Salalah: A scientific workshop titled “Updating the Arabian Leopard Conservation Strategy” commenced today in the Wilayat of Salalah, Dhofar Governorate. Organized by the Directorate General of Environment in Dhofar, this workshop will continue until 5 November, focusing on enhancing Arabian leopard protection programs and conserving its natural habitats.
According to Oman News Agency, the workshop was inaugurated under the patronage of Eng. Sulaiman Nasser Al Akhzami, Vice Chairman of the Environment Authority. It saw participation from experts and specialists from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Arabian Leopard Fund, the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) in Saudi Arabia, and the Arabian Leopard Conservation team in Oman.
This event aligns with the Environment Authority’s strategy to update its objectives in accordance with the National Environment Strategy of Oman. The program includes 9 working papers that address the protection of the Arabian leopard, sustainability of its habitats, review of the 2025-2030 Regional Strategy, field work mechanisms, genetic studies, and environmental monitoring.
The working papers also cover the efforts of the Arabian Leopard Fund and captive breeding experiences, alongside an updated strategic action plan. They aim to enhance national efforts to protect the Arabian leopard and ensure its sustainable presence, recognizing Oman as the last and safest home for this species globally.
Over the four-day workshop, specialized papers will focus on developing an integrated strategic plan for the Environment Authority. This involves reviewing and evaluating the previous national strategy from 2014, analyzing the current status of the Arabian leopard in Oman, and identifying major threats while showcasing success stories in protection efforts.
Sessions will also delve into genetic studies, genetic diversity, and stratified monitoring methodologies for the Eurasian lynx, leveraging international experiences in tracking technologies and behavioral studies. The efforts of the Arabian Leopard Fund in supporting protection programs across the Arabian Peninsula will also be presented.
The Arabian leopard is listed as “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Oman has been pivotal in conservation efforts since the 1980s, leading to the establishment of the Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve in 1997, the first reserve dedicated to the Arabian leopard. Oman’s first National Strategy for the Conservation of the Arabian Leopard (2014-2024) was based on extensive surveys and contributed to the species’ reclassification in the 2023 Red List edition.