In celebration of World Wetlands Day, H.E. Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the President of the UAE, H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and to H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates for their support in preserving, developing and investing in its sustainability.
In his statement dedicated to today’s World Wetlands Day, H.E. Bin Fahd said that this year’s slogan of “Wetlands and Agriculture: Partners for Growth” affirms the strong correlation between the wetlands and agriculture and community development. He noted the significance of the sustainability of wetlands, improvements to the productivity of farmed lands, reduced water consumption and waste, and use of modern agricultural technologies. He added that wetlands have provided many communities with water and fertile land to farm. Approximately 2.5 billion people in various rural areas across the world depend on agriculture, forests, animals and fish supported by wetlands.
The rapid increase of the global population has placed continuous pressure on wetlands, added Bin Fahd. World agricultural production has tripled in the last 50 years, with more new land to be required to support more people. By 2050, agricultural consumption of water will have reached 19 per cent, he revealed.
Bin Fahd also noted that the UAE is following a new agricultural strategy that maximizes the balance between water and food security. He said that the country intends to achieve its goals under the new approach by broadening the use of modern irrigation; adopting new agricultural practices such as hydroponics and biological farming; strengthening the agricultural sector’s ability to adapt to climate change; considering and encouraging the use of salt-tolerant plants; using local plants to increase green lands; controlling non-local species and applying Integrated Pest Management (IPM); and increasing awareness among farmers. The UAE has issued various legislations to organize well drilling and underground water exploration, control the use of pesticides, and increase the number of dams and water barriers for use in nurturing underground water.
The UAE has begun tests on the use of treated wastewater – which makes up about 12 per cent of the country's water budget – as well as salt water for some crops; results have been promising so far.
Since wetlands constitute some of the richest and most biologically diverse environments in the UAE, the government has given greater focus to their care. The UAE Vision 2021 reflects the significance of preserving the rich natural environment of the country through its preventive and organizational procedures for protecting fragile ecological systems from civil expansion and harmful human activities. The Ministry and its strategic partners have been keen to increase the coverage of the country’s official natural reserves based on internationally specified rates. It is also implementing a number of relevant initiatives and projects such as a National Strategy for Biological Diversity and a National Strategy for Marine Environment and Coastal Areas. These will make vital contributions towards the UAE’s efforts to preserve biological diversity and wetlands in particular.
Since signing the World Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) in 2007, the UAE has succeeded in adding five locations covering a total area of over 20,000 hectares to make the country a pioneer in wetland preservation in the GCC. Wetland environments vary in these locations from swamps, tidal planes and big islands such as the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary in Dubai, a haven to a large number of migratory birds, to mountain areas with underground water reservoirs such as the Wadi Wurayah National Park, and mangroves such as the Khor Kalba and Al Wathba Wetland Reserves. All these areas are of both ecological and touristic significance due to their diverse water resources which come in the form of either natural or man-made lakes. Also counting among these environments are coral reefs and islands such as the culturally and historically renowned Sir Abu Nu'ayr Island. These valuable wetlands reflect the diversity and richness of the UAE’s natural resources.
Concluding his speech, H.E. Bin Fahd assured that the UAE will continue to prepare other areas for inclusion in the Ramsar list, build and develop national capabilities, and establish a national network of experts on wetlands to share knowledge, expertise and best practices. The network, he said, will benefit from a variety of colleges, faculties, and national and international research centers and organizations which will support scientific work and raise awareness among different groups of society on the preservation and sustainability of wetlands in the UAE. The Ministry will coordinate closely with other countries in the region in this matter especially as the UAE is the regional representative for West and Central Asia under the Ramsar Convention. The ministry will support regional priorities as discussed in the meetings of the Ramsar Convention’s permanent committee.