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Wildlife
1972-1975
The late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace- was also concerned with wildlife; therefore, he ordered that tree planting and agricultural development be carried out. He also banned animal hunting, especially the Arabian Oryx, which was about to become endangered. In addition, he also ordered that animal zoo be established where he was prompted by his belief that there will be natural habitats or places for animals to live freely in the wilderness due to the architectural and cultural development within a short period of time. In 1972, he ordered that the first private animal zoo be set up, which was Al Jaheli zoo in Al Ain where ornamental plants, fruit trees and some vegetables were grown at a time when Al Ain city was merely sand dues free of green areas. In 1975, he ordered that a supreme environment committee be set up and the main purpose of such committee was to take care of environmental activities on the federal level. This happened after the country participated in the first international summit conference on environment held in Stockholm in 1973.
1976-1979
The late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace- tells his story with deer and says, “Once upon a time, I went on a safari where I found plenty of deer herds. Then, I started chasing and shooting them. Around three hours later, I counted what I shot and found out that I killed 14 deer. Then, I pondered the whole thing and thought carefully where I felt that hunting by using the rifle would be a direct cause that would endanger such kind of species. After that, I refrained from doing that. In the same year, he ordered that hunting the endangered animals be banned.
Moreover, the bustard was also an endangered species due to heavy hunting of such kind of birds by using the falcons spreading across the Gulf region. Therefore, the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace- ordered that this kind of species be reproduced and protected from being endangered. In 1976, the animal zoo was established in Al Ain where water pumps sprinkling water in form of rain over cages of such birds to motivate them to lay eggs and then increase reproduction. This method also created an environment for this kind of birds where such birds can visualize that there would be grass and insects growing around, as this would form the main source of their food. This animal zoo released 40 birds where some of them were set free in three Islands opposite to Abu Dhabi city so that they can live in their natural environment. This happened after such a zoo managed to make these birds survive and protect them against extinction.
In the same year, the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace- ordered that marine environment and desert research center be established and related studies and researches on all various aspects of environmental issues be conducted. The ultimate purpose of doing that was to provide professional cadres, enhance the environment awareness of community members, conduct studies on natural plants and pastures grass, study palm tree strains and improve their characteristics and reproduce them. In addition, it aimed to develop animal resources and ration their consumption, conduct scientific survey of all water creatures including plants and sea animals, develop fisheries, conduct marine environment oil pollution researches, reduce water, air and sea pollution and identify its sources including pesticides, industrial, petrol, chemical and solid waste.
Under the patronage of the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace-, the regional organization for marine environment protection was established in 1978. The main aim of such an organization was to focus on protecting the marine environment of the Gulf from all surrounding damages. Some of the most important projects implemented by this organization were as follows:
1- Ships facilities establishment project
Due to the fact that the Gulf Region is an integrated environment unit, the countries of the region strived to provide a better study of the best methods for setting up ships facilities.
2- Various aspects of the marine environment project adopted by the leading countries.
3- Oil pollution related projects aimed at avoiding the use of any materials badly affecting marine environment
1984-1987
In 1985, under the patronage of the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace, Zayed Centre for Herbs and Traditional Medicine was opened with the aim of reviving the traditional medical heritage in terms of its collection, conservation, and development. This Center was also aimed at creating awareness of the generations to come and taking advantage of herbs growing in the country, extracting effective substances from such herbs and manufacturing them in form of modern medicines. Moreover, one more objective behind this center was to conduct experiments and researches on the medical characteristics of herbs growing in the deserts and valleys of the UAE, identify the way they can be utilized as means of treatment and formulate the scientific foundation. Above all, this center is also aimed at conservation of herbal plants such as thyme, African rue and ginger and protecting them from extinction
1988-1991
In 1988, rare birds reproduction center was opened under the patronage of the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace. Some of the most important achievements made by this Centre were protecting and reproducing stone curlew, providing production requirements including hatching machines and rearing devices as well as preparing special places for adjustment with the environment. The ultimate purpose of doing that was to make them ready to be set free in the external forests, as some of such birds come from environments different from those of the UAE so that they can adapt to such new environment and reproduce. In fact, several species of rare birds were reproduced, but their number started to decrease because of their tasty meat and intensive hunting. However, considering the orders of the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace- that they be protected, their number increased and the environment of nature reserves was provided with such kind of rare birds.
There were centers that included large numbers of rarest deer such as Arabian Oryx, which was about to get endangered. Thus, nature reserves were established under the supervision of Environment and Wildlife Department. The Center was also concerned with rearing cattle, sheep and fish. The people concerned with this activity managed to improve the genetic features by introducing and hybridizing foreign species if compared to the local ones so that they can bear the environment conditions. At the same time, this would give more meat, dairy and wool or fleece. Upon the directives of Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace, fish was farmed in several areas where there was fish growing in saline water and other fish growing in less saline water. The Private Department including the Environment and Wildlife Section made such a project a success.
