National Environment Day at EMEGby | 23-03-2013 16:00 |
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     To mark the National Environment day ,February 4, 2013, Emirates Marine Environmental Group invited members and the public alike to participate in various activities held at the EMEG Ghantoot reserve which included beach clean-up ,raft making ,feeding Hammour fishes ,kayaking,etc. The event marked the 16th National Environment Day which celebrates the rich biodiversity present in the desert and marine habitats of U.A.E. EMEG is the first marine environmental group in the U.A.E. It focuses on a range of marine and terrestrial environmental issues in the U.A.E. This reserve has nursery-raised mangrove plants , Hammour fishes and it is also home to more than 130 species of resident or migratory birds .The beach is well known as the nesting site for the threatened Hawksbill turtle. During the National Environment Day event, the place was crawling with several volunteers who were busy manicuring the mangroves and combing the beach for flotsam and jetsam washed up by the waves. It was an amazing experience as it was learning about conservation and biodiversity through active participation. The beach clean-up was indeed a fun and fulfilling experience. We found many waste materials such as plastic bottles, old plastic fishing nets, flotsam and jetsam lying on the beach shore. After an hour of clean-up campaign we were able to collect a lot of waste materials and the beach looked clean and pristine. The kayaking and raft making was a thrilling experience. It was also very educative as we listened to the EMEG environmentalists and learned about how much work they do to keep the desert and ocean healthy. The EMEG Ghantoot reserve is truly a national treasure of U.A.E. |
