Strategic Engagements

In addition to being a member of the IUCN, our Managing Director, H.E. Razan Al Mubarak, currently serves as the President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and is seeking reelection. As a conservation donor, the Fund also relies on the IUCN Red List as a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. Most of the species we support are classified as critically endangered, endangered, or lack sufficient information for proper classification. The IUCN Red List informs our decisions by providing essential data on species range, population size, habitat and ecology, usage and trade, threats, and conservation actions. This comprehensive approach helps guide our necessary conservation strategies as a donor.

Launched in December 2021 by the Amsterdam-based Prince Bernard Nature Fund (PBNF) and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Conservation Connect aims to bridge the gap between local conservation projects and their supporting donors. This innovative digital platform acts as a catalyst for collaboration, enhancing the impact of grassroots conservation efforts around the globe.

In January 2008, the leadership of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) convened in Al Ain for the first of a series of transformative meetings that significantly shaped the direction, growth, and integration of species conservation efforts within both IUCN and the SSC. This important gathering played a crucial role in establishing the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, which was launched later that year at the IUCN World Conservation Congress. This strong connection has continued, and we encourage grant recipients to reach out to specialist groups for guidance and assistance.

The Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project represents an ambitious global initiative, the first coordinated effort to conserve dugongs (Dugong dugon) and their vital seagrass habitats. This project encompasses 43 national initiatives across Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, the Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu, managed by 26 dedicated local partners. Uniting 57 organizations within the dugong range, the project focuses on a shared goal: to enhance the conservation and management of seagrass ecosystems essential for sustaining dugong populations throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans. As a result, the project has positively impacted over 200 coastal communities and generated critical data to inform future conservation efforts.

The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi is the Middle East’s largest environmental regulator committed to protecting and enhancing air quality, groundwater and the biodiversity of Abu Dhabi’s desert and marine ecosystems. The Fund and The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi often collaborates closely with UAE environmental NGOs to enhance biodiversity conservation efforts and promote sustainable environmental practices across the region.

Another key ally the Fund relies on for local biodiversity collaboration is Emirates Nature – WWF. For over two decades, they have been a prominent and active partner in environmental conservation throughout the MENA region. We collaborate with WWF, one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, which operates in 100 countries and is supported by 5 million members.