Oman Ministry drafting law to implement international flora, fauna accord

Speaking to Muscat Daily on the sidelines of a three-day regional workshop on ‘Combating illegal trade of sharks’, which began in Muscat on Monday, Saleh al Saadi, assistant director of biodiversity in MECA said, “CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

“We are a party to CITES in addition to other agreements. Our aim is to ensure that all species should be acquired legally and without violation of any law. We are ensuring that the wild species are being protected, are under control and sustainably used.

“We are drafting the national law for implementing CITES. It is still in the preparatory stage. The highlights of the law are many. Mentioning the penalties, the condition of the acquisition of the specimen, export and import of the species either by companies or individuals, what are the procedures, amongst others. We have already drafted it. The reviewing from legal perspective is under consideration.”

He also said that the government is in the process of proclaiming many protected areas. “They want to proclaim in each governorate at least one protected area. In Muscat, we have one in the Qurm Nature Reserve. Most of it is mangroves.”

The workshop, organised in cooperation with the International Fund for Animal Welfare, began under the auspices of H E Najeeb bin Ali al Rowas, Undersecretary in MECA.