Introduction

The last year has been a phenomenal one for progress in the fields of environmental protection and wildlife management in the UAE. While much of the progress has taken place without fanfare or publicity it is clear that government commitment, corporate support and greatly enhanced awareness of the general public all factors that have received sustained attention over previous years have borne considerable fruit. The evidence for this progress is to be seen almost every where one looks in the Emirates, from the widespread improvements in environmental controls to the impressive wildlife breeding, conservation and public display projects. The fact that, after 10 years of careful study and habitat development, the greater flamingo finally bred successfully in Abu Dhabi during the winter of 1998–99, the first confirmed breeding of this species in the UAE and the first confirmed breeding anywhere on the mainland of the Arabian Peninsula, is much more than an ornithological triumph. It is also a reassuring confirmation that UAE policy on environment and species protection is actually working. As is well known in the UAE and among the world's leading conservationists, the role of Sheikh Zayed in protecting and rescuing Arabian wildlife has been crucial. He grew up close to nature and with a deep respect for the plants and animals that he encountered in the mountains, deserts, oases and coastal waters. While seeking to provide his people with the benefits of the modern world, he has never lost sight of the vital need to protect the natural one. Sheikh Zayed's government and the people have both been led by and, perhaps more importantly inspired by, his own appreciation for the environment and wildlife.

Over the years a number of government organizations have been established with the role of studying and protecting wildlife. Abu Dhabi’s Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA) has a major national role in this regard. In addition there are other regional departments which have their own programmes for environment protection, wildlife protection and, most importantly for increasing public awareness.

ENVIRONMENT DAY

The UAE's National Environment Day is by now a well established event that serves to focus the attention of government, the corporate sector and the general public on matters of environmental concern. On the occasion of the 1999 National  Environment Day, Sheikh Zayed once again commented on the importance of the environment, calling it ‘a dear part of our heritage, civilizations and future’. This  year's event focused on the particular needs of the marine environment, with the slogan: 'Together for the protection of our marine environment'. The President also announced that he had ordered there levant authorities to issue any new regulations they deemed necessary to ensure protection of the environment.

ENVIRONMENT AWARDS

Carrying a purse of US $1 million the first prize in the Zayed International Prize for Environment is scheduled to be awarded in the year 2001 for the 'best environmental project submitted by individuals, companies or research centers from around the world, which serves to save the environment'. Eligible projects include marine and land protection , water safety, agriculture and improving human hygiene. The prize has been sponsored by General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, in honor of Sheikh Zayed.

The Dubai International Aw a rd for Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment for the year 2000 was also announced. The deadline for applications is 31 March 2000 and guidelines are available at the following web site at:
 http://www.bestpractices.org/bp2000. 

ENVIRONMENT CONFERENCE

Given the sharp focus on the environment, it is appropriate that the capital city Abu Dhabi should be selected as host for a major international conference and exhibition on the environment scheduled to take place from 4 to 8 February 2001. The ‘Environment 2001Conference and Exhibition’ will be co-sponsored by the UAE government, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), UN Development Programme (UNDP) and other international institutions. The goal of the event is to continue international global dialogue on environmental and sustainable development issues, present working solutions that can  be applied in both  developed and developing worlds and to identify further areas for technical improvement. Commenting at the formal announcement of the conference, UN Deputy- Secretary General and Executive Director of UNEP, Dr Klaus Toper, stated that many of the world's top scientists and professionals working in the field of environmental conservation would speak at the conference and the exhibition will provide industry and other organizations with an opportunity to display their capabilities in solving environmental issues.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

As highlighted in the CNN programmes, excreted from ‘Environmental Oasis’, one of the most significant features of the UAE's captive wildlife breeding programme is its work on the houbara bustard, most of which is concentrated at ERWDA's National Avian Research Center (NARC) situated at Sweihan in Abu Dhabi. The project has had a number of key successes and celebrated its tenth year in operation by hatching of chicks from eggs fertilized by previously frozen and stored semen – a technology that will be put to good use in the ongoing breeding of these endangered birds. Another aspect of the houbara work epitomizes the international cooperation that is increasingly becoming a feature of wildlife conservation. In the latest example of regional cooperation a new agreement was signed by both the UAE and Saudi Arabia for exchange of captive bred birds in order to strengthen the gene pool without recourse to wild birds. Meanwhile, the Oryx programme continues to provide examples of regional and international cooperation. In late 1999, a number of scimitar horned Oryx, successfully reared on Sîr Banî Yâs, were transferred to their native habitats in north Africa. 

