Showcasing Women's Leadership in Nature Conservation - Razan Al Mubarak

"Effective conservation. Sustainable development" is Razan Al Mubarak's motto. She is a candidate for the next President of the World Conservation Union (IUCN).In 2018, the World Economic Forum (WEF) selected her as one of the 100 Young Leaders of the World for her contribution to building a more sustainable future for humanity.In 2019, on the afternoon of December 18, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment Sani Bin -H.E. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Ambassador to China, H.E. Dr. Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, and her colleagues had introduced her work when they visited the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation.
It is particularly noteworthy that in the 73-year history of IUCN, there has only been one female President.

Razan Mubarak's rich and unique experience leading large government agencies, international philanthropic organizations and environmental NGOs focused on citizen engagement will provide her with a unique perspective to lead IUCN.
As Director of the Environment Department at Abu Dhabi (EAD), the largest environmental regulator in the Gulf region, Razan convinced the government to adopt goals to double the state's protected areas and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2030. She has also worked globally to reintroduce endangered species such as the scimitar-horned antelope back into the wild.
Razan is the founding director of the Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, which, under her leadership, has supported more than 2,000 species conservation projects in more than 160 countries.
Razan has helped lead initiatives to protect the country's wilderness, coral, nesting and migrating sea turtles.
As a member of Masdar's board of directors, Razan has helped the company become one of the largest renewable energy developers in the Middle East. Since 2006, it has invested $13.5 billion in solar and wind energy projects primarily in more than 25 countries.

With an academic background in international relations and environmental studies, Razan will bring a broad range of technical and administrative expertise to IUCN. With more than two decades of conservation experience in a region with competing interests, Razan is well prepared and determined to lead IUCN into a new era focused on the conservation of nature and sustainable development.
Her global accomplishments at the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi (EAD) include overseeing the world's most promising mammal species reintroduction program: breeding captive-bred bent-horned antelope in Abu Dhabi and reintroducing them to the wild in Chad, thus seeing a species listed as extinct in the wild increase its natural habitat. Under her leadership, EAD has also established global partnerships such as the Eye on Earth environmental data initiative, convened four IUCN Species Survival Commission meetings since 2008, and hosted one of the two offices of the Convention on Migratory Species.

Ms. Al Mubarak is a senior donor to IUCN, a strong advocate for international conservation action, and a strong supporter of promoting gender equality in all fields. She notes, "As with traditionally male-dominated fields like science, engineering and government, women continue to be underrepresented in environmental conservation. Men make up 70 percent of the members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Species Survival Commission, a global network of 10,000 experts who advise the organization on the conservation of individual species, yet less than 30 percent of researchers worldwide are women. At the current rate of change, gender inequality will not decrease for nearly a century, according to the World Economic Forum's latest Gender Gap Index."
Even in the 21st century, gender-based challenges continue to prevent many women from leading conservation efforts. With patriarchal norms dominating most parts of the world where threatened plants and animals exist, female conservationists face significant resistance to their growth and freedom to work. "It is critical that women have an equal voice in decision-making regarding the sustainable use of land, water and other natural resources."