When Dr. Munir Virani, Chief Executive of the Mohamed Bin Zayed Raptor Conservation Fund, sat down for Suhoor during Ramadan in Abu Dhabi, he found himself reflecting on a powerful cross-cultural metaphor: the tent. More specifically, the Kiswahili word “Hema,” meaning tent, and its deep resonance with the Hima conservation concept rooted in Arab tradition.
“I have used a tent all the time I am in the field,” Munir shared in a message to conservation colleagues Assad Serhal and Hussain AlMoosawi. “To me, a tent is more than just a shelter; it represents a profound commitment to safeguarding the vulnerable—a sanctuary that both shields and nurtures.”
That poetic thought, written before sunrise and sparked by coffee and contemplation, encapsulates not only Munir’s philosophy but also his life’s work. Since September 2021, Dr. Virani has led the MBZ Raptor Conservation Fund, dedicating his career to the protection of threatened birds of prey as essential indicators of ecosystem health. Prior to this, he served as Executive Vice President and Director for Global Conservation Strategy at The Peregrine Fund in the United States.
With over 25 years of global experience, Munir’s work spans four continents and encompasses everything from raptor research and project design to capacity building and strategic fundraising. He is known for crafting creative, holistic solutions to conservation challenges and building powerful collaborations between communities, scientists, and governments.
His commitment to science and conservation is exemplified by his most recent landmark publication:
“African savanna raptors show evidence of widespread population collapse and a growing dependence on protected areas”
Nature Ecology & Evolution (2024), Vol. 8(1), pp. 45–56
Shaw, P., Ogada, D., Dunn, L., Buij, R., Amar, A., Garbett, R., … Thomsett, S.
DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02236-0
📚 Full list of publications: www.munirvirani.com/publications
Munir’s influence extends far beyond academic circles. His contributions have earned him global recognition and acclaim, including:
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🏆 Aga Khan Foundation Award for Excellence in Science and Technology (2002)
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📸 Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2007) – Twende Travel
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🎤 TED Talk on “Why I Love Vultures” (2012) – viewed by over 1.2 million people
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🎞️ Green Earth Film Festival Semi-Finalist (2017) – African Fish Eagles
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🏅 Whitley Award (Green Oscar) for Conservation (2018) – presented by HRH Princess Anne
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🌍 Women’s Day Award (2018) – World Vision & Ismaili Women for environmental service
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🎥 Vanishing Vultures (2018) – Winner of Kenya National Festival, selected for Lisbon International Arts Festival
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📽️ Beyond the Brink (2020) – 50th Anniversary film for The Peregrine Fund
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🏔️ Wings of the Himalayas (2023) – on Bearded Vultures and climate change, screening at Mumbai International Film Festival, June 2024
In his Suhoor message, Munir likened the tent to the essence of protected area management—its temporary yet essential role, its placement in harmony with nature, and its function as a refuge. “We are transient custodians of the Earth,” he wrote. “Like a tent, conservation must be carefully placed, purposefully used, and respectfully taken down.”
Even the communal “mess tent” became a symbol: “Effective protected area management thrives on collaboration and inclusivity,” he noted, echoing the foundational values of the Hima model that SPNL and Homat Al Hima have revived across the Arab world.
The spontaneous exchange between Virani, Assad Serhal—SPNL’s Director and Founder of Homat Al Hima International—and Hussain AlMoosawi, Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic Arabia, underscores the importance of cross-cultural dialogue in conservation. Over iftar gatherings and friendly introductions, a new narrative is taking shape: one where traditional knowledge, philosophical reflection, and scientific conservation come together under the shared metaphor of the tent.
An interview with Munir Virani is being planned in the upcoming 5th edition of AlHima magazine to explore how African and Arab conservationists can learn from each other—and how the metaphor of the tent/Hema could inspire a new conservation lexicon rooted in empathy, community, and resilience.
Virani’s words resonate are a call to see conservation not as control, but as care—a tent we pitch for others, even when we ourselves must move on.
Stay tuned for the full interview in AlHima Magazine 5th Edition and the SPNL 2025 Annual Report, where this inspiring perspective will take center stage.
