Carnivores of the Desert: The Keystone Role of Wild Cats in Combating Desertification

Riyadh – Panthera hosted an event at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Green Zone COP16, featuring the panel discussion, "Carnivores of the Desert: The Keystone Role of Wild Cats in Combating Desertification" on December 8, 2024. The session, aligned with the overarching theme “Our Land, Our Future,” explored how wild cats contribute to ecological balance, biodiversity conservation, and combating desertification.

Moderated by Her Highness Princess Abeer Al Saud, Director General of Panthera Arabia, the discussion brought together international experts from across various regions, including Latin America, Africa, Europe, the US, and Saudi Arabia. The panel addressed innovative solutions for conservation and sustainable development, touching on the biodiversity-desertification nexus, the significance of arid environments for wild cats and small cats, and insights on local and indigenous community engagements, human-wildlife conflict, and overarching policy frameworks within the three Rio Conventions.

The session began with Carlos Alvarez Pereira, Secretary General of The Club of Rome, who highlighted the integration of traditional ecological knowledge and modern science as pivotal for regenerating ecosystems through initiatives like The Fifth Element. Building on this, Alayna Van Dervort Wagner, Chief of Climate Innovation & Partnerships at Opticloud.com and Founder of The Big Wild, underscored the ecological and economic significance of the sand cat, emphasizing its role in stabilizing ecosystems and securing water resources.

HE Ahmed Alboug, Advisor to the CEO at National Center for Wildlife, Saudi Arabia, offered a local perspective, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s conservation achievements, including the National Cheetah Strategy, while Moreangels Mbizah, Founder & Executive Director of Wildlife Conservation Action, reflected on coexistence strategies in Zimbabwe that bridge traditional knowledge and science to foster harmony between humans and wildlife.

From a global perspective, Christian Clauwers, The Explorers Club Fellow and EU Climate Ambassador, highlighted the interconnected challenges of desertification across cold and arid deserts, using visual storytelling to advocate for international collaboration. Similarly, Raquel Fratta, Project Administrator at The ICCF Group, drew attention to the jaguar’s role as a keystone species and the importance of empowering local communities to lead conservation efforts.

The discussion concluded with Ian Saunders, Founder of Investable Group, advocating for the sand cat’s designation as a national asset to combat desertification through protected areas and biodiversity corridors. Dr. Andrew Loveridge, Director of Panthera’s Lion Program, reinforced the importance of semi-arid savannahs as resilient ecosystems for predator conservation, highlighting the need for incentives like eco-tourism and sustainable land management.

Aligned with COP16’s theme, “Our Land, Our Future,” the panel reinforced the importance of collaborative global efforts to safeguard biodiversity, restore land resilience, and tackle climate challenges.

For more information, visit: www.unccdcop16.org