with the participation of local and international experts, as well as representatives from relevant entities, royal reserves, and major projects.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the workshop aims to share Saudi Arabia's pioneering expertise in hunting regulation and promote sustainable hunting practices among GCC countries. It also seeks to enhance cooperation, exchange knowledge, and transfer expertise on wildlife conservation efforts, while fostering initiatives that contribute to the growth and prosperity of ecosystems in the region.
The program included a presentation on the national methodology for hunting regulation, followed by an overview of the Kingdom's Environmental Law and its Executive Regulations for Wildlife Hunting, and an assessment of unregulated hunting in the Arabian Peninsula. It also featured a review of the Kingdom's journey toward sustainable hunting and its achievement of the Leadership Award for the Conservation of Migratory Species, granted by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). The event included a presentation on the role of the Special Forces for Environmental Security in law enforcement and an introduction to the 'Fitri' platform.
The workshop will continue tomorrow with presentations on the status of birds in the Kingdom, the social and economic impact of hunting regulation, and a review of GCC countries' expertise in hunting laws. It will conclude with an interactive discussion session on challenges, opportunities, lessons learned from Saudi Arabia's experience, and recommendations for GCC cooperation on hunting regulations to be included in the final statement.
NCW CEO Dr. Mohammed Qurban stated that the workshop is part of the center's many environmental initiatives, reflecting its vision of protecting and enriching biodiversity and preserving thriving and sustainable ecosystems. It also underscores the Kingdom's leadership role and active presence in supporting regional and global environmental efforts by offering pioneering solutions that contribute to environmental protection.
Qurban noted that Saudi Arabia has been at the forefront of ensuring sustainable hunting practices, issuing the Executive Regulation for Hunting Terrestrial Wildlife Species, derived from the Environmental Law. Reflecting NCW's continuous efforts, these initiatives culminated in the center receiving the champion title during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14), held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in February 2024.