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NATURE
General information
Natural
Emirates
Key animals
Captive breeding
of rare breeds
Watching whales and
dolphins in the UAE
Scorpions and snakes
The coasts
Desert
The Mountains
Ornithological importance
of UAE
Environmental agencies
Fossil hunting
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ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES
Operating alongside the well-established
Federal Environmental Agency (FEA) are regulatory bodies in the individual emirates. The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) is an Abu Dhabi government body with jurisdiction solely in Abu Dhabi emirate. Both terrestrial and marine research centres operate under EAD along with a cross-sectoral Environmental Services Unit. The National Avian Research Centre, also part of EAD, with responsibility for all bird-related research, runs a captive-breeding facility and houses the Houbara Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission of the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
Since 1998, Sharjah emirate has had a Department of Environment &
Protected Areas (DEPA). DEPA runs the Desert Park (natural history museum)
and Arabia’s Wildlife Centre, as well as having responsibility for
designating nature reserves (a process already under way) throughout the
emirate. In Dubai the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing has
a similar remit, including nature conservation and the establishment of
protected areas in the emirate. Fujairah has designated marine reserves
in the Gulf of Oman and is preparing a decree on cetacean conservation.
Ra's al-Khaimah now possesses (since winter 1999/2000) an Environmental
and Industrial Authority for regulation and enforcement. Such matters
as permissible levels of air pollution related to local quarrying activities
come within the remit of the Authority.
A number of non-governmental environmental organisations exist in the UAE. Only the principal ones are named here: Arabian Leopard Trust (ALT), Environment Friends Society (EFS), Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), Emirates Natural History Group (ENHG), Dubai Natural History Group (DNHG) and Al Ain Natural History Group (Al Ain NHG). Some have a lobbying and educational and awareness role, others may conduct research and survey, although the distinction may not always be immediately apparent. The Abu Dhabi-based ENHG is a non-governmental member of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), while EAD is a state agency member.
The Environment and Wildlife Management section (EWM) of the Private Department
of the UAE President is responsible for managing a number of privately-owned
wildlife collections and farming enterprises. This includes the island
of Sir Bani Yas, which houses captive breeding facilities for endangered
Arabian and other ungulates.
The Emirates Heritage Club (EHC), under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime
Minister HH Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, houses the Commission of
Environmental Research (CER) based on the island of Al Sammaliah, 12 kilometres
from Abu Dhabi. The Commission undertakes applied research, retaining
a particular interest in the protection of coastal and marine resources.
In spring 2000 it completed the first phase of a fieldwork programme that
will lead to the production of an atlas on which a coastal and marine
management plan for Abu Dhabi emirate will be based.
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