Text: Nikolai Gudalov FOR MANY, THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES IS A “DEPARTMENT STORE IN THE DESERT,” BUT NO DIRECTION FOR ECOTOURISM. HOWEVER, HERE ARE AND AMAZING NATURAL BEAUTIES, AND INTERESTING RESERVES.
Paleontologists, of course, tell us that millions of years ago there were rich forests, meadows and rivers on the Arabian Peninsula, dinosaurs, elephants, crocodiles, ancient hippos and horses were found. But a lot of water has flowed since then - not only in figurative, but also in direct meaning. Arabia has become one of the driest regions in the world, and its climate is often called extreme. The biodiversity of already very limited local flora and fauna can be affected even by minor climatic changes, which are now especially likely. The low coastline of the Emirates makes them vulnerable to possible sea level rise.
But most of all the nature of this corner of the Earth was affected, of course, by one biological species - man. The population of the UAE over the years of independence has grown more than 40 times, large flows of tourists have appeared in the country, unprecedented urban development projects have been implemented, large-scale oil fields and shipping have been launched. All this activity created the strongest pressure on the natural environment.
And yet, in recent years, the intelligent man has more and more justified his species name, starting to relate to nature more carefully and truly wisely. The UAE, fortunately, managed to make a dizzying take-off not only in economic terms. According to the so-called Environmental Performance Index, which covers almost all countries of the world, the Emirates rose from 152nd place in 2010 to 25th in 2014!
Moreover, particularly good results were achieved by such a criterion as biodiversity and the state of the natural environment. The best opportunity to get acquainted with the Emirate flora and fauna - albeit not the most vibrant and "exuberant", but beautiful even in its asceticism and severity - is given by local reserves.
In the UAE, 60 protected natural zones have been created, of which 38 land, 21 marine and 1 coastal. Together they cover 6% of the country's territory - this is more than the area of the whole emirate of Dubai. And these reserved corners have something to surprise even very sophisticated nature lovers. We mention four of them, which give an idea of the diversity of the emirate flora and fauna.
Dubai
Dubai Desert Conservation Area
Dubai Reserve (Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve) covers an area of 225 square meters. km on the southeastern border of the emirate of Dubai and is a striking example of caring for the pristine beauty of the local deserts. Back in 1999, along with the new Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa, a conservation area was created here, which subsequently, with the submission of the hotel itself, was transformed by the government into the current reserve. Representatives of canine and feline adapted to desert life live here, graceful antelopes (including the sand gazelle, which is a vulnerable species), Arabian hares, hedgehogs and shrews, rodents and bats; snakes, lizards, geckos and skinks, various insects and spiders.
The fauna is represented not only by herbs and shrubs, but also by trees. For winter, vultures with a wingspan of 2.5-3 meters fly here, and one of the largest beetles in the world, a giant long-beetle 11-centimeter long, constantly lives in the local groves. It is two to three times more than another lovely local resident - a dwarf polydent, one of the smallest mammals in nature, weighing only 1.8-3 grams. The reserve also serves to replenish the population of one vulnerable species of bustards, which are pre-grown in a special nursery.
The reserve can be visited by staying at the aforementioned hotel or by contacting those travel agencies that are allowed to organize tours there. Visitors are offered various types of entertainment (for example, camel rides, camping, atomic safaris) that have minimal impact on nature.
Fujairah
Wadi Wuraya
Of course, the Emirates is not only a desert. Wadi Wurayah Nature Reserve, located in the Hajar Mountains (Fujairah Emirate), is the first protected mountain area in the UAE. In 2010, Wadi Vuraya was also recognized as an object of international importance in accordance with the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention). By the way, in the dry emirates there are four more such significant reserves - Al-Wasba (Abu Dhabi), Ras al-Khor (Dubai), the island of Sir Bu Nair and the area of mangroves in Khor Kalba (Sharjah).
“Wadi” in Arabic is a valley, most often formed by a riverbed, which is periodically filled with water. In Wadi Vuraya with its picturesque, relatively cool slopes, backwaters and waterfalls, 20 species of mammals live, and the survival of most of them is of concern on a global scale. Among them are the Arabian tar (an animal from the bovine family similar to a wild goat), caracal (desert lynx), mountain gazelle, and even, possibly, the Arabian leopard. Of the more than 80 species of native birds, many are also at risk. Wadi Vuraya is also famous for its dragonflies, and out of 22 of their species, one is endemic (i.e., found only in the Emirates and Oman), which was previously considered extinct. There are many other endemics in the reserve. In Wadi Vuraya, even some previously unknown insects were discovered. The recent closure of the reserve for "rest" from visitors and research is evidence of how animals are taken care of here: during this "prevention", experts marked ... more than 400 dragonflies! To do this, they were carefully caught in the net, and then "seated" on a magnetized surface to mark their wings, and subsequently observe and study their life.
