The UN this year has formally declared the 22^nd of May as the International Day of Biological Diversity, the characteristic theme of which emphasizes particularly on Biodiversity and its unequivocal role in the road to Sustainable Development, and among other targets, involving the preservation of ecosystems, enhancing the   among developing nations, mitigating the global carbon footprint, and several others. A prime area in these notable fields is the conservation of wildlife and species diversity.

As a matter-of-fact, official UN websites also highlighted that biodiversity is a vital asset in global and local economies, from fresh water supply and agriculture to food processing and production. The presence and functioning of biodiversity is also instrumental in contributing to global climatic change. What's more, the ecosystem functioning to provide nutrients, clean air, and pest regulation make it essential for human health too.

For anyone who cares about animals, Endangered Species Day is an annual day of dread.

For the last 15 years, the environmental community in the Middle East has made spectacular advances in comprehending and expanding upon the pivotal role of the local ecological products and its services — the benefits nature provides, from fresh water to climate regulation to recreation — to improve human productivity, international economy and the collective future of life-forms on earth.

In the Middle East, for centuries, the stunning desert antelope has been hunted for meat and hides. They were marked as extinct for a long time until the 1990s when they were re-introduced, making a remarkable conservation story. The conservation will be in vain, however, since they?re still big targets for poaching and marked as vulnerable.

The Coordination Committee for the Conservation of the Arabian Oryx (CCCAO) is already accelerating its efforts to restore the desert antelope's population in Oman in association with IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

Earlier in 2015, Sir Bani Yas animal reserve in Abu Dhabi opened its doors to the Arabian Tahr in an endeavor to restore the species? population. The specimens are currently being monitored by officials to ensure they settle in smoothly, and eventually be released back into their natural habitat.

There are less than 200 Arabian Leopards left within the UAE.

To help begin the restoration process, Al Bustan Zoological Center and Al Ain Zoo have collaborated on a captive breeding initiative. With less than 200 Arabian Leopards left within the UAE, this initiative marks the first of many approaches of various wildlife preservation organizations? desperate involvement in restoration of the species.

The government has never taken a backseat in the preeminent matters of regional health in biodiversity. Countless initiatives have put feathers in UAE?s cap such as the recent announcement of the Khalifa declaring the opening  of new wildlife sanctuaries in Dubai. The new sanctuaries include Al Ghaf Conservation of Nazwa, Al Marmoum Desert Reserve, Al Wohoosh Desert Conservation Area, Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Hatta Mountain Conservation Area and Jabal Nazwa Conservation Area. According to the new law , the large number of wildlife sanctuaries are an effort towards biodiversity protection and reaffirm UAE?s commitment to the global effort towards a sustainable future.

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