Kuwait marks world day on desertification and drought
Kuwait mobilizes efforts to raise awareness on int’l endeavors
KUWAIT CITY, June 18, (KUNA): The State of Kuwait took part in celebrations of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, which takes place every year on June 17.
Kuwait has mobilized its efforts to raise awareness of the public on international endeavors to combat desertification and protect environment as well as manage natural resources and take immediate measures on climate change to support needs of present and the future generations.
Kuwait renews its commitment to international conventions through organizing different environmental events and activities and partaking in international conferences over the year.
The country joined the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification on June 23, 1997, as part of its interest in preserving environment in general and combating desertification in particular.
The state surveys and follows up reports of the Environment Public Authority in coordination with the concerned bodies on the phenomenon of desertification.
An action plan has been set for ten years from 2008 to 2018 so that the reports are sent every two years so as to achieve the aspired goal of the convention.
Kuwait also joined the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance “Ramsar” in September 2015, and Mubarak Al-Kabeer Marine Reserve was registered at that time as a key wetland in the world, as part of the country’s contribution to achieving sustainable development.
Aim
The Ramsar is one of the oldest conventions signed in 1971, with the aim of sustainable use of wetlands and realization of their main missions, and scientific, economic and cultural roles.
In a statement to KUNA on Saturday, Raafat Maisak, a member of wildlife protection committee at the Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS), stressed that the society has a varied and big dossier of events and activities in combating desertification.
He said that the society also organizes symposiums and workshops on desertification as well as drought management and others.
He noted that the best scenario of managing natural pastures in the State of Kuwait now is to postpone graze for five years from 2018 to 2023 in order to allow the selfrehabilitation of plants with pastoral value that has been almost completely eliminated over the last three decades.
During the postponement period, experts of competent authorities in the state will select the best grazing sites and prepare a map according to Article 107 of the Environmental Protection Law, he elaborated.
He noted that the society took part in some international events on desertification and drought in a number of countries like China and other states.