Qatar Airways has made a formal declaration of its dedication as the Official Airline Partner of United for Wildlife (UfW), an organization established in 2014 by Prince William and The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales with the objective of combating the illicit wildlife trade and safeguarding endangered species.
This renowned collaboration highlights Qatar Airways’ steadfast dedication to the preservation of wildlife. Qatar Airways and United for Wildlife shall collaborate in the implementation of campaigns that support the United for Wildlife Regional Chapters’ efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade.
Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, chief executive officer of the Qatar Airways Group, stated:
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.
The CEO of The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, Amanda Berry OBE, commented that Qatar Airways, which was established in 2016 as a founding member of our Transport Taskforce, has maintained an enduring alliance with United for Wildlife and has consistently exhibited dedication to combating the global illicit wildlife trade. Having achieved the IATA IEnvirA IWT certification first, they have executed a number of initiatives to aid in the prevention of wildlife trafficking via their network.
He added that the increased level of assistance provided by Qatar Airways in their role as the Official Airline Partner further demonstrates their commitment to eliminating this detrimental trade and safeguarding biodiversity for posterity.
The WeQare chapter: Rewild the Planet corporate sustainability initiative was initiated by Qatar Airways Cargo in 2020. Qatar Airways Cargo supports the conservation of ecological balance through the provision of complimentary transportation services to organizations engaged in the rehabilitation of wild animals in their native environments. The fruitful transportation of seven lions from Ukraine in 2021 constituted a significant achievement for this endeavor. This operation exemplified Qatar Airways’ commitment to assisting conservation organizations and non-governmental organizations in their critical efforts to rewild the planet.
Qatar Airways has obtained the official certification from the aviation industry standard for preventing the illegal trafficking of wildlife. The certification verifies that an airline has implemented reporting protocols, procedures, and staff training that facilitate the detection of illicit wildlife products. Qatar Airways Group has established a policy of strict prohibition on the transportation of illicit wildlife and products, and as a result, all employees are required to complete training on the illegal wildlife trade. By increasing employees’ awareness and knowledge of human trafficking, this program also provides them with the ability to recognize and respond appropriately if they come into contact with such activities.
Aligned with its sustainability initiatives and responsibilities, the airline’s attendance at the United for Wildlife Global Summit in Singapore encourages other organizations and individuals to join them in their effort to conserve the planet’s invaluable biodiversity.
