Oman moves towards global recognition of protected areas

Muscat – In cooperation with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Environment Authority hosted a two-day workshop in Muscat last week to introduce a programme called 'Green List of Protected Areas'. The initiative aims to enhance management of nature reserves in Oman by aligning these with internationally recognised standards of excellence.
The IUCN Green List is a global certification system that assesses performance of protected areas against 17 criteria and 50 indicators covering governance, planning, management and conservation outcomes.
The workshop introduced mechanisms required for nomination, evaluation and listing of Omani nature reserves under this global programme.
Dr Abdullah bin Ali al Amri, Chairman of Environment Authority (EA), said the workshop reflects the sultanate's commitment to biodiversity protection and sustainable development. He described the Green List initiative as a culmination of ongoing efforts to improve protected area management and align practices with international benchmarks.
'This step supports the national goal of enhancing the quality and effectiveness of our nature reserves,' said Amri. 'It promotes global recognition, improves administrative performance and ensures community engagement in environmental management.'
Sulaiman bin Nasser al Akhzami, Director General of Nature Conservation at EA, highlighted the sultanate's remarkable biodiversity, which includes more than 15,000 species of terrestrial and marine flora and fauna, many rare or endemic.
Oman currently has 31 declared nature reserves, representing a range of ecosystems including coasts, deserts, mountains, plains and valleys.
Akhzami noted that nomination files for several protected areas have already been submitted for consideration in the IUCN Green List. These include the Al Saleel Nature Reserve, which has passed the first stage of the global evaluation, Arabian Oryx Reserve and the Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve.
The workshop explored progress on including these sites in the Green List by compiling the required documentation and engaging with key stakeholders. It also outlined criteria and stages necessary for achieving IUCN certification, which includes demonstrating effective governance, community involvement and measurable biodiversity outcomes.
'This ambitious step underscores Oman's determination to elevate the management standards of its protected areas and boost their international profile,' Akhzami added.

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