Abu Dhabi, 12 October 2009 - The Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have signed a Donor Agreement to establish a UNEP/Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) office in Abu Dhabi.

 

H.E. Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary General of EAD and Ms. Elizabeth Mrema, CMS Officer-In-Charge, UNEP signed the agreement in a ceremony on October 12, 2009 at EAD’s Headquarters. This agreement follows an offer by EAD to fund and host an outposted office of the UNEP/CMS Secretariat, which will service CMS Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia. The two MOU were adopted in Abu Dhabi in October 2007 and on 22 October 2008 respectively.

 

“This Donor Agreement will benefit us because it will help the Government of Abu Dhabi exchange expertise with the scientists and experts at CMS” said H.E Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary General of EAD. ”Hosting this Secretariat in Abu Dhabi will also help us achieve our goals of securing bilateral, regional and international cooperation and coordination for the conservation and protection of dugongs, sea turtles and birds of prey. This office will also facilitate the exchange of information with other dugong, sea turtle and birds of prey range states,” he added.

 

The Signatory States to the Dugong and Raptors MOU formally accepted EAD’s offer to fund and host the office for the MOU at Intergovernmental meetings on Dugongs held in Bali, Indonesia on 19 August 2008 and Birds of Prey in Abu Dhabi on 22 October 2008 respectively.

 

The basic functions of the office will be to administer activities related to the MOU on Dugongs and Migratory Birds of Prey and to facilitate communication and coordination between range states on these groups of animals. The office will also be developing projects and contribute to capacity building of UAE nationals in the field of conservation of the environment. This unit will function independently in its day-to-day operations. The meetings of the signatory states will determine the policy of the MOU. At the same time substantive linkages to the parent Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and UNEP will be assured and maintained.

 

Under this Donor Agreement, EAD will host the UNEP/CMS office, at Al Mamoura building, for three years. The Agreement will be subject to renewal for a similar period. About EAD The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) is a governmental agency, established in 1996. It is committed to protecting and managing biodiversity, providing a clean environment, raising environmental awareness and promoting Sustainable Development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It provides a direction for Government, business and the community to build environmental considerations into the way they plan and live without compromising Abu Dhabi‘s development or its environment. Since 2008, EAD has been awarded ISO 9001 for Quality; ISO 14001 for Environment and ISO 18001 for Health and Safety.

 

For Further Information, please Contact: Mrs. Sobhia El Masri - Senior Media Relations Coordinator - Environment Awareness Sector - Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi. Tel: +9712 6934637; Mobile: +97150 4450323; Fax: +9712 4464799; Email: [email protected]; www.ead.ae