The authorities plan to launch designated camping sites across the country to protect the desert and its wildlife, it was revealed on Tuesday.
"Our target is to create a strategy and carry out the plan in preserving the desert. Earlier in the year we created a department specifically for that purpose, and part of our plan is to introduce designated camping sites," said Saif Al Shara, Executive Director of Water Resources and Nature Conservation, Ministry of Environment and Water.
However, he was unable to disclose how long it will take before camping sites are designated.
The statement was made on the sidelines of announcing the two-month Desert Environment Protection Campaign, which will run from Friday to March 3. "Our aim is to implement designated camping sites across the emirates so that the desert is protected. We will work closely with local authorities to put the plan into action because pollution in the desert is a problem that needs to be tackled by everyone, including residents," said Al Shara.
The authorities want to tackle the problem of polluting of the desert with plastic bottles and plastic bags as it leads to the death of camels and birds.
"Camels are intelligent animals and they do not directly eat the rubbish, but the problem lies when the rubbish is hidden between the plants and then eaten by mistake," said Aref Al Abbar, Chairman of Hobbies Club, Dubai. He pointed out that when animals ingest plastic bags and ropes they calcify in their stomach. Heavy rocks or balls of string fill up the stomach making it impossible for the camel or gazelle to eat so it eventually dies of starvation.
Gulf News had reported on this menace and had run a campaign to scrap the use of plastic bags. "There is still a problem of rubbish in the desert and residents have the responsibility of cleaning up their rubbish after they finish camping."
Al Abbar said that as part of the Desert Environment Protection Campaign, informative pamphlets will be distributed to campers in both Arabic and English in addition to setting up awareness posters at petrol stations near popular camping routes.
The campaign will also focus on the importance of driving 4x4 vehicles in a responsible manner since reckless driving can kill off desert plants.
"We noticed some improvement when the campaign was initially launched last year but then the problem rose again. But with our upcoming campaign, we will continue raising the awareness throughout the year on how to keep the desert clean," said Al Abbar.
When camping out it important to take all the rubbish away and not bury rubbish in the sand, he said. – Gulf News
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