Latest news with #AbuDhabiEnvironmentAgency
The National
05-05-2025
- Science
- The National
Abu Dhabi launches largest artificial coral reef project in Middle East
The Abu Dhabi Environment Agency on Monday announced a major coral reef initiative. The Abu Dhabi Coral Gardens project, the largest of its kind in the Middle East, aims to protect the emirate's marine environment while boosting biodiversity, state news agency Wam reported. Launched under the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region and chairman of the agency's board of directors, the initiative will be implemented over the next five years. It aims to create "gardens" by installing 40,000 eco-friendly artificial corals of various designs and sizes to support the growth of marine organisms. The gardens will span about 1,200 square kilometres within the coastal and deep waters of Abu Dhabi. How effective are artificial reefs? It is hoped their ability to withstand high temperatures will help restore natural marine environments and support local fish populations. Sheikh Hamdan said the initiative reflected the emirate's commitment to innovative natural solutions to enhance biodiversity. He added that the project will protect marine habitats, support fisheries and help to achieve a balance between development and conservation efforts. Dr Shaikha Al Dhaheri, secretary general of the agency, said the project was part of the emirate's efforts to implement sustainable, nature-based solutions. Artificial reefs have proven effective in attracting marine life at rates three times higher than natural reefs, contributing to the annual production of more than five million kilograms of fish. They can also help coastal areas cope with the effects of climate change. An initiative off Fujairah has proved particularly successful. Project REEFrame, launched in 2021, has already created a one-hectare artificial reef off the UAE's east coast and it is now well into crafting a second reef 10 times larger. It means "we are creating an ecosystem where there wasn't anything before", Darryl Owen, the British owner of Freestyle Divers, the company running the project, previously told The National. "Coral needs something solid to attach to. You have these rocky pinnacles where there are natural reefs and between them there's nothing, there's just sand," he said.
The National
18-02-2025
- General
- The National
Abu Dhabi opens prestigious environmental award to all emirates
Abu Dhabi is expanding its search for eco-warriors and opening up the Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environment Award to all emirates. The inaugural award, given out in 2024, had only been open to applicants in the capital. Next year, the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency (EAD) plans to take it global. "The next cycle I hope will be at the global level," Osama Bassam Abu Saleem of the EAD told The National. "We are working on that." The eco award was launched in 2023 to highlight efforts that focus on safeguarding the planet. It aims to raise awareness of important steps being taken on the path to sustainability by campaigners, researchers and businesses. The award is named after the chairman of the agency's board of directors, who also serves as the Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed emphasised its importance as "we are at a defining moment in our environmental journey". "The Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Award is an open invitation to all – scientists, businesses, policymakers and young leaders – to come together and drive meaningful change. Let us commit to building a future that is not only sustainable but also thriving, resilient and inclusive.' Applications for the awards will open in March. Financial awards will be granted to the winners, with the total amount depending on the number and quality of submissions, Mr Abu Saleem said. Categories in the awards include the Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Medal, which will be awarded to people who have a positive impact on the environment, and the Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Research Award, which recognises scientific research, either individual or collective, in the field of environment and sustainable development.
