RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is hosting the first Regional Arab Youth Forum on Man and the Biosphere, which started on Tuesday in the southern region of Jazan.
The event, which runs until Dec. 19, is being held by the National Center for Wildlife in partnership with the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.
The center said the forum represented a positive step forward in addressing biodiversity challenges, enhancing sustainable development and fostering climate resilience in the region.
Wildlife and biosphere experts, decision-makers, and officials from UNESCO and its Man and the Biosphere Program in the Arab region are speaking at the forum. They will visit the Farasan Island Marine Sanctuary, 50 km off the coast of Jazan, which is a natural habitat for endangered marine creatures, coral reefs and 230 species of fish.
In 2021, Saudi Arabia successfully registered the Farasan Islands with UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program which launched in 1971.
Mohammad Ali Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, said the forum, which aligned with the environmental goals of Vision 2030, reflected Saudi Arabia’s continued efforts to protect ecosystems and enrich biodiversity.
He added it aimed to enable Arab youth to preserve biodiversity, face environmental challenges and deepen cooperation between the region’s countries in wildlife and biosphere fields.
He said the center, formerly the Saudi Wildlife Authority, led training programs for the Saudi youth and contributed to environmental governance to preserve and improve the life of natural habitats.
The forum in Jazan supports UNESCO’s MAB Program, which enhances the relationship between people and their environments, as well as the Global Youth Biodiversity Network and other initiatives.
The program includes various sessions and workshops, with topics including the governance of the Man and Biosphere Program in Saudi Arabia, and the role and partnerships of youth networks in protecting biodiversity. There will also be the chance for Arab networks to share experiences in areas such as governance, strategies and financing.
