SHARJAH: The AlQurm Protected Area in Kalba City of Sharjah has joined the Indian Ocean’s South-East Asian (IOSEA) Marine Turtle memorandum of understanding (MoU). The significant announcement was made by the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah (EPAA).
This marks the second site in Sharjah to join the MoU, following Sir Bu Nair Island Reserve, as the UAE participated in the ninth meeting of the signatory countries held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
![KHOR KALBA TURTLE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY](https://cdn.emiratitimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/02113935/KHOR-KALBA-TURTLE-WILDLIFE-SANCTUARY.jpg)
The meeting highlighted Sharjah’s commitment to environmental conservation and biodiversity, showcasing the efforts of the EPAA in protecting marine turtles. The joining of the memorandum acknowledges the achievements and sustainable efforts of the AlQurm Protected Area in Khor Kalba.
Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the EPAA, expressed gratitude to HH Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for his unwavering support for environmental preservation and biodiversity. Al Suwaidi emphasized the importance of representing the Emirate of Sharjah in global environmental meetings and sharing the emirate’s innovative steps and significant achievements.
![Hana Saif Al Suwaidi](https://cdn.emiratitimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/02114617/Hana-Saif-Al-Suwaidi.jpg)
Al Suwaidi noted that the AlQurm Protected Area is a comprehensive center for research, education, and conservation initiatives. Its official classification as part of the IOSEA network of sites will enhance conservation efforts, providing a valuable guide for policymakers. The area was also designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 2013.
The AlQurm Protected Area in Khor Kalba is the only habitat of mangrove trees on the Gulf of Oman coast in the UAE and the region’s oldest mangrove forest. It is home to the critically endangered Arabian Collared Kingfisher, endemic to the area, and the largest gatherings of juvenile marine turtles on the UAE’s east coast. The EPAA works to protect these turtles through the Sharjah Strandings Response Program.
![Khor Kalba Mangrove Centre](https://cdn.emiratitimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/02115205/Khor-Kalba-Mangrove-Centre.jpg)
Additionally, the reserve serves as an ideal location for feeding and nesting for over 150 species of local and migratory birds, 90 species of crustaceans, and 100 species of fish.
The Khor Kalba Mangrove Centre within the reserve educates the public about mangrove habitats and their conservation. It is also the only center for the rehabilitation of marine turtles on the UAE’s east coast.