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Qarnein Island Protected Area United Arab Emirates SUMMARY The announcement of Protected Area status for Qarnein Island and its unique ecosystem makes it the rst internatio- nally recognized Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Arabian Gulf. Under the personal supervision of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chairman of Abu-Dhabi Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA), Qar- nein is a ne example of integrated conservation, including natural marine and terrestrial ecosystems, through traditio- nal Islamic principles of conservation and natural resource management. The declaration of the Qarnein MPA will also help to promote sustainable sheries management in the southern Arabian Gulf. WWF International recognizes this signicant conservation initiative as a Gift to the Earth and highlights this establish- ment of the rst marine protected area in the Arabian Gulf as an example to be replicated at a wider scale not only in the UAE, but also in other parts of the region. In the longer term, WWF is working to establish an ecologically-represen- tative network of marine protected areas in the Arabian Sea Global 200 ecoregion – a conservation priority for WWF. THE CONSERVATION BENEFITS The designation of the island as a terrestrial and marine protected area, the establishment of a management plan for the island and its species of concern, and the initiation of monitoring activities for the various programmes is a long term commitment towards ecosystem sustainability. Qarnein Island has been recognized by Birdlife Internatio- nal as an Important Bird Area in the Middle East and is now recognized as one of the most important sites for bree- ding seabirds anywhere in the Arabian Gulf with popula- tions of regional and international importance. The main species breeding on the island are lesser-crested terns (20,000 pairs), bridle terns, Saunders little terns, white- cheeked terns, sooty gulls (200+ breeding pairs), red-billed tropic birds and Socotran cormorants. Some of these colo- nies represent more than 1% of the total world breeding population of the species. In addition to seabirds, the island and its marine shore hosts endangered green turtles, and the hawksbill turtle nests on the beaches – one of the last breeding areas in the region for this critically endangered species. In winter the rare lea- therback turtle has been seen. The rich coastal waters are a spawning ground for a wide variety of local sh species, providing food sources for the turtles. THE GIFT TO THE EARTH WWF recognizes HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his exemplary role in establishing full protection of the Qarnein Island. This sets a glowing example for the United Arab Emirates government and other countries in the region to encourage them to set up an ecologically-representative network of MPAs in the Arabian Sea ecoregion. Gift to the Earth #82, 5 February 2003 Gift to the Earth The rst internationally recognized Marine Protected Area in the Arabian Gulf, the protection of the marine and coastal environments of the Qarnein Island will hopefully trigger further marine conservation initiatives in the UAE and neighbouring states aiming to develop a network of MPAs and to promote sustainable sheries management in the Arabian Sea Global 200 Ecoregion – © ERWDA Qarnein Island is one of the last breeding areas for the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) in the Arabian Gulf – © WWF-Canon / Jürgen FREUND
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Qarnein Island Protected AreaUnited Arab Emirates
SUMMARYThe announcement of Protected Area status for Qarnein Island and its unique ecosystem makes it the rst internatio-nally recognized Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Arabian Gulf. Under the personal supervision of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chairman of Abu-Dhabi Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA), Qar-nein is a ne example of integrated conservation, including natural marine and terrestrial ecosystems, through traditio-nal Islamic principles of conservation and natural resource management. The declaration of the Qarnein MPA will also help to promote sustainable sheries management in the southern Arabian Gulf.
WWF International recognizes this signicant conservation initiative as a Gift to the Earth and highlights this establish-ment of the rst marine protected area in the Arabian Gulf as an example to be replicated at a wider scale not only in the UAE, but also in other parts of the region. In the longer term, WWF is working to establish an ecologically-represen-tative network of marine protected areas in the Arabian Sea Global 200 ecoregion – a conservation priority for WWF.
THE CONSERVATION BENEFITS The designation of the island as a terrestrial and marine protected area, the establishment of a management plan for the island and its species of concern, and the initiation of monitoring activities for the various programmes is a long term commitment towards ecosystem sustainability.
