ID :
175897
Sun, 04/17/2011 - 11:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/175897
The shortlink copeid
Website launched to promote UAE's Natural Heritage
Abu Dhabi, April 17, 2011 (WAM) - The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) has teamed up with the Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort (AWPR) and ARKive- the world's leading collection of wildlife films and photographs- to launch a "Jewels of the UAE' website and photo exhibition. The unique website dedicated to the UAE's wildlife is now live, and a photo exhibition has been set up at the Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort.
The initiative aims to promote the UAE's natural heritage, which embraces a stunning variety of habitats, supporting a vast array of species, each superbly adapted to its particular environment. EAD has teamed up with ARKive to develop a website, which focuses on some of the rare, endangered as well as unique wildlife found in the UAE including the Hawksbill Turtle, the Dugong and the Greater Flamingo.
In addition to showcasing the captivating imagery and film, the website also contains a broad range of information and facts about the wildlife and habitats, creating a valuable resource and reference tool for anyone interested in the natural heritage of the UAE.
Website visitors who feel inspired to help conserve the UAE's natural heritage can vote for Bu Tinah Island as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. The island, which is a core area of the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve managed by EAD, is the only contestant in this international competition representing the Gulf region. The island is unique; in spite of the harsh temperatures and salinity, its habitats and species, which also include Coral, Seagrass, Dugongs and Sea Turtles, continue to thrive. The "Jewels of the UAE" website includes a direct link to the "Vote Bu Tinah" website.
The "Jewels of the UAE" initiative focuses on 12 iconic species found in the country, which include the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Dugong (Dugong dugon), Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterusroseus), Caracal (Caracal caracal), Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx), Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata), Mountain Gazelle (Gazella gazelle cora), Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug), Pharaoh Eagle-owl (Bubo ascalaphus), Sand Cat (Felis margarita), Arabian Sand Gecko (Stenodactylus arabicus) and the Blanford's Fox (Vulpes cana).
The "Jewels of the UAE" photo exhibition at the AWPR will give up to 900,000 park visitors a year the chance to learn about the UAE's natural heritage in a distinctive way. A mobile version of this photo exhibition has toured high profile events such as Abu Dhabi International Hunting Exhibition, Al Gharbia Watersports Festival and the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.
Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, EAD's Secretary General, said: "We live in an incredibly rich- and at the same time fragile- environment with precious biodiversity that needs to be known, appreciated and protected. We believe that this website and photo exhibition will help raise more awareness about our natural heritage".
The founding father of our nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan once said: "With God's will, we shall continue to work to protect our environment and our wildlife, as did our forefathers before us. It is a duty, and, if we fail, our children, rightly, will reproach us for squandering an essential part of their inheritance, and of our heritage." Al Mubarak added: "By working together, EAD, AWPR, ARKive, and the rest of society can ensure that the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed is honoured. We hope that this initiative inspires people to help conserve our biodiversity for current and future generations, including by voting for Bu Tinah Island as a new natural wonder of the world." The website has unique photos of the Arabian Oryx, as well as a film which includes historic footage of the late Sheikh Zayed, who become concerned about the diminishing wild Arabian Oryx population. In 1968, he took the initiative to commence a captive breeding programme in the Al Ain Zoo and Aquarium with the aim of increasing the Oryx population and re-introducing them into the wild. Oryx bred at AWPR have been reintroduced to the wild as part of EAD's Oryx conservation initiative.
Majid Al Mansouri, Managing Director of Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort, said : "AWPR had a long track record in helping to conserve some of the jewels of the UAE's natural heritage. It has also played a major role in making visitors more aware of our natural heritage and so it is therefore very fitting that the ‘Jewels of the UAE' photo exhibition gets a permanent home here." Both the website and photo exhibition were developed by ARKive, in partnership with EAD. EAD is the principal sponsor of ARKive, the world's leading collection of wildlife films and photographs from around the world.
