Abu Dhabi: The Marawah Marine Protected Area has become the first biosphere reserve in the country after being recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
The recognition came after several nominations for accreditation from different nations were considered by Unesco's MAB (Bureau of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and Biosphere) Programme.
Managed by the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD), Marawah island, situated on the west of Abu Dhabi's mainland, is home to important marine and coastal ecosystems including seagrass beds, coral reefs and mangroves. It was declared a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in 2001 by the government.
The reserve hosts 60 per cent of the second largest population of dugongs in the world and is also of great cultural and archaeological significance with the presence of more than 20 sites dating back to the Stone Age.
The accreditation of the island will bring the efforts of the country on the environmental front on a global platform, said Majid Al Mansouri, EAD Secretary-General.
Biosphere reserves display a balance between humans and the biosphere and cover a diversity of ecological systems. Four species of marine turtles, 70 species of fish and coral reefs and kilometres of mangrove make up its unique environment.
Marawah's natural, archaeological and marine treasures could soon be visited by the public.
Stone Age houses built more than 7,000 years ago were unearthed on the island a few years back and the remains of the oldest inhabitant of the island were found here too. But the public were kept away from visiting the since the island is a MPA.
"Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints," says a brochure at the island and this is exactly what the EAD hopes to enforce while bringing in visitors.
