UAE inks new partnership with Mongolia to expand raptor conservation

The UAE and Mongolia have joined forces to expand efforts in conservation, research and raptors' protection in Mongolia. 

The five-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) between Mohamed bin Zayed Raptor Conservation Fund (MBZRCF) and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia was inked at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. 

The partnership will continue efforts in the mitigation of dangerous powerlines and capacity-building for raptors across Mongolia’s landscapes.

According to the stats, Mongolia's power-line electrocution has killed around 18,000 raptors annually, including more than 4,000 Saker Falcons. 

However, with the UAE's previous support, over 27,000 dangerous poles were retrofitted over 3,000 km, addressing around 80 per cent of high-risk areas and reducing electrocution by 95 per cent.

Additionally, over 5,000 artificial nests have been installed, enabling more than 30,000 Saker Falcons to fledge and establish stable breeding hubs at landscape scale.

"We are proud that Mongolia’s programme now stands as the single largest raptor-electrocution mitigation effort in history, a model that other countries can follow. We also look forward to showcasing how this practical conservation work contributes to combating desertification and to meeting international obligations for species protection," said Abdulla Ahmed Al Qubaisi, Managing Director of MBZRCF.

Founded in 2018 in Abu Dhabi, the Mohamed bin Zayed Raptor Conservation Fund develops transformative, innovative solutions to the key threats facing raptors worldwide, advancing species conservation, applied research, global partnerships, and training for future conservation leaders