Wildscreen Chief Executive, Richard Edwards, commenting on the "Jewels of the UAE" website and photo exhibition, said: "We are delighted to be working with the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi to raise global awareness about the UAE's rich biodiversity and internationally important conservation programmes."- Emirates News Agency, WAM
The initiative aims to promote the UAE's natural heritage, which embraces a stunning variety of habitats, supporting a vast array of species, each superbly adapted to its particular environment. EAD has teamed up with ARKive to develop a website, which focuses on some of the rare, endangered as well as unique wildlife found in the UAE including the Hawksbill Turtle, the Dugong and the Greater Flamingo.
In addition to showcasing the captivating imagery and film, the website also contains a broad range of information and facts about the wildlife and habitats, creating a valuable resource and reference tool for anyone interested in the natural heritage of the UAE.
Website visitors who feel inspired to help conserve the UAE's natural heritage can vote for Bu Tinah Island as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. The island, which is a core area of the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve managed by EAD, is the only contestant in this international competition representing the Gulf region. The island is unique; in spite of the harsh temperatures and salinity, its habitats and species, which also include Coral, Seagrass, Dugongs and Sea Turtles, continue to thrive. The "Jewels of the UAE" website includes a direct link to the "Vote Bu Tinah" website.
The "Jewels of the UAE" initiative focuses on 12 iconic species found in the country, which include the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Dugong (Dugong dugon), Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterusroseus), Caracal (Caracal caracal), Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx), Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata), Mountain Gazelle (Gazella gazelle cora), Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug), Pharaoh Eagle-owl (Bubo ascalaphus), Sand Cat (Felis margarita), Arabian Sand Gecko (Stenodactylus arabicus) and the Blanford's Fox (Vulpes cana).
The "Jewels of the UAE" photo exhibition at the AWPR will give up to 900,000 park visitors a year the chance to learn about the UAE's natural heritage in a distinctive way. A mobile version of this photo exhibition has toured high profile events such as Abu Dhabi International Hunting Exhibition, Al Gharbia Watersports Festival and the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.
Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, EAD's Secretary General, said: "We live in an incredibly rich- and at the same time fragile- environment with precious biodiversity that needs to be known, appreciated and protected. We believe that this website and photo exhibition will help raise more awareness about our natural heritage".
The founding father of our nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan once said: "With God's will, we shall continue to work to protect our environment and our wildlife, as did our forefathers before us. It is a duty, and, if we fail, our children, rightly, will reproach us for squandering an essential part of their inheritance, and of our heritage." Al Mubarak added: "By working together, EAD, AWPR, ARKive, and the rest of society can ensure that the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed is honoured. We hope that this initiative inspires people to help conserve our biodiversity for current and future generations, including by voting for Bu Tinah Island as a new natural wonder of the world." The website has unique photos of the Arabian Oryx, as well as a film which includes historic footage of the late Sheikh Zayed, who become concerned about the diminishing wild Arabian Oryx population. In 1968, he took the initiative to commence a captive breeding programme in the Al Ain Zoo and Aquarium with the aim of increasing the Oryx population and re-introducing them into the wild. Oryx bred at AWPR have been reintroduced to the wild as part of EAD's Oryx conservation initiative.
Majid Al Mansouri, Managing Director of Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort, said : "AWPR had a long track record in helping to conserve some of the jewels of the UAE's natural heritage. It has also played a major role in making visitors more aware of our natural heritage and so it is therefore very fitting that the ‘Jewels of the UAE' photo exhibition gets a permanent home here." Both the website and photo exhibition were developed by ARKive, in partnership with EAD. EAD is the principal sponsor of ARKive, the world's leading collection of wildlife films and photographs from around the world.
Wildscreen Chief Executive, Richard Edwards, commenting on the "Jewels of the UAE" website and photo exhibition, said: "We are delighted to be working with the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi to raise global awareness about the UAE's rich biodiversity and internationally important conservation programmes."- Emirates News Agency, WAM
