TAKING ACTION TODAY FOR A LIVING PLANET TOMORROW

Emirates Wildlife Society in association with WWF (EWS-WWF) is a local environmental agency established in February 2001 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan to implement conservation actions for the protection of local biodiversity

VOL 12 SUMMER EDITION 2006

THIS ISSUE:The Marine Conservation Forum of September 2006 couldn’t have been a greater success, with conservationists getting together to confer on the status and future of marine turtles and coral reefs in the Gulf. This is Dar Al Khair’s lead feature, followed by project and other news.The Wadi Wurayah project is headed for its second phase; and at least one Higher College of Technology will, without a doubt, face another Eco Challenge in 2007!On the Corporate pages, we show readers how and why the Panda means business.

Marine Conservation ForumExchanging information, sharing experiences

The Gulf provides habitat for five of the planet’s seven marine turtle species. It also supports coral reefs, West Asia (1) accounting for eight per cent of the world’s mapped reefs. While these contribute substantially to marine biodiversity, ground reality is that both turtles and reefs are as gravely threatened in this region, as they are the world over.

All five turtle species fall into either the endangered or critically endangered categories; and two-thirds of the Gulf’s coral reefs are classified as at risk. With threats persisting and growing, EWS-WWF considered it important for concerned nations to congregate and strategize about the region’s marine biodiversity.

At the Marine Conservation Forum held on September 11 – 14, 2006 in Abu Dhabi, over 80 marine experts, government officials, and environmental NGOs from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Yemen, Iran and Eritrea gathered in the UAE capital to deliberate on the region’s sea turtle and coral reef resources, the perils these face and possible conservation solutions.

The format of the Forum, which started off with experts sharing an international perspective on conservation efforts, followed by country presentations and break-out sessions for smaller focus-groups, was highly conducive to learning and interaction. The highlights of proceedings are presented in sections that follow.

Sea turtles

The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and green turtle (Chelonia mydas) regularly occur in the waters of the Gulf and Arabian Sea. Loggerhead (Caretta caretta), olive

ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) turtles are also spotted. All species, other than the leatherback, nest in the region.

Nesting beaches occur in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Iran, but the finest are found along the coasts of Oman and Yemen. In Oman, an estimated 30,000 loggerhead turtles nest

on Masirah Island each year, making this possibly the world’s largest nesting ground for the species, while some 13,000 – 20,000 annual nesting female green turtles congregate on Ras Al Hadd and Ras Al Jinz. Loggerheads also nest along Socotra Island in Yemen, which additionally hosts some of the Arabian Peninsula’s most important nesting beaches for green and hawksbill turtles on the Sharmah – Jethmoon coast by the Gulf of Aden.

Coral reefs

Coral habitats (with patch, platform and fringing reefs) surround major islands and offshore banks in all countries of the Gulf. It is not surprising that the best coral ecosystems are also where the greatest turtle populations occur - Yemen and Oman coasts, where reefs

provide ample foraging grounds. About 10 per cent of Oman’s 300 km coastline, abutting the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea, supports reef-forming corals at locations including Musandam Peninsula, Masirah Island, Mirbat-Salalah and Damaniyat Islands.

It is, however, Yemen’s reefs (Red Sea and Gulf of Aden) that are the crown jewels. With 253 stony coral species,

Socotra archipelago is one of the richest sites for reefs in the western Indian Ocean. Extensive and diverse coral growth is also observed along the Red Sea coast of the country.

In the course of the Forum, there was an astonishing revelation from Iran: The presence of soft coral (2). Past research had ruled out the presence of soft coral in the Gulf. Surveys in 2004, however, revealed three genera of soft coral from seven Iranian islands, including some new records for the Gulf.

Threats

Marine biodiversity in the region faces extensive threats, a recent and most damaging one in almost all Gulf states being the unprecedented pace of construction along, and off, the

coastline. Destructive and wasteful fishing is another.

