Over 2,000 native trees will be planted at Al Watba Reserve
abu dhabi — The Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) has launched the third phase of its Al Wathba Wetland Reserve Habitat Rehabilitation Programme, which includes the planting of a natural barrier of 2,500 native trees.
Ethel (Tamarixaphylla), also known as Tarfa, is the main native tree species that will be planted as part of this programme. This fastgrowing species, considered one of the most important native trees in the UAE, can tolerate extreme heat, drought and salinity. Other species include the Ghada (Haloxylonpersicum), Arak (Salvadorapersica), and Ghaf (Prosopis cineraria). All these species need very little water and minimum care for survival.
To kick off the third phase, which will last for two months, and, as part of a sponsorship agreement, the EAD’s secretary general Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, and Adel Ahmed Albuainain, chief executive officer, Dolphin Energy Limited, planted a number of seedlings at the reserve. The programme is also in line with The Year of Zayed as it honors and commemorates the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s deep connection to austainability.
In 1998, after he observed the successful breeding of the flamingo for the first time at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, he established the site as a protected area, to be managed under the EAD.
Al Wathba programme, consisting of four phases, began in October 2017 and will last for three years. The reserve is now home to more than 4,000 greater flamingo, 260 species of birds that rely on the lake and wet areas for feeding and breeding.