Abu Dhabi: The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) has successfully completed its assessment of Abu Dhabi’s terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The Abu Dhabi Red List of Ecosystems, part of EAD’s Abu Dhabi Assessment Project, is the first such assessment of ecosystems in the region.
Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General at EAD, commented that “besides being the first in the region, the Abu Dhabi Red List of Ecosystems is an excellent example of collaboration with global partners in developing and promoting the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) programme and its knowledge products.
“The Abu Dhabi Red List of Ecosystems will be published as an IUCN document and will be disseminated across the globe, highlighting Abu Dhabi’s efforts to apply internationally benchmarked processes at a local level to protect our biodiversity.”
Terrestrial and marine ecosystems were assessed, of which 12 were assigned “threatened” status, two were assessed as “critically endangered,” five were assessed as “endangered,” and five were assessed as “vulnerable.” Based on the assessment, there is no collapsed ecosystem within the emirate.
Mr. Ahmed Al Hashmi, Executive Director, Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at EAD, remarked that “Abu Dhabi’s diverse species and ecosystems are exposed to several threats, including development, pollution, and climate change. The Abu Dhabi Red List of Ecosystems will shape understanding around the risks facing each ecosystem, enabling the agency to effectively establish a representative network of protected areas. The list is not only the first in the region but is also the first of its kind to include desert ecosystems and apply the assessment criteria to human-made ecosystems.”
“During the evaluation process, the emirate’s ecosystems were classified in accordance with the IUCN’s standards, classifying the degree of threat in order to protect and preserve them and develop plans to ensure their sustainability,” Mr. Al Hashmi added.