Arab States Tackle Biodiversity and Desertification
From 18 to 22 May 2025, the 23rd Meeting of the Arab Group for Monitoring International Environmental Agreements on Biodiversity and Combating Desertification took place at the League of Arab States headquarters in Cairo. The event brought together representatives from ministries across the Arab world, as well as delegates from regional and international organisations, to address urgent environmental challenges threatening the region.
The discussions focused on the follow-up to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and its protocols, along with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. The growing threat of drought and its disproportionate impact on Arab states featured prominently on the agenda, as the region faces mounting vulnerability due to climate change.
Held during one of the most widespread drought events in recent memory, the meeting underscored the urgent need for regional coordination and policy alignment to safeguard biodiversity and counter land degradation. Delegates exchanged experiences, assessed national responses, and reviewed mechanisms to enhance collective Arab participation in global environmental governance.
The meeting concluded with a set of recommendations to strengthen joint action among Arab countries in international negotiations, promote regional knowledge sharing, and bolster technical cooperation in the fields of biodiversity conservation and desertification control.
In parallel, a workshop was held by the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment, in partnership with the IUCN West Asia Office, to highlight the strategic value of joining the Arab Union for Nature Protected Areas. The initiative supports the implementation of Resolution 665, adopted during the Council’s 35th session in Jeddah in October 2024, which calls for enhanced efforts to protect ecological heritage across the region.
EPSO commends this important regional effort to advance environmental resilience and welcomes the ongoing dialogue between Arab institutions and international partners in the face of escalating ecological pressures.
Source: League of Arab States
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