DOHA: Abdullah Al-Zaidan, Deputy Director General of Environment Public Authority’s (EPA) technical affairs sector, said on Saturday the 21st standing committee meeting on maintaining wildlife approved Kuwait’s hosting of Gulf wildlife day. Speaking to KUNA in a statement, Al-Zaidan said the meeting discussed Kuwait’s proposal on this day to be held on December 30. He noted that the gathering discussed several topics on means of enhancing biodiversity in the Gulf and sustainability to combat global climate. It also focused on updating the wildlife conversation convention in GCC members to boost economic, social and environmental conditions to face challenges and variables in the world, he elaborated.

The GCC standing committee on wildlife conservation discussed the coordinated framework for wildlife protection in the GCC countries. The discussion was made during the 21st meeting of the GCC Secretariat, hosted by Qatar and chaired by the head of the wildlife department at Qatar’s Ministry of Environment, Mohammad Al-Khanji, as part of preparations for the meeting of GCC ministers concerned with the environment.

Official are pictured during the meeting.- KUNA photos

Deputy Director General of Environment Public Authority's Abdullah Al-Zaidan

The meeting dealt also with some topics, including the GCC Supreme Council’s resolution regarding environment directives and updating the wildlife conversation convention in GCC states, and the strategic plan for the committee of ministers responsible for environment affairs, Qatar News Agency (QNA) said. In addition, the gathering focused on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, CITES, biodiversity, and the general framework deal for transferring ownership of falcons and others, it added.

GCC members’ representatives issued some recommendations to be submitted to the committee of undersecretaries to be referred to the GCC ministerial committee responsible for environment affairs during its next meeting, it stated. The conferees discussed holding the first Gulf conference on wildlife and marking Gulf wildlife day, which includes organizing some workshops and training programs in this field. — KUNA