Based on the keen interest of the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace- in conservation of wildlife, the national center for birds’ research was opened in 1989. This Center made scientific achievements in the area of bustard reproduction in captivity by controlling temperature and light. This program was also aimed at helping researchers and scientists to obtain the information regarding migration of such birds and their ability to adaptation and reproduction once again in the nature.
In 1991, Environment Friends Association was opened under the directives of the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace-, prompted by his belief in the necessity of local environment conservation. Some of the key objectives of this association would be giving attention to environment, keeping it safe for the safety of the entire humanity, raising environmental awareness of the UAE nationals and residents, identifying environmental risks and the effective methods of dealing with them and emirates related environmental issues and striving to find the adequate solutions for them.
1992-1995
The late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace- gave great attention to Arabian Oryx. That is because after such a rare animal was about to become extinct in this region, he issued his directives to put as many Arabian Oryx as possible in the captivity where 4 of them were put in such captivity. After developing Seer Baniyas Island, nationalization of Arabian Oryx program started in this Island. Therefore, the number of Arabian Oryx increased to become in thousands in the country.
In 1992, the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace- gave a special concern to the fisheries and Al Qarm was transplanted to incubate fish and small shells. The ultimate aim of doing that was to improve the fisheries such as Safi fish, which is reared and then set free in several areas. Then, it is reproduced in large numbers. In the same year, he also ordered that Lilsi project be implemented in Al Ain. The main aim of such a project was to protect the environment by conserving the lands in the vicinity from the danger of ever moving sands crawling from Suweihan city to Al Ain city. For example, there were some kinds of trees grown in this area such as arak, al samara, al ghaf and lotus jujube. The ultimate purpose of diversifying trees was to provide an integrated environment including wild animals such as deer, Arabian Oryx, and rabbits. Due to the protection provided to such a project, lots of plants, which were considered as a rich source for pastures, started to emerge.
In 1992, the UAE participated in the earth summit conference held in Paris. In a speech delivered by the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace, he said, “From the very beginning, the UAE has considered environment protection to be as a main objective of its development policy. Therefore, it made intensive efforts under hard environment conditions to deal with desertification problem, expand green areas, develop water resources, improve and protect marine environment from pollution and conserve and reproduce fisheries and animal resources”.
In 1993, Federal Environment Authority was established to look after environmental issues. In 1995, Emirates Diving Association was established upon the directives of the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace. The main aim of establishing such association was to create a database for member divers, control, conserve and protect marine environment, raise the awareness of environmental issues on the part of those concerned and others with diving sport by making concerted efforts within diving community. Moreover, this association was aimed at protecting ancient diving heritage and training a national team to participate in the major diving contests.
In 1995, Zayed Falcons Release Program was founded. The ultimate aim of such a program is to protect the number and species of falcons used in hunting against extinction. This was done by returning them to their natural habitats so that they can reproduce and complete cycle of their life in such a way that would contribute to increasing their numbers in nature and maintain hunting through falcons sport. In the same year, the first release operation of falcons started, as the total number of 107 falcons was released in Pakistan.
1996-1999
Upon the directives of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace-, Environment Research and Wildlife Development Agency was established in 1996. It is aimed at protecting and controlling environment and its biological diversification. This aim can be achieved by conducting scientific research, setting adequate policies and creating environment awareness necessary for achieving sustainable development. This agency includes a number of research centers such as Marine Environmental Researches, Birds Researches National Centre, Wildlife Environment Researches Centre, Environment Protection Department, Education Department and Environment Awareness and Environment Effects.
Furthermore, Al Samalya Island was also selected for conducting environment researches where an expert conducted scientific studies on it and work team was also formed in 1997. This authority is also aimed at studying and preparing sea species, analyzing sediments of the Island bed and conducting a study on developing wild animal resources by using various strains of honeybee. The ultimate aim of doing this is to encourage production of honey and enhance the efficacy of pollen amongst flowery plants in the Island. Above all, the national environment strategy project was implemented and environment action plan was devised under the patronage of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace.
In 1999, a federal law regarding utilization and protection of live water creatures was issued. This law is aimed at protecting and developing live water creatures by regulating the process of fishing through obtaining a license from the competent authorities. It is also aimed at conducting an entry for fishing profession practitioners, fishing boats, protecting fisheries in the country and manufacturing and marketing fish as well as water creatures.
Awards of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace
Due to the efforts made in the area of environment, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan-May Allah rest his soul in peace- obtained the award for environment based on a decision of the arbitration committee comprising a group of personalities from the Gulf Region. Moreover, he also obtained the gold Banda Award in 1997 from the world Fund for Environment Protection in recognition of the efforts made in the area of environment and wildlife protection. He is the first president who obtains an international environment award. In 1997, he was also granted the honorary doctorate degree in agriculture from Ain Shams University in recognition of his efforts in the area of agricultural projects. In 1998, he obtained Zayed International Award. In addition, Arab City Organization nominated him in the same year to be the environment advocate. He was also selected as one of the most prominent world personality in 1998, which was granted to him by the French Man of the Year Agency. In 1999, the Zayed International Award for Environment was established.
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