Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MUSCAT1124
2006-07-17 14:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Muscat
how-tonull Patrick X Disney 07/18/2006 08:32:31 AM From DB/Inbox: Patrick X Disney Cable Text: UNCLAS MUSCAT 01124 SIPDIS MUSCATCX: ACTION: POLE INFO: OMC DAO DCM AMB PAO POLM DISSEMINATION: POLE CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB:GGRAPPO DRAFTED: POLE:BMGRIMM CLEARED: NONE VZCZCATI311 RR RUEHC DE RUEHMS #1124 1981416 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 171416Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6915
UNCLAS MUSCAT 001124
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, OES/PCI
STATE PASS USTR FOR J.BUNTIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PREL MU
SUBJECT: OMAN EYES CITES ACCESSION
REF: 05 MUSCAT 1684
UNCLAS MUSCAT 001124
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, OES/PCI
STATE PASS USTR FOR J.BUNTIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PREL MU
SUBJECT: OMAN EYES CITES ACCESSION
REF: 05 MUSCAT 1684
1. In a July 17 meeting, the Ambassador discussed the status
of Oman's accession to the Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) with
Under Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sayyid
Badr al-Busaidi (deputy-minister equivalent). Sayyid Badr
noted that Oman has a keen interest in joining CITES, as the
convention's principles are consistent with Omani government
efforts to protect its environment and its endangered
species.
2. Sayyid Badr highlighted the government's strong track
record on environmental issues dating from the Sultan's rise
to power in 1970, when he abolished hunting. The Sultan's
concern for the environment has continued with the
establishment of 14 nature reserves in order to protect
wildlife species such as the Arabian oryx, Arabian gazelle,
various species of sea turtles and other fauna and flora.
The Arabian Oryx Sanctuary, located in the al-Wusta
governate, protects at least 15 mammal species over
approximately 25,000 square kilometers. The Ras al-Hadd
Turtle Reserve, covering 120 square kilometers of land and 42
kilometers of coastline, provides a sanctuary for loggerhead
and green turtle nesting grounds. Poachers are prosecuted
for taking animals from the sanctuaries. For example, in
March 2005, three Saudi nationals received a one-year prison
term after being found guilty of attempting to trade in
endangered animals from a sanctuary.
3. Oman is also active on the international front. For
example, in November 2005, Oman presented its biennial Sultan
Qaboos Award for Environmental Conservation to Australia's
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and a Mexican
environmentalist. The award, made possible through an Omani
donation to UNESCO, recognizes outstanding contributions by
individuals or groups in the management and conservation of
the environment. Oman is a signatory to the Memorandum of
Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine
Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East
Asia and recently hosted the Fourth Meeting of the Signatory
States to the IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU.
GRAPPO
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, OES/PCI
STATE PASS USTR FOR J.BUNTIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PREL MU
SUBJECT: OMAN EYES CITES ACCESSION
REF: 05 MUSCAT 1684
1. In a July 17 meeting, the Ambassador discussed the status
of Oman's accession to the Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) with
Under Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sayyid
Badr al-Busaidi (deputy-minister equivalent). Sayyid Badr
noted that Oman has a keen interest in joining CITES, as the
convention's principles are consistent with Omani government
efforts to protect its environment and its endangered
species.
2. Sayyid Badr highlighted the government's strong track
record on environmental issues dating from the Sultan's rise
to power in 1970, when he abolished hunting. The Sultan's
concern for the environment has continued with the
establishment of 14 nature reserves in order to protect
wildlife species such as the Arabian oryx, Arabian gazelle,
various species of sea turtles and other fauna and flora.
The Arabian Oryx Sanctuary, located in the al-Wusta
governate, protects at least 15 mammal species over
approximately 25,000 square kilometers. The Ras al-Hadd
Turtle Reserve, covering 120 square kilometers of land and 42
kilometers of coastline, provides a sanctuary for loggerhead
and green turtle nesting grounds. Poachers are prosecuted
for taking animals from the sanctuaries. For example, in
March 2005, three Saudi nationals received a one-year prison
term after being found guilty of attempting to trade in
endangered animals from a sanctuary.
3. Oman is also active on the international front. For
example, in November 2005, Oman presented its biennial Sultan
Qaboos Award for Environmental Conservation to Australia's
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and a Mexican
environmentalist. The award, made possible through an Omani
donation to UNESCO, recognizes outstanding contributions by
individuals or groups in the management and conservation of
the environment. Oman is a signatory to the Memorandum of
Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine
Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East
Asia and recently hosted the Fourth Meeting of the Signatory
States to the IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU.
GRAPPO