If turtles are falling prey to shrimp trawlers in Bahrain and entangling in gill nets along Qatar, then coral reefs of Oman are getting smothered by abandoned fishing gear and those in Kuwait being crushed by boat anchors carelessly dropped on them. If it is coral collection for ornamental use in Iran and coral fishes for the aquarium trade in Yemen; it is turtle eggs for consumption in Qatar and four wheel drive - vehicles on turtle nesting beaches in the UAE.

And there are more: marine pollution (oil, litter, other debris), thermal effluents, human encroachment on beaches, insufficient research data, absence of scientific expertise… the list of threats seems endless.

But perhaps, the most bemoaned at the Forum was the lackadaisical enforcement of environmental laws and regulations in most states. Rarely are projects halted, or even modified, following an environmental impact assessment report. Developers, in most cases, exercise greater influence on decision makers than the environment protection authorities!

Undoubtedly, the shared species of the Gulf are gravely imperiled.

Conservation action

Some efforts are, nevertheless, being made to conserve marine biodiversity conservation. These include turtle

tagging to study species migration; coral reef surveys and research; fisheries bycatch reduction (Bahrain is testing a BRD - Bycatch Reduction Device); establishing artificial reefs to compensate for destroyed natural reefs and others. There are Marine Protected Areas too, e.g., Marawah and Al Yasat (UAE), Damaniyat Islands (Oman), and Dihamri (Yemen).

Delegates at the Forum felt, however, that far more needs to be done if marine biodiversity is to be protected: establish more Marine Protected Areas (3) strengthen enforcement laws and regulations related to natural resources and, significantly, reform the environmental impact assessment process. Additional recommendations include greater stakeholder input into decision-making and improved collaboration and communication between national and regional conservation organisations.

If anything can steer these recommendations towards action, it is sustained dialogue between the region’s environmental agencies. This, the Marine Conservation Forum has successfully initiated.

“There were some concrete action points that were agreed upon by the participating countries and we believe that a good start has been made towards the development of a regional marine conservation strategy.”

Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Director EWS-WWF

“It is in the interest of investors to also invest in the environment, especially as it is the very attractiveness of the area that brings tourism and business to the country.”Dr. Susan Lieberman, Director Global

Species Programme of WWF, and lead facilitator of the Marine Conservation Forum

(1) West Asia includes countries of the Arabian Peninsula – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Yemen; and those of Mashriq – Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and Gaza.2

(2) Soft corals lack a hard external skeleton and contribute in only a small way to the formation of the limestone structure of the reef. Nevertheless, they form an important part of the coral ecosystem, displaying a dazzling array of colours and wide range of colony shapes.

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Hawksbill turtles are regularly seen in waters of the Gulf. Courtesy of Ocean World Productions

Tubastrea coral. Courtesy of Ocean World Productions

(3) These are some on a wish list of Protected Areas (PA) voiced by delegates: Halul Island (Qatar); a Marine PA including all three seas in Oman – Arabian Sea, Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman; and a number of PAs along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coasts of Yemen.

Sponsors

First Gulf Bank was the main sponsor of the Marine Conservation Forum. Tourism Development &Investment Company and TOTAL were co-sponsors, and Dolphin Energy a support sponsor of the event. Zafar Habib Khan, Chief Investment Officer, First Gulf

Bank speaking at the Inauguration Forum

Delegates at the Marine Conservation Forum (September 11 – 14, 2006 Abu Dhabi)

FRESHWATER

Wadi WurayahMountain Protected Area

From January to June 2006 EWS-WWF, in association with the Fujairah Municipality, conducted a baseline survey to evaluate the potential and feasibility of creating a Protected Area in Wadi Wurayah. In this first phase of the projectl Sixty-nine aquatic habitats were characterised (type, shape, size, depth) and their location recorded with Global Positioning System (GPS). l Abiotic (physical and chemical) and biotic (vegetation, invertebrates, fish and amphibians) parameters of 25 wadi freshwater habitats were surveyed in detail. l Twenty-three water samples were

taken in situ and analyzed by the Fujairah Municipality Food and Environment Laboratory for physical-chemical parameters, revealing the exceptional quality of the surface water using World Health Organisation standards.l Vegetation surveys were done during the exploration of wadis; and photographic records and samples were collected for further authentification. Mammal, bird, reptile and amphibian sightings were recorded and mapped. l Sixteen archaeological sites were identified and mapped. These included two graveyards, several tombs and a rock-carving site.l A total of 150 resident and non-resident local people were interviewed during a social survey to determine the use of Wadi Wurayah by local tribes.

