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The Abu Dhabi Environment Agency (EAD) has successfully completed an assessment of Abu Dhabi’s terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The Red List of Abu Dhabi Ecosystems is part of EAD’s Abu Dhabi Assessment Project and marks the first comprehensive assessment of the region’s ecosystems.
EAD Secretary General Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri expressed satisfaction, stating: “As the first assessment of its kind in our region, the Abu Dhabi Red List of Ecosystems is an important testament to our joint efforts with global partners to develop and promote the IUCN ( IUCN) program and its knowledge products.”
“The Abu Dhabi Red List of Ecosystems will strengthen our efforts to effectively protect endangered habitats and ecosystems within the emirate by identifying and prioritizing threatened ecosystems in our plans to expand our network of protected areas. This will further enhance our mitigation efforts and climate change adaptation. The impact of climate change, especially as the UAE prepares to host COP28 later this year,” she added.
Elaborating further on the importance of the list, Dr Al Dhaheri said: “The launch of the Abu Dhabi Ecosystem Red List will play a key role in Abu Dhabi’s development. It will provide input into urban planning, land use and infrastructure projects. information, enabling us to promote the development of Abu Dhabi while protecting our environment and ecosystem.”
She further emphasized, “The Abu Dhabi Red List of Ecosystems will be published as an official IUCN document, reaching a global audience and demonstrating Abu Dhabi’s commitment to implementing internationally recognized processes at the local level to protect our biodiversity.”
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization, with a membership and volunteer base in 185 countries. Its six committees focus on driving change through education, communication and knowledge development about species status and threats.
EAD became a full member of IUCN in 2013 and is considered one of its strategic partners. In 2020, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment also joined the IUCN on behalf of the UAE.
A total of 16 terrestrial and marine ecosystems were assessed, resulting in 12 ecosystems being classified as “threatened”, two as “critically endangered”, five as “endangered” and five as endangered “Vulnerable”. Notably, no collapsed ecosystems were found within the emirate.
Commenting on the Abu Dhabi Red List of Ecosystems, Ahmed Al Hashmi, Executive Director of EAD’s Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector, said: “Abu Dhabi’s diverse species and ecosystems face numerous threats, including development, pollution and climate change.”
He further emphasized that the Abu Dhabi Red List of Ecosystems will enhance understanding of the risks faced by each ecosystem, enabling the agency to effectively build a representative network of protected areas. The list, the first of its kind in the region, covers desert ecosystems and uses assessment criteria for man-made ecosystems.
Al Hashmi added: “The Red List of Abu Dhabi Ecosystems has been an important learning experience for the EAD team, especially by working with experts from IUCN and Provita to develop a conceptual model of ecosystem function and threat identification. It also highlights Data gaps and emphasis on the need for long-term time-series data on processes and interactions.”
Al Hashmi concluded: “Together with the Abu Dhabi Red List of Species, the Abu Dhabi Red List of Ecosystems provides valuable insights into the state of our species and ecosystems and highlights the need for conservation interventions.”
Throughout the assessment process, the emirate’s ecosystems were classified according to IUCN standards, enabling protection and conservation measures and plans to be developed to ensure their long-term sustainability.
Assessments conducted in Abu Dhabi identified mountains and river valleys, coastal plains, mangroves, salt marshes and coral reef ecosystems as the most threatened. Recognizing their importance, many of these ecosystems are already included in EAD-managed protected area networks.
EAD oversees a network of 20 protected areas in Abu Dhabi, working to protect the emirate’s biodiversity, especially endangered species and ecosystems. These areas are supported by extensive monitoring of species and habitats and initiatives aimed at restoring and restoring plant and animal populations.
Through successful restoration work, EAD has ensured the conservation of important plant species such as the Al Sarh, Ghaf and Samar trees, which are an integral part of Abu Dhabi’s landscape and cultural heritage. In addition, the agency’s efforts have yielded positive results, resulting in the recovery of several threatened species, including the Arabian oryx, dugong and sea turtle.
Abu Dhabi has won international acclaim for its remarkable achievements in mangrove and coral reef restoration and marine biodiversity conservation. Under the auspices of the United Nations Decade of Recovery, these initiatives have been recognized as among the top 10 groundbreaking recovery efforts worldwide.
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