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ABU DHABI, 13th January, 2023 (WAM) — H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Naha, Representative of the Ruler in the Al Dhafra District and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Environment Authority of Abu Dhabi, EAD His Excellency Young said there was a need to continue the agency’s efforts to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a leader in environmental action, research and research. These will enhance EAD’s capabilities in the fields of environmental protection, natural resource conservation and biodiversity, contributing to sustainable development.
HH Sheikh Hamdan said EAD has always looked to the future and has no limits to its environmental ambitions, which has resulted in its important achievements resonating locally and regionally. The agency has received recognition from the most prominent international environmental agencies and organisations, a key highlight being the agency’s Abu Dhabi Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Restoration Programme, which was recognized late last year by UNEP as one of the ten flagship initiatives of the programme. (UNEP).
His Highness said that the EAD will fulfill the emirate’s aspirations to enhance Abu Dhabi’s global profile as a future-proof city and to project a healthy and important environmental legacy for future generations. This will be achieved through a range of programs including: EAD’s Corporate Strategy 2025-2021, and the Environmental Centennial 2071 initiative launched last year, which aims to develop a comprehensive and flexible environmental vision outlining its future prospects for the next five years. Importantly, it will provide a balanced development model that takes into account nature, green development, and environmentally friendly knowledge and technological progress.
His Highness chaired the EAD Board meeting at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC), attended by Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defense Affairs and Vice-Chairman of the EAD Board of Directors; Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment; Chairman of the Ministry of Community Development Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili; Falah Mohamed Al Ahbabi, Chairman, Ministry of Municipalities and Transport; Major General Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Commander-in-Chief, Abu Dhabi Police; Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director, EAD; and Ahmad Saqr Al Suwaidi, Chief Executive Officer, ADNOC Offshore.
Also present were Ahmed Matar Al Dhaheri, Head of the Office of His Highness’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region; and Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of EAD.
During the meeting, the most important achievements of EAD in 2022 were reviewed. His Highness affirmed that these achievements would not have been possible without the diligent follow-up, vision and direction of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and his continued support, which has enabled EAD to achieve Achievement of excellence, environmental leadership.
The meeting reviewed the most prominent of these achievements, including in the field of biodiversity conservation. One example is EAD’s awarding of more than 2,700 falconry licenses this season and highlights the success of the agency’s new online falconry license service activated through the TAMM app, a one-stop shop for direct access to all Abu Dhabi government services .
New marine and terrestrial species discovered by EAD over the past year have also been highlighted, including the world-first discovery of a new Eagle Ray species in a fish stock survey, and the first record of four new species in multiple nature reserves belonging to Abu Dhabi. Compare. New marine and terrestrial species discovered by EAD over the past year were also highlighted, including the world-first discovery of a new Eagle Ray species in a fish stock survey. Additionally, four scientifically new species of terrestrial insects have been discovered in a protected area in Abu Dhabi. These included two species of small microbees (Leylaiya citrina and Leylaiya medioccipitalis), recorded from Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, Barqa Soqour Reserve and Al Tawi PA. Two new species of scientific wasps (Epoligosita arabica and Ufens curvipenis) were also found in Houbara Reserve and Al Wathba Wetland Reserve.
The meeting also discussed EAD’s successful breeding of more than 4,000 oysters by 2022 at an experimental farm established for the production of freshwater pearl oysters. The project, which aims to farm 10,000 oysters by 2024, will enhance learning and research.
The Agency also recorded an increase in the landings of key fish species by the end of 2022 compared to 2021 due to the Agency’s decisions and measures related to the fisheries sector to protect fish stocks.
Also reviewed were the Agency’s efforts to develop seedlings of native plants at a nursery in the Al Dhafra area and the first successful numbering of 3,500 Ghaf and Samar trees in Abu Dhabi as part of the Agency’s local tree numbering, which is scheduled to start in 2021.
Board members were briefed on the Agency’s plans to operate a research vessel, a mobile marine research center designed to conduct scientific research and enhance knowledge of marine habitats and aquatic life, including sea turtles and dugongs, in addition to supporting fisheries and monitoring fish Key indicators to understand the stock.
