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The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) will participate in the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX), which will be held in Abu Dhabi under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of EAD and Chairman of Emirates Falconers’ Club from September 5-8, 2012 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre (ADNEC).
By participating at ADIHEX 2012, EAD will raise awareness about Abu Dhabi’s natural heritage, including its endangered terrestrial and marine species. It will also stress the need to protect the Emirate’s natural resources for the current and future generations.
Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of EAD, said "This annual event provides us with a platform to interact with the community and highlight the Abu Dhabi government’s efforts to achieve the long-term conservation of biodiversity." "Participating at ADIHEX will give us the chance to highlight how the conservation of our environment and our indigenous species means the protection of our natural heritage. It will also help us raise awareness about our role in establishing and managing terrestrial and marine protected areas in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi," Al Mubarak added.
EAD routinely monitors and surveys habitats and species in Abu Dhabi and uses this information to target its conservation efforts. One important element of its conservation efforts is the development of a comprehensive network of protected areas to safeguard habitats and species. Currently, designated protected areas cover more than 11pc of Abu Dhabi Emirate’s total territorial area (land and sea). This includes Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve, the Arabian Oryx Protected Area and Baynunah Protected Area (Houbara).
"Abu Dhabi’s protected areas provide a safe environment for wildlife and have enabled the successful breeding and reintroduction of several species. For example, the Greater flamingo is flourishing in the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, and the Arabian oryx - once extinct in the wild - has been successfully reintroduced into the Arabian Oryx Protected Area. Abu Dhabi supports a population of approximately 3,000 dugongs, 80% of which inhabit the waters around Bu Tinah Island, part of the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve," Al Mubarak added.
At its stand, EAD will also feature the terrestrial baseline data collection survey which was launched recently to update previous information collected and to have a more detailed and comprehensive inventory of the Emirate’s terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystems. This survey, which will establish a baseline that will act as the start of long-term monitoring of terrestrial biodiversity and habitats, will enable the Agency to assess the health of the terrestrial biodiversity and the effectiveness of the regulations.
It will provide EAD with tools to ensure that environmental impacts are fully considered and will also help the Agency to understand how environmental change, human disturbance and invasive species are impacting the distribution and abundance of native species. During this event, visitors will be encouraged to contribute to the survey as volunteers.
Visitors attending ADIHEX 2012 will have the chance to browse through EAD’s new interactive Environmental Atlas of Abu Dhabi, which brings the story of Abu Dhabi’s environmental heritage to life in a way that is educational and entertaining, factual and surprising, thought-provoking, and inspirational.
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