ERWDA Succeeds in Accomplishing all its Goals  
Gulf News - By A Staff reporter, Abu Dhabi,18/04/2002

The Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA) yesterday issued its Annual Report for 2001, highlighting the achievements during the year.

The report reviewed the agency`s efforts which concentrated on the development of environmental regulations, fisheries management, water resources, wildlife management, increasing environmental awareness and education and development of environmental database.

Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, ERWDA`s Managing Director, said in the report the working groups of the Abu Dhabi Environmental Strategy Plan prepared their final reports for the plans six goals last year.

"A number of research programmes, which matched the goals of the Emirate`s Environmental Strategy plan, aiming to protect the natural environment; wildlife and biological diversity of Abu Dhabi Emirate, were also implemented," the ERWDA official added.

The agency, according to the report, also managed to complete a fish survey programme, analysing the length and frequency data of five commercially exploited species. ERWDA has commissioned a group of New Zealand specialised companies to carry the fish resource assessment survey in UAE waters.

Al Bowardi wrote: "In the year 2001, ERWDA continued its projects to study habitats, geographical distribution, population, and the biology of marine turtles and dugongs, which are considered as endangered species."

"To support the UAE government`s intensive efforts to conserve the Arabian Oryx ERWDA worked closely with other agencies in the UAE and regional countries."

"These efforts resulted in the establishment of a Coordinating Committee for the Conservation of the Arabian Oryx to enhance co-operation and exchange experiences across the Arabian Peninsula, where the UAE was named as the General Secretariat for the Committee."

Conservation strategy

In line with its mission, the Agency developed a comprehensive conservation strategy for the Asian Houbara, which is seriously threatened by a combination of detrimental factors, the report said. Referring to the issue of protected areas, Al Bowardi said.

"ERWDA started in February last year a survey to assess an area between the islands of Abu A1 Abyadh, Bu Tinha, Merawah and Al Bazm A1 Gharbi islands, proposing to establish and manage a marine protected area. ERWDA is also implementing a comprehensive plan to develop Al Wathba Lake into a major site for bird watching," he added.

In the field of terrestrial studies, a number of projects were undertaken, including a multi-faceted approach to improve mangrove plantation techniques and investigating the potential of growing mangrove in coastal sabkha (salt flat land) environment.

The agency also completed the draft of a local order for environmental impact assessment procedures as well as a draft document for recommended ambient air quality objectives and standards for the Abu Dhabi Emirate. Among the Agency`s other achievement was the publishing of the first first Abu Dhabi coastline Oil Spill Protection Priorities Atlas that identifies sensitive marine and coastal Areas and other sensitive ecological system in the emirate.

This atlas is part of ERWDA`s initiative to establish an Environmental Database for the emirate of Abu Dhabi through developing a sophisticated Geographic Information System (GIS) and Relational Database Management System (RDBMS).

The other accomplishments last year include the Agency`s contribution to organise the "The Environment 2001 Conference and Exhibition" in collaboration with the General Exhibition Corporation (GEC), Federal Environmental Agency (FEA) the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).