Mangrove clean-up project: Making a difference

We are much more aware of our dwindling environment and the increase in pollution but sadly, very little is being done to stop our beautiful planet from being destroyed slowly.

Recently, my family and I signed up for the second Abu Dhabi Mangrove clean-up project.

This event was held on Friday, September 13, 2013.

A sizable strength of 60 volunteers, including young children, converged at the Abu Dhabi mangrove, located close to the Eastern Mangrove Hotel. We dared the afternoon sun and the humid weather and formed ourselves into smaller teams and started our clean-up drive through the length of the mangrove.

This event was an eye-opener for all of us and a great learning experience for my family and me. It took 60 volunteers over three hours to collect over a ton of garbage, consisting of paper, plastic, metal, rubber and decayed wood. It is hard to undo the damage but it would be recommended to avoid littering at public places. We must educate ourselves and teach our children not to litter and ask them to take that small step to put garbage in the designated dustbins.

I urge many more environmentally friendly companies of the UAE to take the initiative and come forward to making UAE a greener and more beautiful place to live in. UAE schools and universities can, too, involve their students by making them aware of the urgent need to save and protect our planet.

It was an event I would never forget. I sacrificed my heavy Friday lunch and an afternoon nap but gained richly in this lovely experience of being a small part of those trying to make a difference!

The reader is based in Sharjah.

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