WWF recognises Qarnein Island as a Gift to the Earth

The announcement follows designation of Qarnein and its unique ecosystem as a Marine Protected Area (MPA), the first internationally-recognised reserve of its type in the Arabian Gulf.

The declaration of the MPA status for Qarnein was announced by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi-based Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA), who has personally been instrumental in affording protection to the Island's marine and terrestrial habitats following traditional Islamic principles of conservation and natural resource management.

At a ceremony in Abu Dhabi on the 5th of February 2003, WWF International acknowledged the Qarnein MPA as a 'Gift to the Earth,' the highest accolade given by the organisation to identify environmental leadership and globally significant conservation achievement. Since 1996, 81 'Gifts to the Earth' have been recognised worldwide in protection of forests, freshwater and marine ecosystems and endangered species.

Dr. Claude Martine presented a certificate at the ceremony in Abu Dhabi to HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al-Nahyan who accepted the certificate on behalf of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The certificate symbolises the status of Qarnein as a 'Gift to the Earth', Dr. Claude Martin, Director General, WWF International said: ' WWF recognises HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his exemplary role in establishing full protection of the ecosystem of Qarnein. This sets a glowing example for the United Arab Emirates government and to other countries in the region to encourage them to set up an ecologically representative network of MPAs in the Arabian Sea eco-region.'

The Arabian Sea is one of 200 global eco-regions scientifically recognised by WWF as the world's most biologically outstanding and representative areas of biodiversity.

Located 180 km northwest of the city of Abu Dhabi in the southern Arabian Gulf, Qarnein island, which has an area of approximately 300 hectares, has a combination of natural characteristics rarely found amongst islands of the Gulf. Coral reef, seagrass and sandy bottom ecosystems exist offshore, while the island itself is a site of regional and international importance for breeding seabirds.

Lesser crested terns, swift (crested) terns, bridled terns, Saunders' little terns, white-cheeked terns, sooty gulls and red-billed tropic birds are among the avian species breeding on the island. Some of these colonies contain more than 1% of the total world breeding population of the species and are, therefore, considered to be of international importance. The island has already been acknowledged by Birdlife International as an Important Bird Area in the Middle East.

Qarnein and its adjacent marine habitats also host endangered green turtles; while the hawksbill turtle nests on its beaches - one of the last breeding grounds in the region for this critically endangered species. The rare leatherback turtle has also been observed in winter. The rich coastal waters are also a spawning ground for a wide variety of local fish species, providing food sources for the turtles.

Dr. Frederic Launay, Director of WWF-UAE and the Emirates Wildlife Society, EWS, said 'The designation of Qarnein Island as a terrestrial and marine protected area, the establishment of a management plan for the island and its species, and the initiation of regular monitoring activities is a long term commitment towards ecosystem sustainability. This conservation initiative will also help promote sustainable fisheries management in the southern Arabian Gulf.'