A special environmental reserve in the capital has been recognised internationally for its continued preservation and maintenance of its unique wetland ecosystem.
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) announced that the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve was declared a Ramsar Site, the first of its kind in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, also known as the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides guidelines for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. Based on these requirements Al Wathba was declared an official site and joins a prestigious list of over 2,000 other internationally recognised wetlands around the globe.
“The declaration of Al Wathba as a Ramsar site is a significant milestone in the development of the reserve since its designation as a protected area in 1998,” said Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, EAD’s secretary general.
The Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is a 45-minute drive from Abu Dhabi and covers a total area of 5 sq km. First declared a protected area by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the wetlands provide a safe habitat for migratory birds and breeding grounds for the Greater Flamingo.
Today, the reserve supports a variety of wildlife including invertebrates, mammals, reptiles and more than 250 species of birds. This year marked the most extensive flamingo breeding on record, with 39 flamingo chicks successfully fledged.
“The number of species we continue to find in the reserve is an indicator of the ecological richness of this small wetland habitat. As such, we will adapt our plan to continue to ensure the effective management and monitoring of the reserve,” added Dr Shaikha Al Dhaheri, executive director of the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at EAD.
