Dubai: The UAE may soon have a national list of endangered species of plants and animals, Gulf News has learnt.
UAE | Environment
National list of endangered species soon to be announced
Will help measures towards conservation at regional and local levels
- By Shveta Pathak, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 May 16, 2012
Having a national list will help protect endangered species better and facilitate effective measures towards conservation at regional and local levels.
The Ministry of Environment and Water, along with municipalities and other departments in various emirates, is working towards coming up with a ‘red list'.
Presently, there is a red list of the UAE's flora and fauna according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which is the world's oldest and largest global environmental organisation. However, as these species are classified based on their global status worldwide, there is a need to develop a list at a national level.
The Red List data give details on the species that are on the verge of extinction — Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Extinct or Extinct in the Wild.
"There is a plan to have a national ‘red list'," Dr Jamal Badani from the Ministry of Environment and Water, said in response to a query at a seminar recently.
Brink of extinction
To preserve the bird species that are on the brink of extinction, a high-tech gene bank needs to be set up in the country, said Dr Badani.
"We should conduct extensive studies and research in this field. Birds that have high environmental importance are valuable treasures we have which can't be regained once lost. Accelerated public awareness drives and a regular update of the Red Data Book with a regional emphasis are other measures we should focus on."
Along with climatic change, birds have been suffering due to irrational and uncontrolled hunting, the use of pesticides and widening desertification.
The UAE has been taking various steps towards the protection and conservation of biodiversity which include increasing protected areas — a basic requirement for conservation — to ten per cent. According to a Ministry of Environment and Water report on wildlife and marine conservation efforts in the UAE, initiatives to enhance the protection of fragile habitats include updating the national strategy for protected areas.
More from UAE Environment
More from UAE
Latest news
- Parents shattered as both kids die within hours
- Readers’ support for Adel, Gaganlal
- Syrian woman appeals for help
- India freezes overseas adoptions
- Dog thieves caught on camera in Dubai
- Father grieves for daughters killed by pesticide
- Loan shark holds nurse’s family to ransom
- Concern over depression among school kids
- Curl up in style : More sleeping pods in AUH
- Indian man enters UAE on his namesake’s passport
- Miracle baby celebrates first birthday
- Ten dumbest excuses given for a crime
- Crew of abandoned ship stranded in Khor Fakkan
- Click and your Facebook will be hacked
- Breaking the law
Community Reports
-
Breaking the law
Reader points out that cyclists break the rules and are inconsiderate of other road users.
-
Good deed marks first anniversary
Serve the Heroes group provides refreshments to construction workers to mark first anniversary
-
Spitting in public is as bad as vandalism
Habit damages public property while also being a health hazard
-
Noise pollution haunts Abu Dhabi residents
COMMUNITY REPORT Inconsiderate motorists turn Khalifa Bin Zayed Street into a parking nightmare
