UAE has been making tremendous efforts to protect and conserve wetlands in the country. National plans have been formulated keeping in mind the economic, social and environmental benefits of these ecosystems.

 

Five wetlands in the UAE have been designated as sites of international importance by the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar Convention) since it became a member in 2007. The five wetlands have a total surface area of more than 20,000 hectares.

 

The Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary in Dubai became the first UAE wetland to be named by Ramsar as a site of international importance. Later, Wadi Wurayah National Park in Fujairah, Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi, Mangrove Protected Area in Khor Kalba, Sharjah, and Sir Bu Nair Island Protected Area in Sharjah, were added to the Ramsar list.

 

I have highlighted below some information about these wetland reserves of UAE, as reported in the Gulf News.

 

Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, Abu Dhabi; 500 ha Area

A 'Protected Area', this reserve is a complex of natural and human-made surface water bodies. Formerly a salt flat ('sabkha' in Arabic) that used to flood only during winter rainfall, it is now maintained by a regular supply of tertiary treated freshwater from a nearby sewage treatment plant. This regulation of the water level results in hypersaline, brackish and freshwater habitat of varying depths, providing an ideal site for many wetland dependent species within a hyper-arid biogeographic region. Threatened wildlife can be seen, including the critically endangered Sociable Lapwing and the vulnerable Eastern Imperial Eagle and Greater Spotted Eagle as well as the Greater Flamingo. The site also regularly supports breeding populations of the Kentish Plover and Pied Avocet.

 

Mangrove and Alhafeya Protected Area in Khor Kalba, Sharjah; 1,494 ha; National Protected Area

The site comprises coastal subtidal, intertidal (sand beach, mangroves, mud and tidal channels), supratidal sand, salt marsh and saline flats, as well as encompassing a narrow alluvial plain dominated by Acacia woodland. The Avicennia marina mangrove trees found in Kalba are the tallest and comprise the most extensive mature woodland in the biogeographic region; they provide breeding, nursery and feeding grounds for several fish and invertebrate species, besides protecting the coastline from storm damage and erosion while trapping sediments washed off the land. The critically endangered Hawksbill turtles and endangered Green turtles can be observed near the mouth of the mangrove's inlet, entering the creeks at high tide to feed on sea grasses and algae. The area is of great ornithological interest, and an endemic subspecies, the White-collared Kingfisher, breeds almost exclusively at this site, which is also one of just two breeding localities in the region for Sykes's Warbler. 

 

Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, Dubai; 620 ha; National Protected Area

A rare site in the arid Gulf region, this natural coastal wetland consists of low-lying saline flats, lagoon, inter-tidal mud and sand flats and mangrove swamps that serve as an important habitat for more than 450 species of fauna and 47 species of flora. During winter, it regularly supports more than 20,000 waterbirds belonging to 67 species and acts as a critical staging ground for migratory waterbirds along the East African-West Asian Flyway. A number of globally threatened species such as the Sociable Lapwing and Greater Spotted Eagle are seen in the area; more than 3,000 Greater Flamingos have been counted, and more than 1% of the regional population of Broad-billed Sandpipers migrate through in autumn and spring. Located in the heart of Dubai city, the site receives an average of 10,000 visitors annually and is a valuable conservation and educational center.

 

Wadi Wurayah National Park, Fujairah; 12,700 ha; National Protected Area

The area's geology has created a unique hydrogeological system that allows run-off water to emerge between impermeable and permeable rock creating fresh water streams, pools and waterfalls, all of which are uncommon in an arid region. The diversity of fresh water habitats provide important spawning ground for fish such as Cyprinidae, which is threatened and endemic to the Arabian Peninsula, including seven newly discovered insect species of which four have water dependent larval stages. The site supports 11 threatened species of mammals, including the Arabian Tahir So far, 73 species of birds including the endangered Egyptian Vulture have been recorded. The Park hosts 17 reptile species such as the Bar-tailed Semaphore Gecko and at least two amphibian species, all which are endemic to the UAE and Northern Oman.

 

Before I conclude I refer to a recent news report that confirms that the 'Ministry of Climate Change and Environment' in UAE and the 'Ramsar Convention Secretariat' have signed an agreement that will see the UAE host an important conference on wetlands in October in Dubai. The 'Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP13)' will be hosted in cooperation with Dubai Municipality, the official sponsor, from October 21 to 30, 2018. This is a great step in reiterating UAE's commitment to international cooperation towards conservation of wetlands and the environment in general.

 

Sources and References

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/article/20130705/ARTICLE/307059897/1002

http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/environment/uae-to-host-key-conference-on-wetlands-in-october-1.2179320