ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, in partnership with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE), has received a delegation of representatives from the Gulf Cooperation Council’s member states, who recently visited the Plant Genetic Resources Centre to learn about the latest and most advanced practices in the field of plant species preservation. The first of its kind in the region, the centre is managed by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and located in the city of Al Ain.
Launched in the first quarter of this year, the centre was created to preserve seeds and parts of all plant types as well as original wild samples of agricultural crops of local importance to the UAE. The 20,000-square-metre centre aims to preserve more than 600 wild plant species and has advanced storage facilities with a capacity to house more than 20,000 accession samples.
The delegation’s visit was conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, under a framework to enhance cooperation and knowledge exchange between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries in the field of biodiversity conservation. The Plant Genetic Resources Centre plays a pivotal role in preserving the UAE’s plant heritage and enhancing the global status of Abu Dhabi and its role in the field of plant species preservation and supports regional and international efforts to preserve plant biodiversity in the UAE.
The delegation was accompanied by Ahmed Al Hashemi, Executive Director of the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at EAD, and several officials from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. The visit began with a tour of the display and education area, which aims to educate various groups about the importance of local plants as well as the centre’s conservation methods. The delegation viewed 10 advanced interactive experiences that were developed in partnership with leading international companies, and toured the centre’s library, which specialises in works related to plant conservation and seed preservation.
The visit also included the seed processing and testing laboratory – the first stop for all wild plant samples received at the centre. The necessary tests are performed at the laboratory to ensure the suitability of the seeds for storage and propagation using the laboratory’s most advanced equipment to ensure the accuracy of the process. The delegation also visited the Imaging Lab, which documents and classify plant species with an aim to accurately classify plants, digitally document them, and make them available to researchers.
Another key location the visitors toured was the centre’s herbarium, which houses the contents that have been classified within the centre’s database to assist researchers. They also learned about long-term preservation efforts, visiting the Seed bank in which the temperature drops to -20 degrees Celsius, and which helps preserve samples for more than 100 years.
The tour also included the centre’s genetic characterisation laboratory, which is equipped with the latest equipment to study the genomes of local plants used in conservation efforts, habitat rehabilitation, as well as initiatives to increase vegetation cover and combat the effects of climate change.
The delegation concluded its visit with a tour of the 1,000 square metre greenhouses, designed to represent the emirates’ five main natural habitats – coast, sand sheets, sand dunes, valleys, and mountains – and includes more than 60 local plant species. The greenhouse is used for educational purposes and to preserve plants in their living environment.
Since its inauguration in March 2024, the centre has successfully preserved more than 500 seed samples representing 105 local plant species, in addition to preserving 4,000 samples in its herbarium, which includes 668 species from 397 genera and 100 plant families, as well as 3,000 digital samples. More than 100 plant samples representing 80 different species were cryogenically frozen to ensure their long-term preservation, and the centre’s achievements also include monitoring the genetic characterisation of six local plant species, and the collection of 14 fungi samples.
The centre’s sustainable design approach has earned it a Pearl 2 rating by the Abu Dhabi Building Sustainability System, with solar panels generating over 30 per cent of its energy needs. The design also relies on natural materials such as terracotta to achieve thermal insulation, natural lighting for offices and laboratories to reduce electricity consumption and uses local plants in external areas to reduce water consumption for irrigation.