The Fernandina giant tortoise is one of many animals facing an uncertain future. AFP
The Fernandina giant tortoise is one of many animals facing an uncertain future. AFP
The Fernandina giant tortoise is one of many animals facing an uncertain future. AFP
The Fernandina giant tortoise is one of many animals facing an uncertain future. AFP

From Madagascar to India: The conservation sites crucial to preventing 'mass extinction'


Daniel Bardsley
  • English
  • Arabic

Preserving almost 17,000 key conservation sites around the globe could prevent the continued devastating loss of species, scientists have said in a study.

They have identified 16,825 "Conservation Imperative" locations that cover 1.2 per cent of the world’s land surface that, if protected, could ensure the survival of the most threatened or rare species.

Scores of these sites are on the Arabian Peninsula, including in Yemen, which is among the world’s top 30 countries when measured by the number of sites that should be protected.

The research could address concerns among conservationists that while progress is being made when it comes to preserving areas for nature, many conserved sites are not rich in biodiversity.

"Conservation Imperatives occupy only a small portion of the emerging global conservation portfolio but offer high-quality opportunities to protect the diversity of life on Earth," the scientists wrote in their study, published on Tuesday in Frontiers in Science.

Protecting the highlighted sites, which cover a total of 164 million hectares, could prevent all forecast extinctions, the researchers said.

This would help to curtail what is often described as the sixth mass extinction in geological history, which biologists have said the world is currently experiencing.

The most recent mass extinction was some 66 million years ago, when the dinosaurs were wiped out.

Scientists have for many decades linked their extinction to a comet or asteroid strike.

How much investment is needed?

The authors identified 78 Conservation Imperative locations in Yemen in need of protection, along with 70 in Syria and others elsewhere in the region, including in Saudi Arabia.

About 38 per cent of the locations are next to or within 2.5km of an existing protected area, which could make it cheaper and easier to acquire and manage land.

Conserving all the sites around the world would cost $263 billion, the researchers said, while the bill for protecting those in the tropics alone would be $169 billion.

In line with these figures, Andy Lee, of an NGO called Resolve, said that the annual cost of protecting tropical sites would be about $34 billion.

"This represents less than 0.2 per cent of the United States’ GDP, less than nine per cent of the annual subsidies benefiting the global fossil fuel industry, and a fraction of the revenue generated from the mining and agroforestry industries each year," Mr Lee said.

In the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted by more than 190 countries in 2022, a target was set for 30 per cent of natural environments on land and sea to be protected by 2030, often referred to as 30x30.

Lynch's Colombian tree frog faces an uncertain future. Photo: ProAves
Lynch's Colombian tree frog faces an uncertain future. Photo: ProAves

Among the many animals around the world that face an uncertain future are the giant pangolin, Przewalski's horse, the Fernandina giant tortoise and Lynch's Colombian tree frog, efforts to preserve all of which have been supported by the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund in the UAE.

The research highlights dozens of types of habitat that contain important conservation sites, among them humid, sub-humid and dry forests in Madagascar, montane grasslands in Ethiopia, lowland rainforests in Borneo, steppes in Kazakhstan and lowland rainforests on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

Is enough being done?

Nicolas Heard, acting director general of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, said that this commitment "whilst crucial in helping to address the biodiversity crisis, may not in itself necessarily protect those species most threatened with extinction" or ensure that protected areas are rich enough in biodiversity.

"This article highlights and assesses this potential discrepancy, and provides a solution through the newly termed Conservation Imperatives," Mr Heard told The National.

"These are areas which the authors have identified as being crucial to protect as part of the drive towards 30x30 to ensure that the world’s most threatened species are conserved – benefiting from that habitat protection."

Mr Heard said the study also brought to attention that while there is genuine progress being made towards the 30x30 goal, "many of the areas [are] poor in biodiversity".

"The article reiterates the need for a rich variety species as essential to a healthy habitat, and on the need for the global conservation community to redouble efforts to specifically conserve species," he said.

Brendan Godley, a professor of conservation science at the University of Exeter in the UK who was not connected with the study, said that "species are being lost much faster than they’re appearing" as a result of habitat loss and degradation, overexploitation, pollution and invasive species.

"With the advent of big data, people are able to look at where there are a lot of species concentrated and these are areas that should be protected whether on land, freshwater or in the sea," Prof Godley said.

He said that there was "a lot of momentum" in efforts to preserve natural environments because it was increasingly realised that "business is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment".

This means that people now recognise that nature provides "ecosystem services" – benefits that humans get from healthy natural environments – such as clean water, materials, energy and food.

Prof Godley said the aim of preserving 30 per cent of the world’s area for nature was "probably more likely to happen in the oceans".

Over the past decade, an estimated one million pangolins have been poached. Reuters /Kham
Over the past decade, an estimated one million pangolins have been poached. Reuters /Kham

"The momentum is really building for 30 per cent marine protection by 2030 in the global ocean," he said.

While most of the oceans typically do not face some pressures that have squeezed natural environments on land, such as building houses, Prof Godley said they have tended to not have the same protection, either.

"There’s a growing realisation there should be international agreements on the protected areas beyond national jurisdictions because of the importance of the oceans," he said.

"The seas lagged behind the land with regard to protection and they seem to be catching up."

