Biosphere Reserves Are Key to Protecting Biodiversity," Says Minister Thoriq Ibrahim

Thoriq Ibrahim, the Maldives' Minister of Climate Change, Environment, and Energy, emphasized the importance of establishing biosphere reserves and nature parks in safeguarding biodiversity. Speaking at the High-Level Segment of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), he highlighted this effort as a milestone for the Maldives' conservation initiatives.

Minister Thoriq underlined that additional biosphere reserves and nature parks within the Maldives could create vital protected habitats for native species, benefiting biodiversity conservation in small island nations. However, he acknowledged that these nations face distinct challenges due to limited financial and technical resources, making international support crucial.

"To fulfill the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity, all nations must work in unison,” Thoriq stated, urging developed countries to aid smaller and developing nations in overcoming barriers to conservation.

The CBD, a major global treaty, aims to protect and ensure sustainable biodiversity management. The current conference prioritizes establishing a global monitoring system for conservation efforts, which will provide a transparent view of progress in biodiversity protection for each participating nation.

Minister Thoriq's call for collaboration resonated with the conference's goal of mobilizing financial and technical resources to support conservation efforts globally, emphasizing the need for robust partnerships to protect fragile ecosystems and species worldwide.