Status and trends of biodiversity

UAE's hot and dry environment greatly limits the country's biodiversity richness. UAE has 3 major varieties of ecosystem: 1) desert ecosystem (80% of the country's area) 2) mountain ecosystem (2.6% of the country's area) and 3) coastal and marine ecosystem.

However, the Indo-Asian and Afro-European regions meeting point causes relatively rich fauna and flora, with more than 700 plant species, 48 mammal species, 400+ bird species, varieties of coral reefs, 500+ fish species and many varieties of algae, amphibian and reptile species. During 2013, the number of declared protected areas reached 22, including 5 areas listed under the Ramsar Convention.

Biodiversity protection is an important role in UAE's cultural legacy including Fisheries and tourism

Main causes of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)

Lack of arable land, climate change, red tide occurrences, exploitation of marine resources, water desalination and tourism are severely limiting the efforts to protect biodiversity. The drive to increase the area under cultivation has resulted in quick depletion of underground aquifers and drop in water tables and increases in soil and water salinity in some areas. Desertification, Oil spills along the coast etc cause severe pollution.

Measures to Enhance Implementation of the Convention

The first Biodiversity Strategy of the United Arab Emirates (2014-2021) includes national goals in line with the "Emirates vision 2021", the Emirates' Strategy for Green Development, National Strategy for Coastal and Marine Environment and the Biosafety Strategy targets. Twenty-one national targets with action-driven and outcome-oriented measures, grouped under 5 thematic areas, have been set out. The new biodiversity strategy includes capacity building, raising public awareness, and a national knowledge sharing platform in line with the CHM of the Convention on Biological Diversity. According to national records, forest areas increased from 245 ha in 1990 to 317 ha in 2010, and protected areas are increasingly implemented in line with the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.