UAE and Algeria to cooperate to protect the Houbara Bustard

The Asiatic Houbara Bustard, is the traditional quarry of Arab falconers. However, wild populations are declining.

The MoU, which spans a period of 5 years, was signed during the visit of UAE Minister of Economy H.E Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi accompanied by a high-level delegation. During the visit, avenues to further bolster UAE-Algeria relations were discussed.

The MoU was signed by Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary General of Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) and his Algerian counterpart, Mohammed-Seghir Mellouhi, Director-General of the General Directorate of Forestry in the Algerian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

"This memorandum fits perfectly with what the UAE is doing to protect the houbara. Ever since 1989, promoting Houbara bustard conservation has been one of our top priorities at the Agency. Protecting the Houbara stems from our deep commitment to preserve the UAE's indigenous heritage, of which houbara is an integral part," said Al Mansouri.

"Through this MoU, a joint committee will set the broad lines for cooperation and develop an action plan. The Committee will also look into establishing a protected area in the area of Naama, close to the Moroccan border. Capacity will be built in regards to managing and monitoring this area," he added.

According to Al Mansouri, the protected area of Naama will be the site for houbara release in the future. The captive-bred houbara that will be released will come from the Emirates Wildlife Propagation Center in Missour, Morocco, which was established by the UAE back in 1995. Releasing houbara back into the wild aims to help increase the population in the wild.