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United News of India
14-05-2025
- General
- United News of India
Laos intensifies efforts to get global recognition for Nakai-Nam Theun National Park
Vientiane, May 14 (UNI) Laos is ramping up efforts to secure international recognition for Nakai-Nam Theun National Park, one of the country's largest and most ecologically diverse protected areas that is home to numerous animal and bird species, in order to tackle environmental threats. Authorities are focusing on illegal hunting, unauthorised harvesting of forest products, and human encroachment in protected zones. Reforestation programmes are being expanded, and government agencies have been urged to improve livelihoods in surrounding villages as part of a broader conservation strategy, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, reports Xinhua. 'This isn't just about forest protection—it's about building a future where people and nature can coexist sustainably,' said Savanh Chanthakoumane, Executive Director of the park, according to Pha Khao Lao. Covering over 427,000 hectares across Khammuan and Bolikhamxay provinces, Nakai-Nam Theun is one of the largest and most ecologically diverse protected areas in Laos. It supports a wide range of habitats—from evergreen to montane forests—and is home to over 90 mammal species, more than 400 bird species, and dozens of amphibians, reptiles and fish. Designated a key biodiversity area within the Indo-Burma hotspot, the park has long been recognised for its global significance. It was ranked as a priority for biodiversity conservation in 2001 and, by 2008, identified as one of Southeast Asia's richest regions for endemism. At the recent 17th meeting of the park's management committee, chaired by Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr Lien Thikeo, officials approved an application to join the IUCN Green List—a certification recognising best practices in protected area management. 'This is a significant milestone in our efforts to gain international recognition,' said Chanthakoumane. 'But more importantly, it sets a standard that other protected areas in Laos can follow.' Jake Brunner, head of IUCN's Indo-Burma Group, described the Green List as 'a powerful tool that recognises and supports well-managed conservation areas, while strengthening local capacity through collaboration.' In parallel, the Lao government is preparing to nominate the park for UNESCO World Heritage status. If successful, Nakai-Nam Theun would become a national model for forest and biodiversity conservation—aligning with Laos' broader commitment to green and sustainable development. UNI ANV RN
Muscat Daily
19-04-2025
- General
- Muscat Daily
Oman moves towards global recognition of protected areas
Muscat – In cooperation with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Environment Authority hosted a two-day workshop in Muscat last week to introduce a programme called 'Green List of Protected Areas'. The initiative aims to enhance management of nature reserves in Oman by aligning these with internationally recognised standards of excellence. The IUCN Green List is a global certification system that assesses performance of protected areas against 17 criteria and 50 indicators covering governance, planning, management and conservation outcomes. The workshop introduced mechanisms required for nomination, evaluation and listing of Omani nature reserves under this global programme. Dr Abdullah bin Ali al Amri, Chairman of Environment Authority (EA), said the workshop reflects the sultanate's commitment to biodiversity protection and sustainable development. He described the Green List initiative as a culmination of ongoing efforts to improve protected area management and align practices with international benchmarks. 'This step supports the national goal of enhancing the quality and effectiveness of our nature reserves,' said Amri. 'It promotes global recognition, improves administrative performance and ensures community engagement in environmental management.' Sulaiman bin Nasser al Akhzami, Director General of Nature Conservation at EA, highlighted the sultanate's remarkable biodiversity, which includes more than 15,000 species of terrestrial and marine flora and fauna, many rare or endemic. Oman currently has 31 declared nature reserves, representing a range of ecosystems including coasts, deserts, mountains, plains and valleys. Akhzami noted that nomination files for several protected areas have already been submitted for consideration in the IUCN Green List. These include the Al Saleel Nature Reserve, which has passed the first stage of the global evaluation, Arabian Oryx Reserve and the Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve. The workshop explored progress on including these sites in the Green List by compiling the required documentation and engaging with key stakeholders. It also outlined criteria and stages necessary for achieving IUCN certification, which includes demonstrating effective governance, community involvement and measurable biodiversity outcomes. 'This ambitious step underscores Oman's determination to elevate the management standards of its protected areas and boost their international profile,' Akhzami added.
