Desert in UAE to green in 39 years

24 October 2009

Dubai: Progress during the last 39 years reflects the environmental accomplishments of the UAE and shows the stages of transforming such a desert into green meadows.

Gulf News involves an academic opinion on the process of agricultural renovation, Dr Mohammad Abdul Mohsin Salem, Assistant Dean for Scientific Research College of Food and Agriculture at the United Arab Emirates University.

Initiatives

"Since the formation of the federation until today, huge deals have been implemented to contribute to greening the desert under very drought and harsh environments. All credit should go to Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who supported environmental initiatives along with technical expertise that are available and a lot of things that have been promptly accomplished.

"Today, for example, the UAE has [an] up-to-date network of universities, research institutions and government authorities with environment interests and responsibilities, such as the Ministry of Environment and WaterMinistry of Environment and WaterLoading... as a federal umbrella and many local environmental agencies, many civil societies and NGOs [non-government organisations]," he said.

"Today these organisations are tremendously well-built and well-established and all of them seek the same vision -- upgrade the UAE environmental system and furnish the UAE zones with as many green sceneries as possible.

"In the field, many native and exotic plants have been introduced and hundreds of forest and crop lands have been established in the last 39 years.

"Therefore, there is [an] abundance of [educational] materials on the environment, yet there are no studies that have found an impact of ecotourism as an industry on the local environment, as well as fund the research deal with adapted the local plant as potential forage or fodder to livestock sector in UAE.

"We should assist to establish domestic doctoral degrees offered in environmental sciences. We still need more time, energy and effort to encourage young Emirati students to go into [the] environment and applied sciences or involve them in environmental organisations," he says.

Officially announced wildlife reserves in the UAE:

1998 - Al Wathbah Lake wildlife reserve, Abu Dhabi

2001 - Moroj wildlife reserve, Abu Dhabi

1982 - Hatta wildlife reserve, Dubai

1982 - Al Kwaneej wildlife reserve, Dubai

1982 - Nad Al Shaba wildlife reserve, Dubai

1982 - Mushrif Park, Dubai

1998 - Al Aweer wildlife reserve, Dubai

1998 - Ras Al Kour wildlife reserve, Dubai

1998 - Jabal Ali wildlife reserve, Dubai

2000 - Seer bunair reserve, Sharjah

1995 - Dadna reserve, Fujairah

1995 - Al Aggah reserve, Fujairah

1995 - Al Bidayah reserve, Fujairah

1995 - Al Figaat reserve, Fujairah

• Wildlife reserves in Abu Dhabi:

- Seer Baniyaas

- Hizam Giyathe

- Al Maydoor

- Bainoonah Al Kobra

- Al sodood Al Gadimaah

- Al Hadwaniyah (West)

- Al Hadwaniyah (East)

- Al Mugirah

- Al Arifah

- Al Wathbah

- Al Wathbah (Marine)

- Moroj

- Gabat al silaa

- The Beach Palace

- Hizam Al Gabat

- Ghantoot

- Bidaa Zayed

- Rawdat Al Reef

- Al Salmiyah

- Al Shawamikh

- Samaliyah island

- Garin Al Aish

- Al Ajbaan

- Masnoaa island

- Jabal Hafeet

-The Marine reserve

• Wildlife reserves in Dubai:

- Hatta

- Al Khawaneej

- Nad Al Shaba

- Mushrif buffer zone

- Al Awir

- Rash Al Kour

- Jabal Ali

- Al Maha

• Wildlife reserves in Sharjah:

- Sir Bu Naeer

- Kouhr Kalba

- Seeh Al Masmoot

• Wildlife reserves in Umm Al Qiwain:

- Al Zarayah

- Al seerah

- Al Kuwairiyah

- Al Siniyah

- Al Dab

- Al Gallah

- Al Halah

- Al Harmalah

- Hatim

- Al Akaab

• Wildlife reserves in RAK:

- Al Sahrawiyah

- Al Hamra Island

- Kouhr Al rams

- Kouhr RAK

- Roos Al Jibal

• Wildlife reserves in Fujairah:

- Dadna

- Al Aggah

- Al Bidayyih

- Al Figait

- Al Hafiyyah

- Ahfirah

- Zakat

- Al Goub

Green accomplishments:

-Green Building Roof by Dubai municipality

- Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, a city with a sustainable, zero-carbon, zero-waste ecology

-The establishment of Emirates Green Building Council

- The establishment of Metro Dubai, that runs on electricity

• The project of Hizam Al Gabat in Abu Dhabi

Source: WATANI

Wildlife Reserves in the UAE

Al Wathbah Lake (Name of the reserve), 1998 (Announcement Year), Abu Dhabi (Emirate)

Moroj, 2001, Abu Dhabi

Hatta, 1982, Dubai

Al Khawaneej, 1982, Dubai

Nad Al Sheba, 1982, Dubai

Mushrif Park, 1982, Dubai

Al Aweer, 1998, Dubai

Ras Al Khor, 1998, Dubai

Jebel Ali, 1998, Dubai

Seer Bunair, 2000, Sharjah

Dadna, 1995, Fujairah

Al Aggah, 1995, Fujairah

Al Bidayah, 1995, Fujairah

Al Figaat, 1995, Fujairah

Green accomplishments

- Green Building Roof by Dubai municipality

- Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, a city with a sustainable, zero-carbon, zero-waste ecology

- The establishment of Emirates Green Building Council

- The establishment of Metro Dubai, that runs on electricity

- The project of Hizam Al Gabat in Abu Dhabi

By Fatma Salem

Source: Zawya.
Link: http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20091024081425/Desert%20in%20UAE%20to%20green%20in%2039%20years.