emirates7 - The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) participated in the 10th Regional Conservation Forum (RCF) of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA), which concluded in Riyadh. The delegation was led by Secretary-General Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri.
During the event, EAD showcased its efforts in biodiversity conservation, emphasizing key projects, research, and technological advancements. The Agency highlighted its initiatives in preserving blue carbon ecosystems, assessing vegetation health, monitoring and restoring marine biodiversity, and rehabilitating plant resources in Abu Dhabi. Notably, the Agency's use of drones for mangrove restoration and its work in the Arabia to Africa project to restore endangered wildlife were also featured.
As the IUCN Regional Councillor for West Asia, Dr. Shaikha participated in a panel discussion on the 'IUCN Programme 2026-2029', where she emphasized the role of IUCN’s protected area classification in establishing Abu Dhabi's Zayed Network of Protected Areas. In another session titled ‘Mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions in Policies and Strategies in the MENA Region,’ she underscored the importance of the UAE’s 'Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Climate, Biodiversity, and People' project, which focuses on restoring blue carbon ecosystems like mangroves, corals, and seagrasses.
Dr. Shaikha also highlighted the coral restoration programme launched in Abu Dhabi in 2021 under the guidance of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as well as the emirate’s first sea cage aquaculture project, which integrates AI for advanced monitoring and data collection—the first project of its kind in the Middle East.
In another session, ‘Science for Conservation,’ Dr. Salim Javid, Director of Terrestrial Biodiversity at EAD, discussed conservation science in West Asia. He explained how Abu Dhabi and the UAE utilize IUCN standards to guide and shape local conservation efforts.
During the event, EAD showcased its efforts in biodiversity conservation, emphasizing key projects, research, and technological advancements. The Agency highlighted its initiatives in preserving blue carbon ecosystems, assessing vegetation health, monitoring and restoring marine biodiversity, and rehabilitating plant resources in Abu Dhabi. Notably, the Agency's use of drones for mangrove restoration and its work in the Arabia to Africa project to restore endangered wildlife were also featured.
As the IUCN Regional Councillor for West Asia, Dr. Shaikha participated in a panel discussion on the 'IUCN Programme 2026-2029', where she emphasized the role of IUCN’s protected area classification in establishing Abu Dhabi's Zayed Network of Protected Areas. In another session titled ‘Mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions in Policies and Strategies in the MENA Region,’ she underscored the importance of the UAE’s 'Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Climate, Biodiversity, and People' project, which focuses on restoring blue carbon ecosystems like mangroves, corals, and seagrasses.
Dr. Shaikha also highlighted the coral restoration programme launched in Abu Dhabi in 2021 under the guidance of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as well as the emirate’s first sea cage aquaculture project, which integrates AI for advanced monitoring and data collection—the first project of its kind in the Middle East.
In another session, ‘Science for Conservation,’ Dr. Salim Javid, Director of Terrestrial Biodiversity at EAD, discussed conservation science in West Asia. He explained how Abu Dhabi and the UAE utilize IUCN standards to guide and shape local conservation efforts.