Reaffirming its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, by which it adopted a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets,

Reaffirming also its resolutions 53/199 of 15 December 1998 and 61/185 of 20 December 2006 on the proclamation of international years, and Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67 of 25 July 1980 on international years and anniversaries, in particular paragraphs 1 to 10 of the annex thereto on the agreed criteria for the proclamation of international years, as well as paragraphs 13 and 14, in which it is stated that an international day or year should not be proclaimed before the basic arrangements for its organization and financing have been made,

Reaffirming further the intrinsic value of wildlife and its various contributions, including its ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic contributions to sustainable development and human wellbeing, and recognizing that wild fauna in their many beautiful and varied forms are an irreplaceable part of the natural systems of the Earth which must be protected for this generation and the generations to come,

Underlining that the Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) is one of nine leopard subspecies recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and that the Arabian leopard is the smallest of the leopards and one of the most distinct and critically endangered subspecies, Acknowledging that the leopard has been listed in appendix I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora1 since 1975,

Recognizing that the global leopard population was classified as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species in 2016, while the Arabian leopard subspecies has been classified as “critically endangered”, and that the rapid disappearance of the Arabian leopard from large areas of its former range on the Arabian Peninsula represents a major setback for conservation of biodiversity and sustainability in the region,

Welcoming regional initiatives for range State cooperation, transboundary approaches and outcomes of multi-partner initiatives, conventions and mechanisms at the regional level, including Saudi Arabia and Panthera’s Arabian Leopard Initiative, the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme, the Bishkek Declaration of 2017 entitled “Caring for snow leopards and mountains: our ecological future”, signed by 12 snow leopard range countries, including all five Central Asian countries, the International Big Cat Alliance, the Jaguar 2030 road map, the North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation Nature Conservation Strategy on conservation of flagship species that include the amur tiger, the amur leopard and the snow leopard, and the International Tiger Forum, Recognizing that the greatest threats to the survival of the Arabian leopard are habitat loss and fragmentation, prey depletion and illicit trafficking,

Stressing the urgent need to address the unprecedented global decline in biodiversity, including by preventing the extinction of threatened species, improving and sustaining their conservation status and restoring and safeguarding ecosystems that provide essential functions and services, including services related to water, health, livelihoods and well-being, Recalling its resolution 77/167 of 14 December 2022, entitled “Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its contribution to sustainable development”, which calls upon parties to the Convention and stakeholders to strengthen international cooperation measures for the fulfilment of obligations contained in the Convention,

Welcoming the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and looking forward to the timely implementation of its decisions, which were adopted at the second part of the conference, Emphasizing the significance of animal species of the Arabian Peninsula listed on the Red List of Threatened Species, such as the Arabian leopard, the hawksbill sea turtle, the whale shark, the Arabian oryx and the goitered gazelle, to the ecosystem, and their role in maintaining an ecological balance throughout their range, while underlining that efforts for the conservation of these species will profoundly benefit the nature of the ecosystem,

Recognizing the efforts towards safeguarding the Arabian leopard, including the establishment of breeding programmes and the development of a regional strategy and national action plans for the conservation of the Arabian leopard in some range States that aim to safeguard the survival of the Arabian leopard throughout its range,

Recognizing also the need to foster meaningful cooperation among regional agencies, international partners and relevant stakeholders to safeguard remnant populations of threatened species on the Arabian Peninsula, including the Arabian leopard, and underlining the support of local communities and the wider public in conservation efforts to safeguard these species and nature in general,

Recognizing further the significant efforts towards restoring the Arabian leopard as a flagship species for nature conservation and sustainability on the Arabian Peninsula and the essential need to increase global, regional and local awareness and galvanize support for ensuring the long-term survival of the Arabian leopard,

1. Decides to proclaim 10 February the International Day of the Arabian Leopard;

2. Invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, other international and regional organizations, civil society, non-governmental organizations, individuals and other relevant stakeholders to observe the International Day of the Arabian Leopard, as appropriate;

3. Invites all relevant stakeholders to give due consideration to enhancing international and regional cooperation in support of efforts to conserve the Arabian leopard, given its vitality to the ecosystem of the Arabian Peninsula;

4. Invites the United Nations Environment Programme to facilitate the observance of the International Day of the Arabian Leopard, mindful of the provisions contained in the annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67;

5. Stresses that the cost of all activities that may arise from the implementation of the present resolution should be met from voluntary contributions and that such activities would be subject to the availability and provision of voluntary contributions;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and civil society organizations for appropriate observance.