Abu Dhabi's EAD Champions Sustainable Management Of Terrestrial Habitats

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has reaffirmed its dedication to sustainability and vegetation enhancement across Abu Dhabi on World Environment Day 2024. Celebrated under the theme "Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience," EAD has launched several initiatives to promote natural regeneration and proactive land restoration.

EAD has undertaken vegetation restoration projects within the Sheikh Zayed Protected Areas Network. These projects include a native tree tagging programme and integrated management practices for natural pastures to manage grazing activities effectively. The aim is to enhance drought resilience and support wildlife, improving overall ecosystem health.

Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of EAD, stated, "At EAD, through ongoing rangeland management, we are proactively taking steps to restore degraded land, promote sustainable grazing practices, and enhance resilience to desertification and drought." She highlighted the alignment of these efforts with the 'UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration' initiative.

Dr. Al Dhaheri added that EAD collaborates with various community groups and partners to integrate sustainable land use practices with ecosystem restoration priorities. This balanced approach supports the implementation of management initiatives to regulate grazing activities, preserving wild plant species crucial to Abu Dhabi's biodiversity.

Technological Integration

EAD has initiated programmes using advanced technologies like drones to evaluate and assess rangelands. These studies have enhanced EAD's ability to monitor vegetation cover and identify areas needing restoration. Recently, EAD inaugurated the Plant Genetic Resources Centre, the first facility of its kind in the region, aimed at preserving seeds and tissues of wild plant types and local agricultural species.

Native Trees Tagging Project

One of EAD's key programmes is the native trees tagging project in Abu Dhabi. This project targets tagging approximately 100,000 native trees—including Ghaf, Samar, and Sider—across natural habitats. Metal tags with tree-specific coding and awareness messages are fixed to these trees to prevent encroachment on Abu Dhabi's natural heritage.

Restoration of Critical Vegetation Cover

EAD has been actively involved in restoring 1500 hectares of critical vegetation cover in protected areas. Sustainable water conservation techniques have been introduced that require minimal water supply during the early growth stages of vegetation. This initiative includes rehabilitating Samar tree habitats in Jabal Hafit National Park, expanding Samar habitats by 25 percent using a natural rehabilitation programme.

Rehabilitation Efforts

The Agency has also rehabilitated Ghaf areas in the Arabian Oryx Protected Area and Al Yasat Marine Protected Area in Al Dhafra region. By ensuring natural regeneration through increasing seed content in soils, EAD supports vegetation cover using native species well-adapted to local conditions.

Native Plant Nursery

EAD sources native plant species from its nursery in the Al Dhafra region, which propagates over 500,000 plants annually across 67 species used for restoration programmes. This ensures that introduced vegetation is suitable for each identified area, promoting sustainable ecosystem health.

With inputs from WAM