ENHG Lecture Oct 15th: Dugong Research and Conservation by Dr Donna Kwan & Dr Himansu Das

This talk is generously hosted by Saadiyat Rotana Resort and Villas.

Membership sign up available from 7pm, lecture begins at 7:30pm in Emerald A meeting room 

All ENHG lectures are free and open to the public.

About the talk:

The dugong has a large range that spans some 46 countries and territories across the Indo-Pacific region, with one of the most significant populations found in the waters off Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The dugong is however listed as a species vulnerable to extinction at a global scale by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). As an original signatory to the only global dugong conservation effort, and host to the CMS Dugong MoU office since 2009, the UAE provides crucial support to monitoring, protecting and conserving dugong populations across the globe. The conservation of dugongs is complicated, challenged by ecological, physiological, socio-political and cultural factors spanning a vast geographical area of predominately low-income countries. To address these challenges, the CMS Dugong MoU are developing and implementing a series of innovative projects across the dugong range states, focusing on building long-term, local capacity and partnerships with communities to protect dugong and seagrass habitat.

Though dugong research in the region started in 1980s, a systematic long-term research program was launched by EAD (formerly ERWDA), Abu Dhabi during the year 1999-2000. Since then, survey, monitoring and conservation actions under this program have resulted in declaration of marine protected areas, revising fishing regulations and maintaining a stable and healthy population of dugongs in Abu Dhabi waters. The presentation intends to cover findings of dugong research program in the UAE, challenges that dugongs face and response to dugongs conservation needs

About the speakers:

Dr. Donna Kwan is the Programme Manager responsible for the implementation of the Dugong MoU of the Convention on Migratory Species. She holds a PhD in dugong reproductive biology and has spent all of her professional career working in research, conservation and management of dugongs. Her specific areas of expertise include population biology, collaborative research, conservation and management with local communities as well as policy development and implementation at local, national and international levels.

Dr. Himansu Sekhar Das is the Unit Head, Marine Threatened Species and Habitat at EAD, Abu Dhabi. He has been managing dugong, sea turtle and dolphin research program at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi for over a decade. His team at EAD is involved in assessment of critical coastal and marine habitats too. Dr. Das was awarded with UNESCO-MAB Young Scientists Award for his work in developing conservation and management Plan for seagrass habitats of Andaman and Nicobar Group of islands. Currently, he is an active member of the IUCN-Marine Turtle Specialists Group and Regional Chair of IUCN-Sirenian Specialist Group of Indian Ocean Region.

Photo credit: Sam Lawrence/ Ocean Collective Media