Collaboration Between Qatar Airways and United for Wildlife Announced

Qatar Airways Partners with United for Wildlife, Founded by Prince William and The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales in 2014, to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade.

This significant alliance underscores Qatar Airways' unwavering dedication to the conservation of the Earth's wildlife. Qatar Airways and United for Wildlife will jointly embark on initiatives in pursuit of their shared objective, which is to combat the illegal wildlife trade and further the activities of the United for Wildlife Regional Chapters.

Eng. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, the Chief Executive of Qatar Airways Group, conveyed:

“The illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade threatens our global biodiversity, and poses a risk to health and safety, particularly in marginalised communities. We are taking measures to disrupt this illicit trade in order to conserve biodiversity and safeguard our delicate ecosystems. As the Official Airline Partner, we believe that this ground-breaking partnership with United for Wildlife demonstrates our commitment to the Buckingham Palace Declaration and represents another important step in our commitment protecting wildlife. United for wildlife has brought together various businesses in a unique collaborative approach that share the same mission as ours. We remain committed to collaborating with our stakeholders to raise awareness of the impact on the illegal animal trade, working tirelessly to deliver Qatar Airways Cargo – WeQare Rewild the Planet initiative to protect our planet’s most vulnerable species.”

Amanda Berry OBE, the CEO of The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, commented, "As a founding member of our Transport Taskforce in 2016, Qatar Airways has cultivated a longstanding partnership with United for Wildlife, consistently demonstrating its commitment to combating the illegal wildlife trade on a global scale. They were the inaugural airline to attain the IATA IEnvA IWT certification and have rolled out numerous initiatives within their network to counteract wildlife trafficking.

Qatar Airways Cargo introduced its WeQare initiative: Rewild the Planet in corporate sustainability in 2020. As a component of this initiative, Qatar Airways Cargo actively encourages ecological equilibrium preservation by offering pro bono transportation services to organizations dedicated to reintroducing wild animals to their natural habitats. Notably, this endeavor successfully transported seven lions from Ukraine in 2021, which serves as a testament to Qatar Airways' dedication to supporting the invaluable efforts of NGOs and conservation organizations in their essential task of rewilding the planet.

Qatar Airways holds the distinction of being the first airline certified to meet industry standards for the prevention of the illegal trafficking of wildlife within the aviation sector. This certification verifies the existence of comprehensive procedures, staff training, and reporting protocols that enhance the detection of illegal wildlife products. Qatar Airways Group strictly upholds a zero-tolerance policy towards the transportation of illegal wildlife and related products, with all employees undergoing specialized Illegal Wildlife Trade Awareness training. This training serves a dual purpose: it enhances awareness and knowledge about wildlife trafficking while also equipping employees with the skills needed to identify and respond effectively when encountering trafficking activities.

The airline's participation in the United for Wildlife Global Summit in Singapore corresponds with its commitment to sustainability initiatives and its role in promoting responsible practices. It serves as an invitation for other organizations and individuals to join in their shared mission of safeguarding the Earth's precious biodiversity.

 

Source: breakingtravelnews.com