Students of the Fujairah Women’s College, on a training programme with Fujairah Municipality, were involved in the survey.l Fujairah Municipality has provided a proper office and technical assistance. Municipality staff was seconded to EWS-WWF to undertake all field trips and survey work with the EWS-WWF team and to participate in the community and socio-cultural research.

EWS-WWF in the UAEPROJECT NEWS

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EDUCATION

The EWS-WWF Eco Challenge 2006

Eco Challenge 2006 introduced topical conservation issues to 2nd year students studying Communications Technology at the Abu Dhabi Women’s College. The purpose was to give them an opportunity to develop environment-related marketing strategies and advertising campaigns, while promoting conservation awareness. The students thus prepared campaigns on protecting coral reefs from unplanned coastal development, using posters and films.

A children’s film and poster to sway public opinion, were prize winning

entries of the campaign. The film, “We are coral reefs,” sporting a jingle of the same name, scored the highest, followed by a poster that showed construction looming over a coral graveyard and the slogan “Why are you killing us?”The EWS-WWF Eco Challenge will continue in years ahead. As in 2006, it will engage youth in deliberations concerning nature conservation, encouraging them to work for nature, and helping future communication professionals become environmentally conscious citizens.

MARINE

Marine Conservation Forum

The Marine Conservation Forum brought together conservationists from the region to discuss and develop action plans for protecting coral reefs and sea turtles. Participants from the GCC, Yemen, Iran and Eritrea attended the Forum, which took place on September 11 – 14, 2006 in Abu Dhabi.

FEEDBACK

To the editor, Dar al KhairThank you for providing us with a copy of Dar Al Khair’s spring edition. I would like to congratulate you for coming out with another excellent issue. Your topics covered a refreshing cross section of the various projects and activities that EWS-WWF UAE and WWF worldwide are tirelessly pursuing. Of particular interest is your feature article on the partnership between EWS-WWF and HCT (Higher Colleges of Technology). This is a brilliant initiative to instill in our youth that the issue of environment should be non-negotiable even when striving for development and also to orient them to the actual relevant environmental issues that need to be addressed. We certainly look forward to your future issues with the same informative content.

Habiba Al-MarashiChairperson, Emirates Environmental Group (EEG)Board Member, UN Global Compact

Prize winning poster designed by students of Abu Dhabi Women’s College for the EWS-WWF Eco Challenge 2006

Rashid and Saeed from Fujairah Municipality are part of the Wadi Wurayah survey team

Marine Conservations Forum conversations:

Concerns, controversies, solutions

“Sandy beaches for turtle nesting have joined the

endangered list”

“Why are people not interested in soft corals? Why is no funding available for the studies and research on soft

corals?”

“If unplanned coastal development continues,

conservation will be left far behind”

“Everyone is building these crazy islands! The desert is being extended from land into the sea”

“Are the artificial reefs being constructed by developers

compensation for natural ones destroyed?”

“Is cash compensation or support for conservation (at another location) from developers a good policy

to adopt knowing that, if a political decision has been taken, nothing will stop coastal projects from

going ahead? Or is accepting compensation an endorsement of damage to the environment on

account of development?”

“You cannot practice any marine conservation without the involvement

of the fishing community”

“Physical obstacles to turtle hatchings reaching the sea on

Iran’s beaches is not motor vehicle tracks, litter and debris; nor is it human footprints. It is numerous body pits of nesting female turtles themselves!”

“Turtles are not popular with decision makers. They are not

considered part of cultural heritage”

“During surveys in Bahrain, turtles were sighted more often dead than alive.

