EAD highlights UAE's biodiversity through stamps

In an effort to raise awareness about these species, the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) has teamed up with Emirates Post for the third time now to produce sets of special stamps. Awareness booklets are also produced alongside the sets of stamps. The Agency hopes that these stamps will act as a reminder of the importance of protecting the UAE's fragile biodiversity.

One set of stamps produced featured some of the UAE's rarest wild plants that hold both an ecological and cultural significance, as they were once used as traditional medicine. The Ghaf and mangrove were both featured, as they are considered important habitats for many species.

Another set of stamps produced featured the UAE's reptiles such as the Sand skink, locally known as Ehlecha, which can swim in the sand like fish in water. The Spiny-tailed lizard, locally known as Dhub, was also featured on a stamp, as well as the Desert Monitor, Dune Sand Gecko and the Agama, locally known as Bubethan.

The most recent set of stamps produced featured the UAE's important gazelles including the Arabian mountain gazelle or Dhabi, which is endemic to Arabia and the mountain areas of the UAE. The Arabian oryx, or Al Maha, was also featured as it is extinct in the wild but has been successfully captive bred in the UAE. Other gazelles featured included the Arabian sand gazelle, locally known as Al Rheem, and the Arabian Tahr.

An integral part of EAD's mission is to promote environmental awareness within the community as it firmly believes that raising awareness is one of the mains key to conservation.