SHARJAH \/\/ An island\u2019s delicate ecosystem has been declared a protected area and added to a global list of unspoilt wildlife habitats of international importance.<\/p>\n
Sir Bu Nair, about 112 kilometres off the coast of Sharjah, is now covered by the Ramsar Convention, a treaty for the preservation of wetlands signed by the UAE in 2007.<\/p>\n
The pearl-shaped island is the second area of Sharjah to be given protection, after Al Ghafiya mangroves in Kalba on the east coast.<\/p>\n
Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, made Sir Bu Nair a nature reserve in 2000. It had been a camp for pearl divers.<\/p>\n
\u201cSir Bu Nair certainly deserves its recognition as a wetland of international importance,\u201d said Lew Youn, Ramsar\u2019s senior regional adviser for Asia-Oceania. \u201cDespite its relatively small size of just 1,300 hectares, the site supports a high level of biodiversity for the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cForty coral species and 76 reef-fish species have been recorded, including seven coral species that are classified in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List as being vulnerable.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe island is an important nesting site for the critically endangered hawksbill turtle, and supports the regional breeding population of the sooty gull.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Youn said the designation of Sir Bu Nair as a Ramsar site would help to ensure its long-term conservation and provide international standards for its management.<\/p>\n
Other areas covered by the convention include Ras Al Khor in Dubai, Wadi Wuraya National Park in Fujairah, and Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n
Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, director general of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, said the protection of Sir Bu Nair had started with studies aimed at preserving its fragile environment.<\/p>\n
She said the island, with its natural beauty and sandy beaches, and its cultural and historical importance, was now poised to develop into an eco-tourism centre. The authority is also working with Shurooq, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, to coordinate plans to attract visitors.<\/p>\n
Marwan Al Sarkal, the director of Shurooq, said any tourism projects would allow people to visit the area without damaging its environment.<\/p>\n
There are 2,169 Ramsar sites worldwide, making it the largest network of conservation areas in the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SHARJAH \/\/ An island\u2019s delicate ecosystem has been declared a protected area and added to a global list of unspoilt wildlife habitats of international importance. Sir Bu Nair, about 112 kilometres off the coast of Sharjah, is now covered by the Ramsar Convention, a treaty for the preservation of wetlands signed by the UAE in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"","spay_email":""},"categories":[11,67,157,47],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bbrace.net\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8033"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bbrace.net\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bbrace.net\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bbrace.net\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bbrace.net\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8033"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bbrace.net\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8033\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bbrace.net\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8033"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bbrace.net\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8033"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bbrace.net\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8033"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}