The UAE's decision to back the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use on Friday is a “natural step” for the country, said Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, because of the nation’s rich and extensive mangrove forests.
The Cop26 commitment to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 aims to advance sustainable development and promote an inclusive rural transformation.
While the UAE does not have the sort of forests typically seen in the rest of the world, the country has a wealth of mangroves, which offer substantial benefits as a form of climate change.
“The environmental stewardship that we have in our DNA comes from our late founding father, Sheikh Zayed,” Ms Al Mheiri told The National.
“He was such an advocate for the environment and it's kind of lived through us. And if we look back at how he treated and respected the environment, it's a natural step for us to be part of this declaration.”
More than 90 countries supported the declaration on Forests and Land Use at the Cop26 summit, which has garnered the support of world leaders, financiers, global companies and civic leaders to promote the positive effects of forests and land use on the climate, people, economic development and biodiversity.
We have about 60 million mangroves in the UAE currently existing and we want to increase that moving forward to 30 million more
Mariam Al Mheiri,
Minister of Climate Change and Environment
"While the UAE does not have a typical Amazon forest, it does have mangrove forests," Ms Al Mheiri said.
"This is our type of forests and these act as carbon sinks. It is nature's treasure."
Only 10 square kilometres of mangrove forest can store the same amount of carbon as 50 sq km of tropical upland forest.
Developing underwater mangrove forests can also reduce harmful carbon emissions and protect coastal areas from erosion caused by waves, marine currents and human activity, such as construction.
To expand its blue-carbon ecosystems, the UAE has already committed to planting 30 million mangroves by 2030 in its second Nationally Determined Contribution.
"We have about 60 million mangroves in the UAE currently existing and we want to increase that moving forward to 30 million more," Ms Al Mheiri said.
The planting process uses innovative drone technology to sow the mangrove seeds, a goal supported by the country’s Plantation Rehabilitation Programme, which is restoring a number of plants, especially rare species and those on the brink of extinction.
Separately, the drones have been used to sow tree seeds to reduce sand encroachment and disperse 6 million acacia seeds and 250,000 ghaf seeds across 25 sites in the UAE.
Meanwhile, a UAE Smart Map of Natural Capital “will help developers understand when there's an area of natural habitat” and “how they capitalise on this” in a way that still preserves the habitat, Ms Al Mheiri said.
Stressing that the UAE is also part of the Global Ocean Alliance, she said: “We make nature our ally.
“The UAE is taking an active role on the biodiversity efforts because if you don't partner with nature, you're not going to get very far."
Book%20Details
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Manchester City (0) v Liverpool (3)
Uefa Champions League, quarter-final, second leg
Where: Etihad Stadium
When: Tuesday, 10.45pm
Live on beIN Sports HD
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
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White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
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
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
