Secretary General Welcome Note:

Today, PERSGA must deal with a new era of challenges and threats confronting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden environment, but it promises to continue addressing the most pressing regional conservation needs with only stronger dedication and greater wisdom.

The importance of the RSGA region as a trade route, the evidence of growing populations,the effects of climate change, and the growing development that is taking place across all PERSGA Member States evidences the critical need for a strong regional organization to mitigate environmental damage and promote sustainable development and conservation practices instead.

PERSGA simultaneously represents an incarnation of the commitment of its seven Member States to conserve their rich coastal and marine environment, as well as the region’s tool in doing so. Since its establishment in 1995, PERSGA has worked in full partnership with its seven Member Countries to increase conservation work and cooperation in the region. In so doing, PERSGA’s activities and programmes have brought marked benefits both to the marine environment from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Socotra Archiapelago, and to the communities and populations utilising them.

With its current phase of strategic action, PERSGA hopes to not only expand on its past successes, but to build greater conservation successes for the immediate and long-term trajectories.

Prof. Ziad Abu-Ghararah

PERSGA S.G.

2007