Climate change adaptation – BirdLife news from Doha

As climate change talks continue in Doha, Qatar at the 18th Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, it is increasingly clear that even if the highest ambitions to mitigate climate change are realised (and at the moment

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COP18/CMP8 President debate highlights The Hima system

The fifth day of COP18/CMP8 saw engagement from the host country’s top leaders with observer organisations and members of the press, while delegates prepared for a weekend full of events. As part of Qatar’s commitment to hosting an open, transparent, and inclusive process,

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Community conservation methods go back to the future

A centuries old method of conservation is being revived in Qatar and other parts of the Islamic world. At the fifth Hikma session at COP18/CMP8, participants from countries such as Lebanon, Morocco, Bahrain and Egypt explained how the ancient principle of Hima was being

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What is Hima

Hima means protected area in Arabic; it is a community based approach used for the conservation of sites, species, habitats, and people in order to achieve the sustainable use of natural resources. It originated from more than 1,500 years ago where it was spread along the

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Jeju Declaration adopted to promote Hima

Top delegates of the 2012 World Conservation Congress pose after signing the Jeju Declaration during the closing ceremony on the 10th day of the environmental conference in Jeju Island. Starting from the left, they are Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Woo

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The Power of a Local Tradition: Hima

Almost 1,500 years before modern conservation research arrived at the same idea, a tradition originating from the Arabian Peninsula realised the importance of community involvement when preserving natural areas and managing natural resources. Essential practice for human

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