Her Royal Highness Princess Alia Bint Al Hussein Patronises Regional Workshop to Promote Positive Community Behaviour and Reduce Demand for Wildlife and Birds in the Middle East

Amman, Jordan – 3 June 2026

Under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Alia Bint Al Hussein, a regional workshop entitled “Promoting Positive Community Behaviour to Reduce Demand for Wildlife and Birds in the Middle East” was launched today in Amman, bringing together representatives of governments, national, regional and international environmental organisations, as well as experts in nature conservation from across the region.

In her opening remarks, Her Royal Highness Princess Alia bint Al Hussein emphasised the importance of promoting positive societal attitudes and behaviours towards the conservation of nature and wildlife, noting that a deep appreciation for nature is firmly embedded in Arab culture and traditions.

Her Royal Highness highlighted the vital role of awareness-raising, education, and the encouragement of positive behaviours, particularly among children and young people, empowering them to share knowledge with their peers and families. She noted that such efforts contribute to building an informed and environmentally conscious society that recognises the consequences of losing any component of the natural world and understands the importance of safeguarding natural resources for future generations.

Her Royal Highness also stressed the importance of convening regional workshops that bring together participants from across the Arab world to exchange expertise and knowledge, and to discuss shared challenges and potential solutions. She noted that such collaboration contributes significantly to strengthening wildlife conservation efforts and securing safe migratory routes for birds as they travel across countries and regions along one of the world’s most important flyways.

The workshop is organised by BirdLife International – Middle East and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), in cooperation with the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), the Princess Alia Foundation and the Jordanian Ministry of Environment. It is supported by the Safe Flyways for Migratory Birds Project 3: Reducing Illegal Killing of Birds, which is being implemented in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and other Mediterranean countries.

The event aims to introduce behavioural change principles and approaches drawn from the social sciences, while enhancing understanding of the behavioural, social, economic and cultural factors associated with the illegal killing, taking and trade of birds in the Middle East. It also seeks to support the development of evidence-based solutions and future initiatives to reduce demand for wildlife and birds, while strengthening regional cooperation among governments, civil society organisations, experts and international partners to protect migratory birds and biodiversity across the region.

In his opening remarks, Ibrahim Al Khader, Regional Director of BirdLife International – Middle East, highlighted BirdLife’s pivotal role, through its national partners worldwide, in placing illegal bird killing on the agenda of international agreements and forums, supporting independent monitoring efforts, and generating the scientific evidence needed to inform government policies and decision-making.

He noted that the workshop comes at a time when global assessments continue to highlight unsustainable human activities and behaviours as major drivers of biodiversity loss, while also recognising that positive behaviour change can play a critical role in addressing these challenges. He added that in the Middle East—one of the world’s most important migratory bird flyways—illegal and unsustainable killing, taking and trade continue to threaten many migratory and resident bird species, including species of global conservation concern

Al Khader stressed that meaningful progress in addressing these challenges requires moving beyond a sole reliance on legislation and law enforcement towards a deeper understanding of the social, economic and cultural factors that drive demand for birds and wildlife.

Mr. Abdul Razzaq Al Hamoud, Director of Protection and Sustainable Hunting at the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), affirmed that Jordan has prioritised nature conservation since the establishment of the Kingdom through promoting public awareness and strengthening partnerships between national institutions and civil society organisations.

He added that the Society continues to implement conservation programmes and promote sustainable hunting practices in support of biodiversity conservation, while actively supporting national and regional efforts aimed at protecting nature and wildlife. He added that although the Safe Flyways Project is not being implemented in Jordan, the Society remains committed to sharing its expertise and successful experiences in ways that contribute to advancing wildlife conservation efforts across the region.

Al Hamoud further highlighted that the challenges arising from instability in the region have contributed to an increase in illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking. He stressed that the Society is working closely with a range of partners to develop and deliver accurate awareness and information campaigns that promote positive behaviours in support of nature conservation and the sustainable management of natural resources.

Dr. Akram Issa Darwish, Regional Director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), emphasised that one of the key reasons that has driven the International Fund for Animal Welfare to focus on changing social perceptions and behaviours around the world is the significant impact they have on the sustainability and survival of wildlife and its diverse components. Achieving meaningful change requires strong coordination, the exchange of expertise and research findings, and close collaboration among all relevant stakeholders within each country, including both governmental and non-governmental entities. Such cooperation can play a vital role in transforming attitudes and behaviours that have historically had negative impacts on wildlife and the ecosystems upon which it depends.

Dr Hani Al Shaer, the Regional Director of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – West Asia Regional Office, emphasised that Lasting conservation impact begins with understanding people, influencing behaviour and empowering communities to become champions of nature.

Eng. Bilal Qteishat, Director of the Nature Protection Directorate, emphasized that the Ministry of Environment considers behaviour change to be one of the key pillars of biodiversity conservation and habitat protection. He stressed that local communities are the primary partners in safeguarding and ensuring the sustainability of biodiversity components. Through national programmes and in partnership with national and international civil society organizations, the Ministry seeks to promote behaviour change by delivering targeted awareness and guidance messages that encourage positive environmental practices and support conservation efforts.

The workshop is the second of its kind at the regional level and builds on the outcomes of the first regional workshop held in Jordan in 2024, which highlighted the need to strengthen regional cooperation and develop innovative tools to address the underlying causes and motivations behind the illegal killing, taking and trade of birds.

Recent estimates indicate that approximately 25 million birds are illegally killed, trapped or poisoned every year across the Mediterranean region, ranging from the smallest songbirds to the largest birds of prey. The Killing 3.0 report—the most comprehensive independent assessment of illegal bird killing in the region—recorded an estimated 20 per cent decline in illegal bird killing levels compared with previous assessments. However, progress remains uneven across countries, and high levels of illegal bird killing in a single country can undermine conservation gains achieved elsewhere along migratory flyways. This underscores the importance of regional cooperation, sustained investment and long-term political commitment to secure lasting results.

Throughout the workshop, participants will explore how behavioural change approaches can be applied to reduce demand for wildlife and birds in the Middle East. Discussions will focus on behavioural change concepts and tools, as well as the social, economic and cultural factors driving the illegal killing, taking and trade of birds.

Sessions will also examine the role of traditions and social norms, sustainable livelihood

alternatives, communication, awareness-raising and education in promoting positive attitudes and behaviours towards birds and wildlife. Participants will further discuss opportunities and challenges for regional and international cooperation in addressing these issues.

The workshop will additionally explore current and emerging trends in the bird trade across the region, as well as the role of technology and digital platforms in influencing demand for wildlife. Discussions will also address future priorities for integrating behavioural change approaches into bird conservation projects and initiatives.

Participants are expected to emphasise that understanding the motivations behind human behaviour is fundamental to developing more effective and sustainable conservation solutions. These motivations vary across social, economic and cultural contexts, requiring tailored responses that reflect the specific circumstances of individual communities.

The workshop is expected to produce a set of practical recommendations and initiatives aimed at reducing demand for illegal activities involving birds and wildlife, while strengthening regional cooperation and supporting biodiversity conservation efforts across the Middle East.