H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has highlighted Sharjah’s efforts to preserve the environment and bio-diversity by the conservation of many endangered plants and animals.

He added that 3 to 4 million trees can be planted every year from available seed stock.

During his visit to the 18th Sharjah International Conservation Forum for Arabian Biodiversity at the Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife, the Sharjah Ruler highlighted the forum’s location as his original starting point for the efforts to preserve the local environment and to support its bio-diversity.

He also expressed his great interest in agriculture, a subject that he studied at the university. This led to his interest in environmental issues and his creation of initiatives, including the collection of seeds from different regions of the UAE, as part of a joint project with Kew Gardens in Great Britain to collect and preserve the world’s seed stock.

He stated that the purpose of collecting plants and seeds is to eventually return indigenous plant species in their original locations and revive the natural environments of regions that experience the loss of native plant life. He then noted that there is still ongoing work to balance the numbers of plants and animals in Sharjah’s nature reserves.

According to the Sharjah Ruler, legislation has a major role in preserving biodiversity and environmental protection. Sharjah has issued several legislations to support and preserve the environment, he added.

He then invited individuals and all sectors of the community to contribute in efforts to preserve the environment and reduce human impact. He also encouraged children to love and preserve the environment and called for communities to raise awareness about the importance of the environment and its preservation.