Those alive were mainly juveniles”

“The circle hook has proven to be better than the traditionally used “J”

shaped hook, which can be snagged by turtles, leading to suffocation or internal

bleeding if swallowed. The circle hook is also designed not to damage

fish. Circle hooks are available from a Norwegian company - Mustad”

Conservation partner

Nokia and WWF signed an agreement to launch a series of discussions with stakeholders and a new learning programme for Nokia employees around the world.

To implement this cooperation Nokia and WWF have created a Learning Initiative with an intranet site Connect to Protect as its main e-learning and training vehicle (with the objective to mobilise more than 50,000 Nokia employees). Parallel to this internal learning

initiative, WWF and Nokia are engaging with a number of stakeholders through workshops, which will facilitate active dialogue and exchange on general environmental issues as well as those more specifically related to Nokia’s business.

Ultimately, the desired outcome is that Nokia’s environmental performance will increase as a result of this agreement and that Nokia can make a contribution to nature conservation. The cooperation is also seen as an opportunity to reach new target audiences as well as enabling both organisations to learn business

practices from each other.

Media partner

Since October 2003, WWF has been involved in a successful partnership with Germany’s international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle Radio, which broadcasts to an estimated 65 million listeners around the globe, with a special focus on Africa and Asia.

The partnership centres on a weekly environment programme, Living Planet, which explores how over-consumption of the Earth’s natural resources is

CORPORATE NEWSWWF’s work with business world wide

WWF sees a future in which business makes a positive contribution to the well being of society and the planet. To achieve this, the global conservation organisation engages in challenging and innovative partnerships with business to drive change. WWF’s partnerships with the private sector not only provide conservation benefits, which help it carry out its mission, but also provides it the opportunity to work together with the business sector to increase its commitments to sustainable development and environmentally sound business practices.

Here are just a few examples of WWF’s work with business.

putting pressures on different ecosystems around the world.

WWF and Deutsche Welle share a belief in the need to raise awareness that sustainable development – maintaining a balance between human needs and finite natural resources – is key to alleviating poverty and protecting the environment.

The English service of Deutsche Welle Radio broadcasts around the clock, to listeners all over the world.

Climate Saver

Sony will cut CO2 emissions from both operations and its product range as part of a deal struck with WWF.

As part of its commitment to join WWF’s Climate Savers Programme (4), Sony will cut its absolute CO2 emissions by seven per cent by 2010, set against 2000 emissions of 2,183,765 tons. The international electronics company

also intends to increase energy efficiency in all its production facilities, switching fuel from oil to renewable energy sources and to natural gas (the latter has fewer CO2 emissions per unit energy produced compared to oil or coal). Sony will also replace some strong greenhouse gases used in specific production systems with more climate-friendly options. The company’s commitment includes all its subsidiaries and its production facilities globally, including Japan, China, Europe and the United States. Importantly, Sony officially supports the view that the world must stay below the danger threshold of 2°C warming of global average temperature above pre-industrial times. Corporate supporter

WWF and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (5), one of the world’s shipping leaders signed an agreement last year that promotes conservation of the high seas — areas of the open ocean outside a nation’s exclusive economic zone.The three-year agreement aims to strengthen the work of WWF’s global Marine Programme on high seas

conservation and WWF-Norway’s Endangered Seas Programme. Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s welcome support is helping WWF work to improve high seas governance as well as creating and developing practical conservation solutions, such as High Seas Marine Protected Areas (HSMPAs). WWF’s high seas conservation strategy also aims to reduce the threats of illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing and to develop means to better manage global tuna fishing fleets and reduce bycatch of marine species like dolphins, marine turtles and sharks. The WWF-Wallenius Wilhelmsen cooperation came at a time when governments of the world were being lobbied by scientists and the conservation community to take immediate action to protect the resources of the deep sea from bottom trawling. In recent years, scientists have discovered cold water coral reef systems that have taken thousands of years to develop, only to be destroyed in a few hours by trawling. Seamounts — underwater sea mountains that host high biodiversity and numerous fish stocks — have also come under threat in recent years as fishermen seek new places to catch dwindling numbers of fish.

