Wadi Wurayah enters Ramsar list

Fujairah: Wadi Wurayah in Fujairah has been named the second protected area in the UAE under the Ramsar Convention for wetlands.

It is the second site in the UAE after Ras Al Khor in Dubai to enter the Ramsar list and is home to more than 300 species of flora.

The Ramsar Convention is the first international treaty to conserve and promote the wise use of natural resources. The treaty was created in 1971 in the Iranian city, Ramsar, and under the convention the definition of "wetlands" refers not just to marshes and lakes, but also coral reefs, peat forests, temporary pools, even underground caves, and all sorts of other systems everywhere from the mountains to the sea, including man-made habitats.

Biodiversity

The UAE ratified the Ramsar Convention in 2007 prior to having Ras Al Khor listed as a wetland of global importance.

Two years later, Wadi Wurayah became the country's first Mountain Protected Area in 2009. Its valleys and mountains cover 129 square kilometres and have environmental and scientific value due to its exceptional biodiversity. Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water, said the accession of another UAE protected areas to this list confirms the great attention given to protecting the environment and natural resources in the country.

He added that it is hoped Bu Tinah, a tiny archipelago in the Arabian Gulf, will also be listed as a Ramsar site.

Wadi Wurayah is home to 12 species of mammals, 73 species of birds, 17 species of reptiles and amphibians, one species of fish and 74 invertebrate families, of which 11 are species new to science, according to the Ministry.

“The legal protection of the area is a very important start for Wadi Wurayah to achieve eco-toursim status. It is important for next steps to outline and enforce a proper management plan to ensure that visitors to this area are considerate of the natural resources it provides and treat it respectfully through basic guidelines to keep in its natural state,” said Lisa Shrake Perry, programme director, Emirates Wildlife Society-WWF, who worked alongside Fujairah Municipality to get wadi designated as a Ramsar site.

“We believe eco-tourism activities for Wadi Wurayah should promote ecological awareness and limit damage to the environment of Wadi Wurayah,” she added.

“There have been many goals for Wadi Wurayah and having Wadi Wurayah as the 2nd UAE Ramsar site has certainly been one of them. This is an area of great importance due to its freshwater and EWS-WWF is thrilled that it is being recognized as a Wetland of International importance.”