Emirates Natural Reserves/Shield of Prevention in the Face of Climate Change
Abu Dhabi, 4 February / WAM / The expansion of natural reserves represents a strategic direction in the country to address the repercussions of climate change and preserve nature and biodiversity, which has resulted in 50 terrestrial and marine natural reserves by the end of 2024, distributed throughout the country, according to the Federal Center for Competitiveness and Statistics.
The Emirates enjoys an amazing environmental diversity that combines vast deserts, rich sea coasts, and high mountains, making it home to many rare and endangered organisms. The country has worked to create a group of natural reserves that have formed pivotal spaces for scientific research, eco-tourism, and education and awareness programs, reflecting its commitment to preserving its natural heritage.
The wise leadership’s keenness to preserve these reserves and increase their area is highlighted by the directive of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him,” last October to increase the area of natural reserves in Abu Dhabi to reach 20% of the total area of the emirate, bringing the number of reserves to 26 within the Zayed Network of Natural Reserves, with a total area of more than 22 thousand square kilometers.
The Zayed Network of Natural Reserves includes many natural reserves in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, which include a unique diversity of desert, coastal and marine ecosystems, including Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, Bu Tinah Island, Sir Bani Yas Island, the Eastern Mangrove Reserve, Jebel Hafeet, and other areas that represent vital environments for rare and threatened creatures, and host some of the rarest creatures in the region.
For its part, Dubai is home to many natural reserves, three of which are registered in the Ramsar Convention as wetland reserves of global importance: Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, Jebel Ali Wildlife Sanctuary, and Hatta Mountain Sanctuary.
These reserves are abundant with many species of creatures, including 342 species of birds, 46 species of mammals, 51 species of reptiles, 315 species of plants, 188 species of fish, and 582 species of invertebrates.
The Emirate of Sharjah embraces a distinguished group of natural reserves that extend across nature, forming a home to a wide range of rare and endangered organisms, as these reserves play a vital role in maintaining the environmental balance of the emirate.
In this context, the Sir Bu Nair Island Reserve, which extends over an area of 4 kilometers with a shape resembling a horse’s tail, is one of the largest nature reserves in the emirate, and is distinguished by its exceptional biodiversity. It is a safe habitat for many endangered species, especially rare sea turtles, such as hawksbill turtles and rare green turtles, which come to its shores to lay eggs between the months of March and June of each year.
In the Emirate of Ajman, the “Zora Reserve” stands out, which witnessed the launch of the third edition of the “The Most Beautiful Winter in the World” campaign. The reserve is characterized by mangrove forests with a charming nature, covering an area of one million square meters and inhabited by many land and marine species. It is home to more than 100 species of local and migratory birds, including pink flamingos that can be seen throughout the year, in addition to herons or egrets.
The Umm Al Quwain Mangrove Reserve represents a model for integrating the protection of coastal ecosystems with the optimal use of natural resources and supporting sustainable development paths.
His Excellency Haitham Sultan Al Ali, Director of the Department of Tourism and Antiquities in Umm Al Quwain, said that the department continues its commitment to preserving and sustaining natural resources and employing them effectively within the tourism sector.
He pointed out that the reserve has witnessed, over the past few years, the implementation of many qualitative projects, most notably the Casa Mikoko project and the Shati Al Qurum project, in addition to the Lux Glamp project, which provide a diverse tourism system and live experiences that preserve the environmental character of the reserve.
In Ras Al Khaimah, the Khor Al Mazahmi Reserve extends over an area of 3 kilometers, and is a habitat for many species of high environmental importance, including the flamingo and the fish eagle, in addition to the fact that the reserve is a nesting and feeding area for green turtles that are threatened with extinction, according to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), due to the presence of seaweed in its waters, which enhances the presence of multiple types of fish and other living aquatic resources.
At the beginning of 2019, the Environment Protection and Development Authority in Ras Al Khaimah launched the fish eagle resettlement project in the reserve by creating and erecting wooden columns that represent an incubator for fish vulture mothers by providing an environment as close as possible to nature, as 4 columns were erected in different areas in the reserve.
In turn, the Emirate of Fujairah includes a number of reserves and protected natural areas, the most prominent of which is the Wadi Wurayah National Reserve, which is the first national mountain reserve in the UAE, representing approximately 20 percent of the emirate’s area.
The Fujairah Environment Authority relies on a set of smart and advanced technologies to manage natural reserves, including the use of unmanned aircraft (drones) to monitor natural habitats and monitor any environmental encroachments.
In the same context, Al-Faqit Reserve is considered the most distinguished in terms of biological diversity, as 360 species belonging to 12 taxonomic groups have been recorded, including anemones and cnidarians, and 129 species of fish have been documented.
\Siddiqa \Mohamed Al-Sharji \Saeed Mahboub \Ihsan
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