Today's Edition
HALA AL KHAYAT (ABU DHABI)
The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) has reported an increase in the number of tourists and visitors to the Emirate's natural reserve areas during the first quarter (Q1) of 2024. Approximately 78% more people explored these habitats, highlighting their significance in attracting ecotourism.
In response to this surge, the EAD is collaborating with relevant governmental departments, investors, and tourism operators, focusing on developing the infrastructure within the natural reserves.
Khalafan Abdul Aziz Al Suwaidi, Director of the Natural Reserves and Enforcement Department, said that both the Wathba Wetlands Reserve and the Fossil Dunes Reserve are currently undergoing development. These reserves will soon feature tourist facilities and amenities, with a planned public opening early next year.
Last year, the utilisation rate of natural reserves for tourism activities exceeded 63%, Al Suwaidi said, emphasising that the Sheikh Zayed Protected Areas Network plays a pivotal role in maximising the societal benefits. It supports ecotourism, encourages community visits for awareness and education, and enhances the lifestyle of residents in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The network, comprising 20 natural reserves, contributes significantly to species conservation. Sea turtles, dugongs, and Arabian oryx populations are stabilising within these protected areas. Additionally, bird populations – such as flamingos and sparrows – are thriving. Crucial habitats like coral reefs, seagrasses, and naturally vegetated sand dunes are also stabilising.
Compared to areas outside the reserves, which face threats from deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable fishing, the Zayed Natural Reserves Network not only preserves Abu Dhabi's unique biodiversity, but also stabilises critical habitats and endangered species, sustaining blue carbon habitats, acting as a nature-based solution to mitigate climate change impacts both locally and globally.
