Abu Dhabi will increase protected habitats by thousands of square kilometres and rehabilitate dozens of endangered species in a plan to tackle the most pressing environmental issues.
By 2020, more than 15 per cent of the emirate’s land and 13 per cent of its water will be legally protected natural reserves.
The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, or Ead, plans to triple rehabilitation and breeding programmes for endangered animals such as the Arabian oryx.
Water shortage, overfishing and loss of habitat are among the challenges targeted by the country in its five-year strategy, which includes nine risks identified by Ead, and will be the focus of research and regulations.
Ead has linked these risks to the rapid economic development of the country, and the strain it has placed on the environment.
Unsustainable use of groundwater, insufficient waste management and declining air quality leading to risk of respiratory illness are also listed in a frank report released on Monday.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ead chairman and the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region, said the development of the emirate was critical to its continued growth and prosperity.
"But our primary focus must be to ensure that development does not come at an unacceptable cost to the environment, to ensure that it goes hand in hand with conservation and sustainability," said Sheikh Hamdan.

Source: The National