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

In March 1999 a new law was passed aimed at reducing air pollution. Developed in consultation with the different municipalities the new regulations limit excessive use of harmful gases. New regulations were also under discussion for controlling the use of leaded fuel which produces harmful emissions. The UAE enforces strict laws governing the use of chemical insecticides in agriculture to protect public health and reduce negative impacts on the environment. It has banned the importation of 57 chemical insecticides, permitting only the importation of those products which are already licensed for use in agriculture in the US, Canada, Japan and EU. It has also refused to license the manufacture of chemical insecticides in the UAE. Wherever possible natural control methods are employed. In Dubai, for example, chemical pesticides were recently replaced in favor of a common local plant called Al Neem which has the properties of a natural pesticide. Seeds of the plant are powdered and mixed with water so that the active ingredient can be sprayed in parks and other landscaped areas. The plant also has other uses in herbal medicine, a field of research that has received increased attention in the UAE.

The sixth meeting of AGCC ministers in charge of environmental affairs was held in Doha during the period under review. Attended by a strong UAE delegation, the meeting discussed a number of environmental issues of concern in AGCC countries, such as hazardous chemicals management, unified AGCC standards and specifications, and coordination of positions with regard to regional and international agreements including the Vienna Ozone Protection Agreement, Montreal Protocol, United Nations Anti-deserti-fication Agreement and the Draft Law on Wildlife Conservation. AGCC-EU cooperation in environmental issues and the Regional Organisation for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) programme were also discussed. The Regional Strategy for the Protection of the Environment, a long-term action programme prepared by the AGCC General Secretariat in cooperation with the member states, aimed at implementing Agenda 21, also received attention.

The UAE's participation in an important new international initiative concerned with the environment was sealed by its signature to the GLOBE agreement on 7 June 1999. The acronym stands for Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment, and was signed by Health Minister and Chairman of the Federal Environmental Agency (FEA) Hamad Abdul Rahman Al Midfa and US Ambassador The odore Kattouf. GLOBE is a hands-on environmental science and education programme that unites students, educators and scientists from around the world in studying the global environment. It is aimed at enhancing the environmental awareness of individuals worldwide, increasing scientific understanding of the earth and improving students' achievement in science and mathematics. The Minister pointed out that the education ministry had nominated a number of government schools from various educational zones to join the first stage of the programme. Private schools will also be involved and the FEA will provide all necessary equipment. In line with international concerns about global warming and destruction of the ozone layer the UAE took positive steps to ban the importation of ozone depleting chemicals. At the present time any company wishing to import ozone-unfriendly material must obtain prior permission from the FEA. By the year 2005 it will be illegal to deal in any ozone depleting substances. Although the UAE's consumption of ozone-unfriendly  substances does not exceed the rate prescribed in the Montreal Protocol the Government is also concerned about controlling the re-export of harmful substances.

DOMESTIC WASTE

The UAE has one of the world's highest levels of domestic waste. Per capita household waste has reached an average annual 730 kilos in Abu Dhabi and 725 kilos in Dubai. In the US the average is 710 kilos, in Australia 690 kilos and in the UK 300 kilos. Additional refuse comes from street litter, gardens and from the waste dumped in the sea and on beaches. This has imposed a heavy burden on the municipalities. The problem is only partly solved by converting organic waste into agricultural fertilizer. Some waste such as paper, glass and tin cans can be recycled, and special incinerators have been set up to dispose of medical waste.

In Abu Dhabi waste is at present being stored and disposed of in Al Dhafra, some 70 kilometers away from the capital. The municipality has a large plant in the area for disposing of non-organic and hazardous wastes. A new modern landfill is under construction at Mussafah. Meanwhile the disposal of radioactive waste has also attracted attention. A new law will ensure supervision and inspection of all activities involving the use of radioactive elements or equipment. It will ban import, export, transport, storage, manufacture or sale of any radioactive elements without official permission from a special department for radiation control to be established at the Ministry of Health. The law was under discussion with representatives from the ministries of Electricity and Water, Interior and Justice in addition to the Federal Environment Agency. Representatives from all municipalities, the UAE University, the WHO and the IAEA also attended the discussions. After chemical and radioactive pollution, the polluting effects of noise are also of serious concern to the UAE authorities. Local by-laws state that noise caused by construction or demolition works at construction sites should not disturb people living in the neighborhood. Dubai's regulations state that noise average should not exceed 55 decibels from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and should not exceed 45 decibels in the period from 8 p.m to 7 a.m.

SETTING STANDARDS

Recognition of the high standards being achieved in a number of sectors within the general field of environment is important to the UAE in its strategy to become a leader in this field and in setting standards that will ensure a healthy environment for its citizens. The fact that Abu Dhabi Municipality's Food and Environment Control Center (FECC) became the first government institution in the Middle East and Africa to obtain the ISO 9002 international quality certificate, issued in December 1998 by Bureau Veritas Quality International (BVQI), was a source of great satisfaction to the UAE Government. The presentation ceremony was attended by Adel Mahfouz Khalifa, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme

(UNDP) Resident Representative. He said the UNDP had been working with the FECC and the UN International Trade Center to introduce the ISO 9002 quality management system in food inspection and testing, veterinary control and environmental inspection and monitoring.