Oman Air affirms its commitment to protect wildlife initiative

Muscat: Oman Air, the National Carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, is fully aware of the importance to conserve the national resources and supports of the efforts exerted by the international community in this regard, which aims to develop and implement international conventions to protect wildlife.
There is an urgent need to intensify those efforts; therefore, the Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, the Directorate General of Nature Conservation, is giving a special concern to this issue stemming from its belief in the necessity to protect endangered wildlife and regulate international trade in species between countries. For these purposes, the Sultanate accessed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on 19 November 2007, by the Royal Decree No. 117/2007.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, in cooperation with Oman Air, to work together to raise awareness of their customers on the necessity of adhering to the articles of the Convention and acquiring the requested permits (CITES Permit) prior to import or export of wild species and all other animals and plants listed in the appendices of CITES. They shall be accompanied by a CITES certificate issued from the exported or imported country and in case of violation, legal procedures shall be taken in this regard.
Oman Air's Chief Executive Officer, Paul Gregorowitsch commented: "CITES is among the conventions voluntarily adopted by states, and the Sultanate of Oman is one of the pioneer countries in the field of native wildlife conservation and is paying special concern to this issue. Oman Air emphasises its high commitment to this Convention by raising awareness at all our stations regionally and internationally, in order to ensure that wildlife is not threatened by illegal and over-exploitation".
He added that the Government Relations & Sustainability Department in Oman Air is responsible for coordinating within the Airline’s stations around the world, as well as other concerned authorities in Oman, to ensure commitment to the articles of this Convention.
In this regard, Dr Khalid Abdul Wahab Al Balushi, Senior Manager Government Relations & Sustainability said: "There is continuous coordination with all concerned units at Oman Air to raise awareness about this issue, in order to contribute in limiting the illegal and over-exploitation of wildlife".