Abu Dhabi: The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has revealed that the grazing season will be held from 15 May to 15 October 2024, as part of its efforts to regulate grazing activity. The grazing mandates aim to support the recovery of vegetation, enhance biodiversity, and promote sustainable practices.
To give the pastures a chance for natural regeneration and guarantee their survival for future generations, the regulated grazing season was implemented. The declaration is a part of the framework for Abu Dhabi’s grazing regulations found in Law No. (11) of 2020’s Executive Regulations. As the responsible body for environmental matters in Abu Dhabi, EAD issued the regulations on behalf of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Board of Directors of EAD.
The mandate, which EAD is in charge of carrying out in collaboration with the relevant authorities, attempts to control grazing to preserve natural pastures and encourage sustainable traditional practices. Protected places and delicate and important natural habitats will be safeguarded by the law.
Owners and breeders of cattle are granted licenses by EAD to control grazing activities and all associated activities in Abu Dhabi, by the rule. The applicant must be older than 21 and a national of the United Arab Emirates to be granted a grazing license. Additionally, a current animal inventory certificate that has been authorized by the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) is required of the application.
Livestock owners and breeders that match the conditions can apply to EAD for a license after paying the application costs. A copy of their ID card and a certificate from the Animal Wealth Inventory that attests to their ownership of the cattle must also be submitted. The appropriate authorities must additionally register the applicant in the animal identification and registration system of the emirate. A copy of the Emirates ID cards for each person who will accompany and look after the cattle must be provided by the application.
In addition to being permitted to graze in open wild regions, license holders must maintain a two-kilometer buffer between them and all reserves, forests, private, military, residential, and oil-related sectors. They must also follow the grazing duration given in this permit and refrain from leaving grazing animals unattended.
Those who are granted permission to graze are subject to several environmental regulations, one of which being not allowing any dangerous materials, animals, or exotic plants into the grazing grounds. Additionally, in grazing zones, they are not allowed to uproot, burn, transport, cut, damage, log, remove, or collect pasture plants or any portion of them. In addition, they must respect the approved grazing seasons and refrain from endangering the local ecology or biodiversity in the grazing regions.
Licensees must take into account the EAD-determined grazing restriction times, working in tandem with relevant authorities to safeguard the sustainability of grazing areas. Using automobiles, bicycles, or any other kind of machinery in grazing areas in a way that modifies the vegetation cover is also forbidden. Additionally, giving their grazing license to another individual is forbidden.