CONSERVATION OF ARABIAN GAZELLES - Nwrc.gov.sa

16. Final Discussion, Guidelines and Recommendations of the
Arabian Gazelle Working Group
Compiled by Arnaud Greth and Chris Magin
Introduction
There has been considerable progress in gazelle conservation and taxonomy in the last five years in
the Arabian peninsula. The taxonomic status of most of the taxa has been clarified and the
implementation of the first conservation measures has allowed the recovery of some wild
populations. However, there was a real need to summarize all the information gathered and to define
the needs for the forthcoming years. During the NCWCD Workshop "Establishing priorities for
gazelle conservation in the Arabian peninsula"
the participants heard presentations on various
aspects of gazelle conservation, including surveys, taxonomy, systematics and cytogenetics. Most
presenters made their own individual recommendations at the close of their presentations. At the end
of the Workshop, a round-table discussion was held between selected participants to discuss some of
the issues raised and determine overall gazelle conservation priorities.
Working Group" consisted of the following participants (listed in alphabetical order):
This "Arabian Gazelle
Mr Mohammed N. Abu Zaid, Prof. Abdulaziz H. Abuzinada, Mr Mubarak Ali M. AI­
Dosary, Dr Kevin Dunham, Dr Arnaud Greth, Dr Colin P. Groves, Dr Khushal
Habibi, Prof. Eric Harley, Dr Chris Hillman, Mr Steve Kingswood, Dr Chris Magin,
Dr Iyad Nader, Dr Sarnira Omar, Dr Wilhelmus Rebholz, Dr Georg Schwede, Dr
Tommy Smith, Mr Mohammed Sulayem, Mr Hany Tatwany, Mr Mohammed AI
Toum, Dr Marc Vassart, Mr Youssef AI Wetaid, Dr Douglas Williamson.
The meeting was chaired by Arnaud Greth, who directed the discussion by posing a series of
questions to the Working Group. The questions and the discussion generated by each are
summarized below. Speakers are identified by their initials (e.g. DW = Douglas Williamson). The
Working Group finished by making a number of recommendations for conservation and research
priorities for gazelle in the Arabian peninsula.
Discussion of the Arabian Gazelle Working Group
- AG: Wby should taxonomic questions be raised in conservation and reintroduction
programmes, and which ones should be answered
DW: The goal of conservationi st.~
is to maintain biodiversity. Taxonomy is one (and possibly the
best) index of biodiversity. Each case should be approached with an open mind.
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