The 23rd Meeting of the Arab Group for Monitoring International Environmental Agreements on Biodiversity and Combating Desertification concluded its proceedings, which were held from 18 to 22 May at the headquarters of the League of Arab States. The meeting brought together representatives from Arab countries' ministries responsible for biodiversity and desertification, alongside delegates from Arab, regional, and international organisations.
Discussions focused on a number of key agenda items, most notably the follow-up to the Conferences of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and its associated protocols, as well as the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Particular emphasis was placed on the growing threat of drought and its escalating impacts on Arab countries. The meeting convened at a critical time, as the world grapples with one of the most widespread drought events in recent decades—an environmental crisis to which Arab states are particularly vulnerable, given the increasing risks posed by climate change.
The meeting concluded with a series of recommendations aimed at enhancing coordination among Arab states at international environmental fora, particularly in the domains of biodiversity conservation and the fight against desertification.
In parallel with the meeting, the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment, in collaboration with the West Asia Office of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), organised a workshop on the strategic importance of joining the Arab Union for Nature Protected Areas. The initiative forms part of the implementation of Resolution 665 adopted at the 35th session of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment, held in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on 17 October 2024.