Observer
16-04-2025
- General
- Observer
Oman hosts IUCN Green List workshop
MUSCAT: A two-day workshop titled 'Green List Reserves', organised by the Environment Authority in coordination with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), was held at the Grand Hyatt Muscat. The initiative aims to introduce the internationally recognised IUCN Green List standards to Oman's conservation and protected area communities. Designed to enhance excellence in the management of nature reserves, the IUCN Green List evaluates protected areas across 17 criteria and 50 indicators, including governance, planning, management and conservation outcomes. Dr Abdullah bin Ali al Amri, Chairman of the Environment Authority, emphasised that Oman's move to nominate several reserves for Green List status reflects its commitment to biodiversity protection and sustainable development goals. 'It is a culmination of ongoing efforts to elevate the efficiency of nature reserve management to meet international standards,' he said. Currently, Oman has 31 declared nature reserves that span diverse ecosystems - coasts, deserts, plains, mountains and valleys. The workshop focuses on three nominated sites: Arabian Oryx Reserve, Daymaniyat Islands and Saleel National Park. Saleel has already entered the first phase of the Green List application process. Oman hosts IUCN Green List workshop Eng Suleiman al Akhzami, Director-General of Nature Reserves, described the Green List as a global benchmark in conservation management. It promotes active participation of both government bodies and local communities. Natalia Boulad, Programme Manager at IUCN West Asia, explained that the Green List is more than a certification - it is a holistic standard encompassing good governance, effective management and measurable conservation impact. 'It's about showing you're on the right path and encouraging a long-term commitment to excellence,' she said. Workshop sessions include visual presentations, knowledge exchange with international experts and discussions on preparing nomination files for global Green List consideration. The event aligns with Oman Vision 2040, reinforcing Oman's dedication to environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation. With over 15,000 species of terrestrial and marine flora and fauna - many rare or endemic - Oman continues to prioritise environmental stewardship through global collaborations like the IUCN Green List.
Associated Press
14-04-2025
- Science
- Associated Press
Phase Two of Tech4Nature Jaguar Protection Project Launched in Mexico
MERIDA, Mexico, April 14, 2025 /CNW/ -- At the recent 2025 Tech4Nature Summit, Huawei, International Union of Conservation for Nature (IUCN), and local partners launched Phase Two of the Mexico Tech4Nature project, which aims to strengthen the protection of jaguars in Dzilam de Bravo State Reserve and study the effects of climate change on biodiversity. Alongside Huawei and IUCN, the launch was officiated by Mexico's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the State Government of Yucatán, and local partner C-Minds. 'In Mexico, 42% of our country's ecosystems face some degree of degradation that we have to work towards solving. This involves monitoring and a lot of restoration work, but it also means something more important, which is precisely what we're seeing thanks to this alliance,' said Dr. Marina Robles García, Undersecretary of Biodiversity and Environmental Restoration for the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in Mexico. Aligned with Huawei's TECH4ALL initiative and the IUCN Green List, Tech4Nature is a global partnership launched by Huawei and IUCN in 2020 to scale up success in nature conservation through technological innovation. 'Today we celebrate a shared vision, a vision that understands that conservation can no longer depend solely on good intentions or isolated policies. We need science, technology, empowered communities, and committed governments,' said Joaquín Díaz Mena, Governor of Yucatán in Mexico, at the 2025 Tech4Nature Summit. Due to habitat loss and fragmentation, the jaguar is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. To contribute to its conservation, the first phase of the project installed 60 audio devices and more than 20 camera traps in Dzilam de Bravo State Reserve. Using trained AI models, the system is able to recognize the vocalizations and images of species that inhabit the reserve. By April 2025, the solution had identified a total of 147 species and confirmed the presence of nine jaguars in the territory. The second phase of the project focuses on gathering data about the distribution of jaguar populations, and providing data-driven insights to support decision-making and improve reserve management with a view to creating a biological corridor. The 2025 Tech4Nature Summit brought together experts, scientists, and conservation leaders from around the world to share advances and strategies in technology-driven nature conservation. 'Digital technology is making biodiversity conservation much more efficient and helping governments and conservationists take faster, more targeted action,' said Tao Jingwen, Director of the Board and Director of the Corporate Sustainable Development Committee for Huawei. 'I want to call on more of our partners to join the Tech4Nature initiative to make digital technology a common tool for global ecosystem conservation.' As well as Mexico, the summit explored Tech4Nature Phase Two projects in Brazil, China, Spain, Kenya, and Türkiye, showcasing how digital technologies and AI analytics can be adapted to the specific needs of diverse ecosystems. 'Building on our momentum so far, we look forward to the second phase of this partnership with great anticipation. This new chapter will address six countries, promoting transformative change for species, ecosystems, and their communities,' said Úrsula Parrilla, Director, Regional Office for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (ORMACC) for IUCN. 'By integrating technology into large-scale conservation, we contribute to global goals that seek to put nature at the center of decision-making for sustainable development.' Tech4Nature phase two projects The 2025 Tech4Nature Summit attested to how collaboration between the technology sector, NGOs, governments, academic institutions, and local communities has created a new paradigm for protecting biodiversity and ecosystems. About TECH4ALL TECH4ALL is Huawei's long-term digital inclusion initiative and action plan. Enabled by innovative technologies and partnerships, TECH4ALL is designed to enable inclusion and sustainability in the digital world. Visit the Huawei TECH4ALL website at Follow us on X at Learn more about Tech4Nature: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Huawei
