Local biodiversity is receiving a boost after the capital’s environment agency launched a new public programme.
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) launched its Eco-reserve Programme to encourage residents to explore the area’s natural heritage.
“As city life increasingly insulates us from our natural world, we need to seek out experiences to reconnect with it,” said HE Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, secretary general of EAD. “EAD’s Eco-Reserve Programme offers residents of Abu Dhabi nearby opportunities to re-establish their relationship with nature.”
The programme features three areas – Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, Mangrove National Park, and Qasr Al Sarab Protected Area.
Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is home to more than 4,000 migrating flamingos. The area now features public walking trails, wildlife viewing areas and visitor infrastructures for guests to enjoy bird watching and educational tours to learn more about EAD’s Flamingo Monitoring Programme.
Located on the east coast, the Mangrove National Park is accessible by kayak and tour operators. Visitors can use the dedicated walkways and waterways to explore 19km² of mangrove forests that are home to various species.
Qasr Al Sarab Protected Area, which is home to the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Arabian Oryx Reintroduction Programme, is helping to bring back Oryx from the edge of extinction. Visitors to this area, which is not yet open to the public, can learn about EAD’s efforts to protect indigenous animal and plant species.
Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, executive director, Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at EAD, said: “EAD manages several protected areas on land, sea, and air that cover more than 13 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s total area. While EAD maintains many protected areas, our three new eco-reserves are being opened to promote greater appreciation for our natural heritage.”
As part of the programme, the agency seeks to ensure the long-term safety of the wildlife at each of the reserves while promoting them within the community.
