The first day of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Adihex) saw some important announcements being made, including the opening date of the 16-year-old Al Wathba Wetland Reserve. The reserve will be opened to the public for the first time this October. Adihex is taking place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre until September 13.
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) announced that it will open to the public all three of its eco-reserves — Al Wathba, Mangrove National Park and the Qasr Al Sarab Protected Area.
"As city life increasingly insulates us from our natural world, we need to seek out experiences to reconnect with it. EAD's Eco-Reserve Programme offers residents of Abu Dhabi opportunities to re-establish their relationship with nature,” said Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, secretary general of EAD.
Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is expected to be a hit with U.A.E. residents and tourists, as over 4,000 flamingos migrate during winters. The natural and man-made marshes are also home to a variety of insects, amphibians and reptiles. The EAD has already spent the past few months developing public walking trails, wildlife viewing areas and visitor infrastructure at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve.
"The reserve will stay open throughout the year for visitors, but during the breeding season there will be no access zones, in order to protect the flamingos and their nests,” Al Mubarak told Khaleej Times.
Al Wathba Wetland Reserve was established in 1998 by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan because of its suitability as a habitat for migratory birds, especially the Greater Flamingo. Managed by EAD ever since, the reserve is now home to 545 species of flora and fauna, including 250 species of birds.
The 19 square kilometres of mangrove forest on the east side of Abu Dhabi city, known as the Mangrove National Park, is also opening to the public. Access to the mangroves is mostly by kayak, and EAD is encouraging the public to use the services of tour operators.
"We allow private kayaks to go in, but we really encourage people to book a tour company as we train them to give visitors informative tours about the mangroves,” explained Al Mubarak.
In addition to preparing kayak landing zones, designated walkways, waterways, and educational tours, EAD will carefully monitor activities within the park to ensure the safety for both the wildlife and visitors.
"The EAD manages 15,000 square kilometres of protected area, encompassing land, sea and air, which cover 13.5 per cent of Abu Dhabi's marine area and 14.6 per cent land area,” said Dr Sheikha Salem Al Dhaheri, EAD's executive director of terrestrial and marine biodiversity sector.
Another of EAD's eco-reserve Qasr Al Sarab Protected Area, located in the Liwa desert, will also be opened to visitors soon. The reserve is home to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Arabian Oryx Reintroduction Programme, which is helping Oryx recover from the brink of extinction.