EWS-WWF Corporate Club Members in the UAEAME Info, Canon Middle East, T. Choithram & Sons, DHL, Dolphin Energy Ltd, Khaleej Times,

Landmark Group, National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Sony Gulf FZE

(4) WWF’s Climate Savers Programme is a business innovation initiative aimed at mobilizing companies to cut CO2 emissions.

(5) With offices throughout the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics provides global ocean transportation and logistics management services to customers.

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Sea birds in the wake of a deep sea trawler. Conservation of the high seas is an important part of WWF’s Marine Programme © WWF Canon / Mike R. JACKSON

Iberian lynx Lynx pardinus. An interview with WWF – Spain about threats to the species was aired on the weekly Living Planet programme of Deutsche Welle Radio © WWF Spain / Luis Suarez

The Climate Savers logo stands for corporations willing to make innovative new commitments © WWF – US

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Marine turtles are our ocean’s ambassadors that are both flagship and umbrella species. They appeal to the public for their preservation and the protection of their habitat such as coral reefs, helping to protect a number of other species that depend on the same habitat. Their protection also generates broader marine conservation work on best practices in fisheries, integrated coastal management and marine protected areas.

EWS-WWF staff:Ahmed, Shahbaz Project Coordinator tel +971 4 3537761 sahmed@wwfuae.aeAl Mubarak, Razan Director tel +971 2 6347117 ralmubarak@ead.aeAmal Ayyash Executive Secretary tel +971 2 6347117 aayyash@ead.ae De Roy, Rashmi Communications tel +971 4 3537761 rderoy@wwfuae.aeKassem, Manar Marketing & Fundraising tel +971 4 3537761 mkassem@wwfuae.aeLaunay, Dr. Frédéric Conservation Director tel +971 2 6347117 flaunay@ead.aePerry, Lisa S. Programme Development tel +971 4 3537761 lperry@wwfuae.ae Tourenq, Dr. Christophe Manager, Wadi Wurayah Project tel +971 9 2281543 ctourenq@wwfuae.ae

Address: EWS-WWF Head Office P.O Box 45553 Abu Dhabi, UAEDubai Office P.O. Box 45977 Dubai, UAE

Editor, Dar al Khair: Rashmi De Roy, EWS-WWF; Design: Nick CrawleyRead Dar Al khair on line or download it from: http://www.ameinfo.com/news/Arabian_Environment/index.html and http://www.panda.org/uae

Cover picture: Arabia’s coral reefs. Courtesy of Ocean World Productions

OFFICE NEWS Tragic loss for nature conservationIt has been a unfathomable loss for the WWF Family, Nepal and for conservation around the world. We at WWF lost seven of our dear colleagues, our friends, in a helicopter crash in Ghunsa, Nepal on September 23. They were returning from a ceremony at which the government of Nepal handed over the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area to local communities. Also aboard were several of Nepal’s most distinguished defenders of natural resources and overseas specialists.We mourn the loss of all passengers and crew on the flight. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of Chandra Gurung, Mingma Norbu Sherpa, Harka Gurung, Yeshi Lama, Jill Bowling Schlaepfer, Jennifer Headley and Matthew Preece.

We have a new Director! Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak who was Managing Director of Emirates Wildlife Society, became Director, EWS-WWF effective July 1st. We congratulate and warmly welcome her. Former Director, Dr. Frederic Launay, has taken up the decidedly important position of Conservation Director, EWS-WWF.

Children from Dubai English Speaking School did it again! As in 2005, they raised funds for EWS-WWF and nature conservation by the sale of various items, including their own toys, at a ‘Charity Market.’ Thank you! We will put your money to good

environmental use.

The EWS-WWF office in Abu Dhabi has temporarily shifted to the 10th level of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry building while their offices on the 8th level of the same building are being refurbished.

The support we received from volunteers at the Marine Conservation Forum is greatly appreciated. Nissreen Zahlawi, Kate Reeves, Suaad Al Harthi, Marina Antonopoulou and Emma Smart worked tirelessly all four days of the conference and more. Can’t thank you enough ladies!

Courtesy of Ocean World Productions