Abu Dhabi
Al wahba
No less amazing is the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, located about 40 km southeast of the center of Abu Dhabi. It was created back in 1988 by the founder and first president of the independent UAE, Sheikh Zayed, and in 1998 received the status of a nature reserve after, as far as we know, for the first time since 1922 in all of Arabia, pink flamingos successfully reproduced. On the territory of the reserve there are dunes, fossil sands, wetlands and extensive salt marshes (in Arabic - "sabha"), which previously were covered with moisture only during periods of winter rainfall, and now they are constantly filled with specially purified water. "Residents" of this corner can find here an aquatic environment "for every taste" - hypersaline, brackish and fresh.
Al-Wahba is inhabited by more than 250 species of birds, many species of dragonflies, aquatic inhabitants, 37 species of plants grow here. The reserve gives shelter to a bird in critical danger - a rattle, as well as such vulnerable species as the great spotted eagle and burial ground. Here, with great care, belong to the thorny tail - large, very ancient lizards up to 85 cm in length, very warlike, but dangerous except for small insects. Previously, the local Bedouins, who call them "dobb", actively hunted lizards for meat, fat (which was considered medicinal) and skin, but since 1982 they began to guard the tailtail.
In al-Wahba you can also see a stilt - a funny bird weighing almost 200 grams, but having an elongated elegant beak and treading on very long pink legs. But, of course, none of the local inhabitants in their grace can compare with flamingos - beauties weighing up to 4 kg and a height of one and a half meters.
Their population - up to 4 thousand individuals - spends autumn, winter and spring here, and in the summer it mainly goes to Central Asia, but some birds can be admired all year round. Convenient routes were laid in the reserve to observe them and a special shelter was arranged. In total, 20 thousand flamingos live in Abu Dhabi! You can walk around the Al-Wahba Nature Reserve only at a strictly defined time - on Thursdays and Saturdays from 8.00 to 14.00.
www.ddcr.org
Murauah Marine Biosphere Reserve
Finally, one of the most striking examples of the wealth of protected marine areas of the UAE is the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve, which is about 130-150 km from Abu Dhabi. It has been protected since 2001, and in 2007 it became the first and remains the largest among marine biosphere reserves in the region (its area is 4225 sq. Km). The reserve consists of many islands, among which the most significant is called Bu Tina. The latter was even chosen as one of the 28 finalists of the New Seven Natural Wonders of the World Competition. Here, in vast mangroves, in coral reefs and in shallow, sun-heated “meadows” of underwater grasses, diverse fauna representatives live - birds (silver caplet, osprey, terns), dolphins (humpback dolphins, bottlenose dolphins), fish and coral polyps (about 70 species), sea turtles (4 species). Among them are the critically endangered species of bisse sea turtles, the endangered green turtle, and a vulnerable bird species, the cormorants of Socotra Island.
But the real "calling card" of Murauah is the dugong - a vulnerable species of marine mammals, which are also called sea cows and which formed the basis of ancient legends about treacherous sirens. These romantic fantasies were probably inspired by the outlines of dugongs leading a nocturnal lifestyle, as well as the sighs they emit when they emerge. In fact, the "sea bride" is a very ridiculous-looking, shy, but very cute big animal up to 4 m long and weighing up to 600 kg, "grazing" in meadows with underwater grasses and eating algae. Locals have hunted dugongs since the Stone Age, but now they are strictly guarded. The “herd” of these amazing “cows” in Murauaha is probably the second largest on the planet, and the whole emirate of Abu Dhabi has the most dense population of “sirens” in the world (3,000 animals).
Now the Murauah reserve is mainly open only to family members of the former inhabitants of these islands. It is hoped that in the future he will be able to accept a wider audience, plans to attract which have already been put forward by the government. And then the inhabitants and guests of the Emirates will be able to touch another - and, perhaps, the most unusual - the wealth of this country.
