At least 2,500 native trees are to be planted at Al Wathba wetlands to enhance habitats, improve vegetation cover and reduce noise.
It is the third phase of Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi's Al Wathba Wetland Reserve "habitat rehabilitation programme" and was launched on Thursday.
Tarfa will be the main native tree species planted as it can tolerate extreme heat, drought and salinity. Other species include the ghada, arak and ghaf. All these species need very little water and minimum care for survival.
To start the third phase, which will last for two months, Razan Al Mubarak, the EAD’s secretary general and Adel Albuainain, chief executive of Dolphin Energy, planted a number of seedlings at the reserve.
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Abu Dhabi proves vital to growing population of greater flamingos
250 native ghaf trees planted at RAK desert resort to mark International Day of Forests
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"We are delighted to partner with Dolphin Energy to rehabilitate Al Wathba Reserve. This will help contribute to the improvement of the natural habitat within the reserve and strengthen its role as a scientific centre for bird conservation research especially migratory birds," said Ms Al Mubarak.
Mr Albuainain said: “We have an obligation to protect our natural resources and ensure we conserve and enhance the natural world and its positive impact on society and our economy. Moving forward, we will continue to collaborate with leading institutions such as the EAD to address challenges such as the need to protect biodiversity and combat the effects of climate change.”
The programme began in 2017 will last for three years through four phases. The first and second phases included the design and installation of an irrigation system along the reserve.
It covers an area of about 5 square kilometres and is home to more than 4,000 greater flamingos, 260 species of birds and also provides a safe haven for many other species of reptiles, small mammals and insects.
The programme is also in line with The Year of Zayed as it honours the UAE Founding Father Sheikh Zayed's commitment to sustainability. In 1998, after he observed the successful breeding of the flamingo for the first time at Al Wathba, he established the site as a protected area. Today the reserve is the only site in the UAE where flamingos continue to breed regularly. Additionally there are 19 terrestrial and marine protected areas in the emirate under the Sheikh Zayed Protected Areas Network, and they benefit from the highest level of legal protection. EAD manages this network, which today represents 15.43 per cent of the emirate’s terrestrial environment and 13.45 per cent of its marine environment.
Since it was opened to the public in 2014, Al Wathba has attracted about 20,000 visitors and is open to the public from mid-October until the end of April.
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RESULTS
Tottenham 1
Jan Vertonghen 13'
Norwich 1
Josip Drmic 78'
2-3 on penalties
Shooting Ghosts: A U.S. Marine, a Combat Photographer, and Their Journey Back from War by Thomas J. Brennan and Finbarr O’Reilly
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
NINE WINLESS GAMES
Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace (Oct 27, PL)
Liverpool 5-5 Arsenal (Oct 30, EFL)
Arsenal 1-1 Wolves (Nov 02, PL)
Vitoria Guimaraes 1-1 Arsenal (Nov 6, Europa)
Leicester 2-0 Arsenal (Nov 9, PL)
Arsenal 2-2 Southampton (Nov 23, PL)
Arsenal 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt (Nov 28, Europa)
Norwich 2-2 Arsenal (Dec 01, PL)
Arsenal 1-2 Brighton (Dec 05, PL)
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Richard Jewell
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Brandon Stanley
Two-and-a-half out of five stars
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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Brief scores:
Juventus 3
Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'
Frosinone 0
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
More from Aya Iskandarani
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
RESULTS
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
