ID :
57937
Tue, 04/28/2009 - 15:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/57937
The shortlink copeid
Wadi Wurayah becomes UAE’s first mountain protected area
Fujairah, April 28, 2009 (WAM) - Wadi Wurayah Fujairah has officially been declared the UAE's first protected mountain area by His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah.
The decree No 2 of 2009 comes after the completion of a successful three year project launched in 2006 by Emirates Wildlife Society in association with - WWF (EWS-WWF) and Fujairah Municipality with the support of HSBC Bank Middle East ltd, to assess the importance of Wadi Wurayah for nature conservation and to establish it as a protected area.
The wadi is a 129 kilometre-square catchment that occupies the northern reaches of Fujairah between the towns of Masafi, Khor Fakkan and Bidiyah.
Due to its permanent water resource the area has been used by local communities for thousands of years and is home to rare and endangered species such as the Arabian Tahr and Arabian Leopard which are vital to the UAE's national heritage.
The wadi is located within the Ecoregion 127 "Arabian Highlands and Shrublands" one of the WWF Global 200 Ecoregions regrouping the richest, rarest and most distinctive of the earth's natural habitats.
Commenting on the landmark achievement, Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director EWS-WWF stated, "Wadi Wurayah is of considerable ecological significance allowing among the rarest species found in the UAE, Arabian Peninsula and the world to survive this harsh climate.
“Over the past three years we have revealed the presence of 12 species of mammals, 73 species of birds, 17 species of reptiles and amphibians. 1 species of fish and 74 invertebrate families, of which 11 new species for science. More than 300 species of plants have been recorded in the area, including species that are found only in wetlands such as Typha dominginsis and the unique orchid species of UAE: Epipactis veratrifolia.
“We are extremely excited about the decree and thank HH Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi for signing the official document, securing that this gem of nature and culture is here for future generations to enjoy. We also thank our partners Fujairah Municipality of which without their support, this project would have not have succeeded. The Fujairah Municipality has worked with us, hand in hand, over the past year on baselining efforts, outreach, as well as establishment of conservation management plan for the area.
“We have no doubt that, as custodians of this newly protected area, this eco region will be protected today and for our future generations. I also would like to take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to HSBC Bank Middle East for their on-going support and dedication to this important cause."
EWS-WWF, together with students of Higher Colleges of Technology, Fujairah, conducted a survey in 2006 among the residents of the areas surrounding Wadi Wurayah and its visitors to record the interest of getting the area officially protected. The survey revealed that 67 percent of residents and visitors supported the move. Only 18 percent of those surveyed objected to the plan and 13 percent of respondents were undecided. Significantly, the survey also revealed the amount of wildlife seen by residents in the area has dropped dramatically over the past ten years.
"Wadi Wurayah is an extremely important part of the UAE's national heritage and our on-going discoveries of the species residing in the area, and support of the locals is a testament to that fact," said Dr. Christophe Tourenq, Science and Research Manager at EWS-WWF and manager of the Wadi Wurayah project.
In 1995, His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, created the first marine protected areas of the UAE. The declaration of Wadi Wurayah as the first mountain protected area of the country shows the commitment of the Fujairah government to the conservation of their natural and cultural heritage. The project illustrates also perfectly the collaboration between a local NGO, a local government to protect our heritage with the support of the private sector."
Under the proposed protection plan reviewed by the royal court, EWS-WWF calls for management and park rangers to patrol the area and help educate visitors. Visitors will also be fined for leaving litter behind, polluting the water and painting graffiti - three main factors that currently afflict the wadi on a regular basis.
The decree No 2 of 2009 comes after the completion of a successful three year project launched in 2006 by Emirates Wildlife Society in association with - WWF (EWS-WWF) and Fujairah Municipality with the support of HSBC Bank Middle East ltd, to assess the importance of Wadi Wurayah for nature conservation and to establish it as a protected area.
The wadi is a 129 kilometre-square catchment that occupies the northern reaches of Fujairah between the towns of Masafi, Khor Fakkan and Bidiyah.
Due to its permanent water resource the area has been used by local communities for thousands of years and is home to rare and endangered species such as the Arabian Tahr and Arabian Leopard which are vital to the UAE's national heritage.
The wadi is located within the Ecoregion 127 "Arabian Highlands and Shrublands" one of the WWF Global 200 Ecoregions regrouping the richest, rarest and most distinctive of the earth's natural habitats.
Commenting on the landmark achievement, Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director EWS-WWF stated, "Wadi Wurayah is of considerable ecological significance allowing among the rarest species found in the UAE, Arabian Peninsula and the world to survive this harsh climate.
“Over the past three years we have revealed the presence of 12 species of mammals, 73 species of birds, 17 species of reptiles and amphibians. 1 species of fish and 74 invertebrate families, of which 11 new species for science. More than 300 species of plants have been recorded in the area, including species that are found only in wetlands such as Typha dominginsis and the unique orchid species of UAE: Epipactis veratrifolia.
“We are extremely excited about the decree and thank HH Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi for signing the official document, securing that this gem of nature and culture is here for future generations to enjoy. We also thank our partners Fujairah Municipality of which without their support, this project would have not have succeeded. The Fujairah Municipality has worked with us, hand in hand, over the past year on baselining efforts, outreach, as well as establishment of conservation management plan for the area.
“We have no doubt that, as custodians of this newly protected area, this eco region will be protected today and for our future generations. I also would like to take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to HSBC Bank Middle East for their on-going support and dedication to this important cause."
EWS-WWF, together with students of Higher Colleges of Technology, Fujairah, conducted a survey in 2006 among the residents of the areas surrounding Wadi Wurayah and its visitors to record the interest of getting the area officially protected. The survey revealed that 67 percent of residents and visitors supported the move. Only 18 percent of those surveyed objected to the plan and 13 percent of respondents were undecided. Significantly, the survey also revealed the amount of wildlife seen by residents in the area has dropped dramatically over the past ten years.
"Wadi Wurayah is an extremely important part of the UAE's national heritage and our on-going discoveries of the species residing in the area, and support of the locals is a testament to that fact," said Dr. Christophe Tourenq, Science and Research Manager at EWS-WWF and manager of the Wadi Wurayah project.
In 1995, His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, created the first marine protected areas of the UAE. The declaration of Wadi Wurayah as the first mountain protected area of the country shows the commitment of the Fujairah government to the conservation of their natural and cultural heritage. The project illustrates also perfectly the collaboration between a local NGO, a local government to protect our heritage with the support of the private sector."
Under the proposed protection plan reviewed by the royal court, EWS-WWF calls for management and park rangers to patrol the area and help educate visitors. Visitors will also be fined for leaving litter behind, polluting the water and painting graffiti - three main factors that currently afflict the wadi on a regular basis.
