Today's Edition
Mays Ibrahim (ABU DHABI)
As Abu Dhabi navigates urban developmental demands and industrial growth, its expansive network of terrestrial protected areas tells the story of its commitment to preserving the delicate balance of its unique ecosystems.
Take a look at the emirate’s green guardians, ensuring that its natural heritage is preserved for future generations, even as it continues to grow and evolve.
Safeguarding the Houbara Bustard: Key Areas
Covering an impressive 774 square kilometres, Al Houbara Protected Area is home to one of the most significant Houbara reintroduction programmes in the region. The Houbara bustard is released in this protected area by the International Fund for Houbara Conservation.
The initiative aims to revive the population of this vulnerable species, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s role as a leader in wildlife preservation.
Covering 46 square kilometres, Al Tawi Protected Area plays a crucial role as a breeding ground for the Houbara bustard, contributing to broader conservation efforts aimed at sustaining and expanding its population. Similarly, the Barqa Al Soqour Protected Area, spanning 79 square kilometres in Al Dhafra area, is a key breeding site for the Houbara bustard.
Al Ghada Protected Area: Safeguarding Rare Flora
Al Ghada Protected Area, covering 1,088 square kilometres, is crucial for conserving the Ghada shrub (Haloxylon persicum), which thrives in the eastern Arabian Peninsula. This reserve marks the easternmost extent of this plant’s distribution, highlighting its significance for botanical research and conservation.
The protected area’s vast expanse reflects Abu Dhabi’s dedication to preserving not only wildlife but also the rare and distinctive plant species essential to the region’s ecological richness. The area features a unique landscape of pristine white sand dunes, with the Haloxylon persicumshrub as a dominant species. Most of the reserve consists of sand sheets and dunes with sparse vegetation, including dwarf shrubs and alluvial or interdunal plains.
Jebel Hafeet National Park: A Mountainous Sanctuary
Located in Al Ain area, Jebel Hafeet National Park is the sole mountainous protected area in the Abu Dhabi emirate, spanning 81 square kilometres. This unique terrain provides an essential habitat for various species and offers a striking contrast to the emirate’s predominantly flat terrain.
Jebel Hafeet stands as Abu Dhabi’s highest peak and the UAE’s second highest, home to some of the world’s most endangered wildlife and the UAE’s rarest plants. As the most westerly extension of the Hajar Mountain range, it forms an isolated rocky massif approximately 17km long, with a maximum elevation of about 1,300 metres.
In the foothills of Jebel Hafeet, over 500 ancient burial tombs have been uncovered, dating back 5,000 years and marking the beginning of the Bronze Age in the UAE.
Protecting the Desert’s
Natural Flora and Fauna Al Bida’a Protected Area, spanning 417 square kilometes in Al Dhafra Region, is notable for its extensive sand sheets and dunes interspersed with shrubs. Al Dilfaweya Protected Area, covering 186 square kilometres in the heart of Abu Dhabi, features sand sheets and dunes dotted with perennial herbs. Al Ramlah Protected Area, with its 544 square kilometres, is characterized by expansive sand sheets and dunes with dwarf shrub cover.
Together, these areas play a crucial role in conserving the desert ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and its native species.
Arabian Oryx Sanctuaries
Spanning 1,304 square kilometres in Al Dhafra Region, Qasr Al Sarab Protected Area provides a critical habitat where the Arabian oryx can roam freely.
The Arabian Oryx Protected Area, covering 5,975 square kilometres in Rezine, is home to the largest population of Arabian Oryx in the world.
These extensive reserves showcase Abu Dhabi’s dedication to preserving this iconic species.
Al Wathba Wetland Reserve: Flamingo Haven
Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, with a total area of 5 square kilometres, was the first protected area established in Abu Dhabi.
Declared an international wetland reserve in 2013, it is home to over 4,000 flamingos, making it a vital site for avian conservation.
Yaw Al Dibsa Protected Area: Last Refuge for Native Flora
Located in the Dhafra area, the Yaw Al Dibsa Protected Area spans 212 square kilometres and represents the last refuge of native flora in the far western part of Abu Dhabi.
This protected area is crucial for preserving the region’s botanical heritage.
Beda Hazza Protected Area: Forested Oasis
In Al Dhafra Region, the Beda Hazza Protected Area covers 77 square kilometres, with more than 75% dedicated to forestry.
This area plays a key role in maintaining local biodiversity and providing a green sanctuary within the desert landscape.