One concern with trying to protect natural environments, particularly on land, is that the world’s population is continuing to grow and is not expected to peak until the second half of this century.

Prof Godley said that while population growth was a concern when it came to preserving natural environments, possibly more important was how people lived their lives and their levels of consumption.

"[It depends on] whether we create circular systems for the materials we use or we continue with rampant consumerism and a throwaway culture," he said.

Endangered species - in pictures

  • The golden toad has been categorised as extinct on the IUCN's Red List. Getty Images
    The golden toad has been categorised as extinct on the IUCN's Red List. Getty Images
  • The dodo is a flightless bird native to Mauritius and is listed as extinct. Getty Images
    The dodo is a flightless bird native to Mauritius and is listed as extinct. Getty Images
  • The blue whale, the world's biggest animal, is listed as endangered. However, the population is increasing in size. Getty Images
    The blue whale, the world's biggest animal, is listed as endangered. However, the population is increasing in size. Getty Images
  • The jaguar saw an estimated 20 to 25 per cent drop in numbers in the two decades or so up to its most recent assessment in 2016. EPA
    The jaguar saw an estimated 20 to 25 per cent drop in numbers in the two decades or so up to its most recent assessment in 2016. EPA
  • Three species of orangutan – the Bornean, the Sumatran and the Trapanuli, are all critically endangered. EPA
    Three species of orangutan – the Bornean, the Sumatran and the Trapanuli, are all critically endangered. EPA
  • The saiga antelope has moved from critically endangered to near threatened, a three-category improvement. AFP
    The saiga antelope has moved from critically endangered to near threatened, a three-category improvement. AFP
  • The Eastern Pacific green turtle is listed as vulnerable to extinction. USFWS
    The Eastern Pacific green turtle is listed as vulnerable to extinction. USFWS
  • Green Sea Turtle in Fiji. Getty Images
    Green Sea Turtle in Fiji. Getty Images
  • The scimitar-horned oryx, is now thriving in the wild in large part thanks to breeding efforts in the UAE. Reuters
    The scimitar-horned oryx, is now thriving in the wild in large part thanks to breeding efforts in the UAE. Reuters
Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs

Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo

Gearbox: 7-speed automatic

Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 350Nm

Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km

Price: Dh235,000

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

RESULTS

6.30pm: Emirates Holidays Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Lady Snazz, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).

7.05pm: Arabian Adventures Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

7.40pm: Emirates Skywards Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Rich And Famous, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

8.15pm: Emirates Airline Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Rio Angie, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.

8.50pm: Emirates Sky Cargo (TB) Dh 92,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Kinver Edge, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

9.15pm: Emirates.com (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.

In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff

TWISTERS

Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos

Rating: 2.5/5

Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10

*November 15 to November 24

*Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi

*Tickets: Start at Dh10, from ttensports.com

*TV: Ten Sports

*Streaming: Jio Live

*2017 winners: Kerala Kings

*2018 winners: Northern Warriors

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E680hp%20at%206%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E800Nm%20at%202%2C750-6%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERear-mounted%20eight-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E13.6L%2F100km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Orderbook%20open%3B%20deliveries%20start%20end%20of%20year%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh970%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
England's Ashes squad

Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes. 

TCL INFO

Teams:
Punjabi Legends 
Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan

Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
When December 14-17

TOP%2010%20MOST%20POLLUTED%20CITIES
%3Cp%3E1.%20Bhiwadi%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Ghaziabad%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Hotan%2C%20China%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Delhi%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Jaunpur%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E6.%20Faisalabad%2C%20Pakistan%0D%3Cbr%3E7.%20Noida%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E8.%20Bahawalpur%2C%20Pakistan%0D%3Cbr%3E9.%20Peshawar%2C%20Pakistan%0D%3Cbr%3E10.%20Bagpat%2C%20India%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20IQAir%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Thor%3A%20Love%20and%20Thunder%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Taika%20Waititi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chris%20Hemsworth%2C%20Natalie%20Portman%2C%20Christian%20Bale%2C%20Russell%20Crowe%2C%20Tessa%20Thompson%2C%20Taika%20Waititi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Four-day collections of TOH

Day             Indian Rs (Dh)        

Thursday    500.75 million (25.23m)

Friday         280.25m (14.12m)

Saturday     220.75m (11.21m)

Sunday       170.25m (8.58m)

Total            1.19bn (59.15m)

(Figures in millions, approximate)

Previous men's records
  • 2:01:39: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) on 16/9/19 in Berlin
  • 2:02:57: Dennis Kimetto (KEN) on 28/09/2014 in Berlin
  • 2:03:23: Wilson Kipsang (KEN) on 29/09/2013 in Berlin
  • 2:03:38: Patrick Makau (KEN) on 25/09/2011 in Berlin
  • 2:03:59: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 28/09/2008 in Berlin
  • 2:04:26: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 30/09/2007 in Berlin
  • 2:04:55: Paul Tergat (KEN) on 28/09/2003 in Berlin
  • 2:05:38: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 14/04/2002 in London
  • 2:05:42: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 24/10/1999 in Chicago
  • 2:06:05: Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) 20/09/1998 in Berlin
Brief scores:

Juventus 3

Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'

Frosinone 0

UAE jiu-jitsu squad

Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)

Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)

 

 

Updated: June 26, 2024, 6:56 AM