EAD And International Centre For Biosaline Agriculture Collaborate To Enhance Sustainable Resource Management In Abu Dhabi

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) have entered into a new agreement to optimise Abu Dhabi’s natural resources. This collaboration aligns with the UAE’s Year of Sustainability. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) aims to enhance cooperation on groundwater, soil, and biodiversity projects, supporting sustainable development in the emirate.

Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD, and Dr Tarifa Alzaabi, Director General of ICBA, signed the MoU. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director of EAD and Chairperson of ICBA, was present during the signing ceremony. This event followed Dr Shaikha Al Dhaheri's visit to ICBA headquarters to explore agricultural innovations and biosaline agriculture initiatives.

Dr Tarifa Alzaabi expressed enthusiasm about extending their partnership with EAD. "We are delighted to extend our partnership with the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi to explore and implement new projects to safeguard some of the essential natural resources such as soil, water and groundwater in the UAE," she stated. The collaboration has already led to several conservation initiatives in Abu Dhabi over two decades.

The MoU facilitates joint exploration and implementation of projects using green energy innovations in forestry. It aims to reduce negative impacts from traditional energy sources like fossil fuels in irrigation systems. Additionally, it focuses on monitoring rangelands and rehabilitating sites to boost biomass for livestock and wildlife.

EAD and ICBA will share data for enhanced analysis by integrating ICBA’s maps into EAD’s proprietary information. The cooperation includes seed exchange programmes focusing on native plants from Abu Dhabi and other UAE regions. Research on drought-resistant species will help identify plants that can aid habitat restoration efforts.

The partnership will also adopt advanced technologies for efficient water use, employing remote-sensing and drone technologies for habitat monitoring. Applied research will be conducted on reject brine from desalination, hydroponics management practices, and biochar's effects on contaminated land remediation.

Research and Education Initiatives

Both entities will study biochar's role in reducing water needs and carbon sequestration in soil. They will examine its long-term impact on soil biodiversity, natural vegetation, and wild plant species. Expertise sharing will occur in gene sequencing, data analysis, and understanding genetic information's relationship with plant characteristics.

The MoU includes restoration programmes for dryland-adapted native plant species varieties. Collaboration will integrate UAV technologies into these programmes. To enhance educational awareness, interactive electronic resources focusing on land degradation prevention strategies will be developed jointly by EAD and ICBA.

Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak remarked on the longstanding support between EAD and ICBA: "For over two decades, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi has been a steadfast supporter of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture." She emphasised their commitment to addressing challenges like water scarcity, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss through this new MoU.

Future Prospects

Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri highlighted ICBA's achievements in saline agriculture development: "I was pleased to learn about the achievements made by the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture in the field of developing saline agriculture." She noted that their extensive project list aligns with Abu Dhabi’s sustainable development goals under leadership vision.

The partnership aims at ensuring future generations have ample resources for healthy lives through nature resource management projects. These include agricultural rehabilitation, soil protection efforts, species conservation initiatives alongside research activities promoting environmental continuity.

With inputs from WAM