Saudi Arabia's Stewardship of Migratory Birds Conservation - Prof. Mohammad Shobrak

Despite being known as a desert land, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's avian diversity is remarkable, with more than 500 species and 63 species reported as vagrants. The Kingdom's location between three continents and its habitat diversity, from desert to high mountains, long coastal wetlands, and offshore islands at the hard of the African-Eurasian flyway, probably explains the diversity of avian species.
This presentation will celebrate World Migratory Birds through an overview of the value of birds in the ecosystem, an indicator of a changing environment. Understanding the bird’s migration and flyway is essential for global conservation of migratory avian species. In addition, the adaptation of breeding species in the kingdom to the harsh conditions of the desert environment, characterized by intense solar radiation, extreme temperatures, low primary productivity, and scarcity of drinking water, will be presented through the lappet-faced vulture as an example.
The threats affecting bird species in the Kingdom will be presented with an update on the conservation efforts to mitigate them and the global support done by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has resulted in obtaining the champion certificate from the Convention of the Migratory Species.

This seminar is brought to you by Students for Sustainability, with the support of the Office of Student Life and the Head of KAUST Sustainability, Dr. Ana Margarida Costa.

Should you have any questions, please contact us via email ([email protected]) or our social media platforms (https://linktr.ee/S2.kaust)