Also highlighted was the IAEA’s first atmospheric research expedition, carried out by its research vessel, which was equipped and operated by researchers from the Cyprus Institute’s Center for Climate and Atmospheric Research and the Max Planck Institute of Chemistry. Advanced monitoring equipment. The expedition, the first of its kind in the world, covered three continents and eight major bodies of water, and involved 30 researchers working on air quality, climate and plastic pollution.
The board also reviewed the achievements in the field of environmental quality, EAD issued 1,536 environmental permits for 841 industrial establishments, 282 commercial projects and 413 development projects, and conducted 250 environmental studies review. The agency’s inspection teams also conducted 1,056 visits to industrial, development and commercial sites, with an environmental compliance rate of 97 percent.
The agency has also managed to reduce the inspection process time by 80% thanks to the new electronic inspection system “Eltezam”. In addition, 875 environmental violations were recorded and corrected in the industrial, development and commercial sectors. Also, for the first time, deep groundwater wells between 700 and 1,000 meters deep have been characterized to determine their optimal use.
The approved plan under EAD examines recent developments in environmental policy and legislative work, in addition to climate change developments, and EAD’s role in supporting Abu Dhabi’s local, federal and international efforts to address and mitigate climate change.
Abu Dhabi’s climate change policy, which is used to develop an emirate-level climate change strategy, was highlighted during the meeting. Also presented was the agency’s participation in the meeting of the National Committee to Develop a National Net Zero Strategy to 2050, and EAD’s participation in the negotiations and side events of the country’s delegation at the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27), last November Held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
In the area of ​​environmental awareness, the focus will be on the agency’s innovative “BAADR” app to promote environmental conservation practices, which will be launched in 2022. This is a free environmental app that aims to change the environmental behavior of Abu Dhabi residents, citizens and residents and inspire them to become leaders in the process of positive transformation.
In the first half of last year, 1,816 participants used the app and 697 participated in environmental volunteering projects created by EAD. In addition, more than 800 participants will participate in cleanup campaigns that will be implemented in the second half of 2022, and these activities will help promote the development of citizen science. In addition, 5,677 people attended 65 sessions designed to educate the community on the importance of citizen science to protect the environment.
The main focus of Mission Zero, a community movement launched by EAD last year, is the ambitious long-term goal of zero single-use plastic waste and zero carbon emissions without any significant impact on biodiversity. review. The campaign is considered an important part of the policy on single-use plastics and includes the organization of numerous outings, events and events to urge people to use sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives.
The meeting reviewed the range of awards EAD has won in 2022, including the Khalifa International Date Palm Award, where EAD was ranked first in the Production and Development Project category and second in the Applied National Standards Award. Business Continuity Management System at Abu Dhabi Government Entity Level. The agency also won a Gold Award for ‘Best Use of Social Media – Small Budget’ at the MENA Digital Awards 2021 and was awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certificate.
Likewise, Blue Carbon’s environmental and social responsibility projects were selected as 12 Uplink Ocean Top Innovations by the World Economic Forum.The agency has also received the Quality Management and Implementation Award from the European Association for Quality Research in Barcelona, ​​Spain, and the Middle East Government and Smart Cities Excellence Award
The efforts and achievements of Falcon Hospital Abu Dhabi in continuing to deliver its unique services were also reviewed. The hospital treated a total of 7,272 falcons in 2022, along with 10,780 additional animals and performed 78,393 laboratory tests. The facility received 6,558 visitors as part of the hospital’s ecotourism program, which has won many international awards.
His Highness commended the achievement of 50 annual key performance indicators for 2022, covering various environmental fields, including waste, sea water, air and soil quality, biodiversity and groundwater.
The meeting also reviewed the EAD’s 2022 financial report, in addition to the performance of capital projects implemented by the agency. These include the establishment of the Plant Genetic Resources Center (Gene Bank), the establishment of the Al Dhafra Regional Seed Conservation Center, the design of the EAD Headquarters and Environmental Research Center, and the establishment of the Al Sila Environmental Management Center Port. In addition to replacement of the fence in the EAD Nature Reserve, establishment of seawater cages for fish farming around Delma and Sila’a islands, establishment of a Wildlife Conservation Centre, and the second phase of the project, the Delika Wildlife in Abu Dhabi Conservation Center builds new animal collection facility.
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