The Kuwait Environment Protection Society is participating in the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, currently taking place in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, which runs until July 31, 2025.
Despite limited support for such international engagements, the society is committed to representing Kuwait and showcasing its environmental expertise.
The Kuwaiti delegation is led by Dr. Manaf Behbehani, Chairman of the Wildlife Protection Committee, and Dr. Wafaa Behbehani, representing the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources.
In a press statement, Dr. Behbehani highlighted alarming findings from the Global Wetland Outlook, which reported a 35% decline in wetlands since the Ramsar Convention was signed in 1970.
He emphasized that natural wetlands are disappearing at a faster rate than forests, citing threats such as pollution, invasive species, overuse, climate change, and altered water flows.
He stressed the importance of wetland conservation and restoration as a key solution for addressing climate change, flood mitigation, and biodiversity loss, and advocated for international cooperation under the Ramsar framework to preserve these vital ecosystems.
The conference’s opening was attended by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, top regional leaders, UN officials, and representatives of member states, including Kuwait.