Qarnein Island has been recognized by Birdlife Internatio-nal as an Important Bird Area in the Middle East and is now recognized as one of the most important sites for bree-ding seabirds anywhere in the Arabian Gulf with popula-tions of regional and international importance. The main species breeding on the island are lesser-crested terns (20,000 pairs), bridle terns, Saunders little terns, white-cheeked terns, sooty gulls (200+ breeding pairs), red-billed tropic birds and Socotran cormorants. Some of these colo-nies represent more than 1% of the total world breeding population of the species.
In addition to seabirds, the island and its marine shore hosts endangered green turtles, and the hawksbill turtle nests on the beaches – one of the last breeding areas in the region for this critically endangered species. In winter the rare lea-therback turtle has been seen. The rich coastal waters are a spawning ground for a wide variety of local sh species, providing food sources for the turtles.
THE GIFT TO THE EARTH WWF recognizes HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his exemplary role in establishing full protection of the Qarnein Island. This sets a glowing example for the United Arab Emirates government and other countries in the region to encourage them to set up an ecologically-representative network of MPAs in the Arabian Sea ecoregion.
Gift to the Earth #82, 5 February 2003
Gift to the Earth
The rst internationally recognized Marine Protected Area in the Arabian Gulf, the protection of the marine and coastal environments of the Qarnein Island will hopefully trigger further marine conservation initiatives in the UAE and neighbouring states aiming to develop a network of MPAs and to promote sustainable sheries management in the Arabian Sea Global 200 Ecoregion – © ERWDA
Qarnein Island is one of the last breeding areas for the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) in the Arabian Gulf – © WWF-Canon / Jürgen FREUND
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s commitment to establishing Qarnein Island as a Marine Protected Area demonstrates environmentally-responsible leadership, which is much needed in the region.
RELEVANCE TO WWF’S TARGETSEndangered Seas ProgrammeThe protection of Qarnein Island represents progress towards the targets of doubling by 2006 the global Marine Protected Areas cover for the world’s oceans and coasts, and establishing ecologically representative networks of MPAs. Although small in size, WWF hopes this initiative will show the way for nations in the Arabian Gulf to designate other marine protected areas.
Species ProgrammeOne of the targets of the WWF’s Species programme is the conservation of the world’s seven marine turtle spe-cies, all of which are threatened or endangered. By protec-ting the beaches and coastal areas harbouring at least two turtle species, the protection of Qarnein Island constitutes a noteworthy contribution to this target. This initiative also supports the protection of important seabird populations.
The GIFT TO THE EARTH is WWF’s highest award for a globally signicant conservation achievement, which addres-ses WWF’s conservation priorities by:
ü Advancing conservation of biodiversity, especially forest, freshwater and marine ecosystems, or enhancing the pros-pects for survival of threatened species
ü Addressing global threats posed by climate change, toxic chemicals and unsustainable use of resources such as timber, freshwater and sheries.
Contacts:Rob Soutter, +41 22 364 9290, [email protected]éfane Mauris, +41 22 364 9289, [email protected]
Visit www.panda.org/gtte
FUTURE MARINE GIFTS TO THE EARTHGifts to the Earth provide international recognition and sup-port for signicant conservation actions such as the Qar-nein Island Protected Area. Future marine Gifts are planned for Argentina, Australia, Malaysia, Norway, South Pacic nations, the UK and UAE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contacts:Frédéric Launay, WWF-UAE Project ofce [email protected] Bryant, WWF International [email protected]
Websites & Others:WWF Endangered Seas Programme: www.panda.org/endangeredseas
The island shelters many seabird colonies for breeding, such as the bridled tern (Sterna anaethetus) – © WWF-Canon / Anthony B. RATH
Qarnein Island has the characteristics, rare among the islands of the Arabian Gulf, of having a mixture of sand, rocks, and corals around its shores, providing three types of shallow marine environment – © Frédéric Launay
The material and geographical designation on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of WWF concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
