The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has reiterated its commitment to sustainability and increasing vegetation across the emirate on World Environment Day 2024 under the theme ‘Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience’ this year.
Abu Dhabi’s environment agency has launched several initiatives and projects to restore vegetation across the emirate, including a restoration project in Sheikh Zayed Protected Areas Network. In addition, the agency has launched a native tree tagging program and implemented management practices for natural pastures to effectively manage grazing activities.
Promoting natural regeneration, land restoration
These projects and initiatives aim to promote natural regeneration and land restoration in addition to enhancing drought resilience across Abu Dhabi.
“We are proactively taking steps to restore degraded land, promote sustainable grazing practices, and enhance resilience to desertification and drought, which not only enhances rangeland productivity but also supports wildlife and improves overall ecosystem health and resilience,” commented Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, secretary-general of EAD.
Al Dhaheri also added that Abu Dhabi’s environment agency has aligned its efforts with the ‘UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration’ to restore degrading ecosystems worldwide.
In addition, Al Dhaheri added that the agency has collaborated with various community groups and partners to implement an approach that integrates sustainable land use practices with ecosystem restoration priorities. This approach also supports the implementation of management initiatives to preserve wild plant species, which are among the most important components of Abu Dhabi’s ecosystem.
Technology for environmental impact
Abu Dhabi’s environment agency has launched several programs to evaluate and assess rangelands using cutting-edge technologies including drones. These programs have allowed the agency to better monitor and evaluate vegetation cover and identify areas that need restoration.
The agency also launched the Plant Genetic Resources Center recently, a first-of-its-kind facility in the region that preserves seeds and tissues of all wild plant types and local agricultural species.
Key programs
The environmental agency’s most prominent programs include the native trees tagging project in Abu Dhabi, which aims to tag around 100,000 native trees in different areas of the emirate. In addition, the agency has been a crucial player in restoring 1,500 hectares of critical vegetation cover in protected areas by introducing sustainable water conservation techniques that need a minimal water supply.
The agency has also taken on several rehabilitation projects including the Samar trees in Jabal Hafit National Park, successfully expanding the area’s habitats by 25 percent.
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