VISUALIZING A SUSTAINABLE

ENVIRONMENT FOR THE EMIRATE

OF ABU DHABI

Yasser Othman
Section Manager
Environmental Information & Reports,
Environment Agency Abu Dhabi

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SAS Government innovative summate 2016; Abu Dhabi; 2nd of May 2016; Ritz Carlton Grand Canal, Abu Dhabi
 INTRODUCTION

EAD is one of Abu Dhabi Government Agencies ,

Established in 1996 (Law No. 4) with overall function of :

– Protection, Conservation & Management

– Promote sustainable development

– Assist the AD Govt in implementing

environmental laws, policies and regulations

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 WHAT WE DO
Preserve our Protecting our
Natural Heritage future

Our key roles:

• Preserve our Natural Heritage
• Protect our future
• Educate & raise awareness
Our priorities:
Educate and raise awareness
• 5 Priority Areas
• 19 Priorities

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 EAD STRATEGY (2016-2020)
Priority Area Priority Priority Area Priority
I Conserve Groundwater and Actively Contribute to III Provide Sound
I.1
III.1
Deliver Scientifically Credible Env’tl
Integrated Water Management in Abu Dhabi Environmental Information & Knowledge
Information and
I.2 Protect Air Quality Promote
Promote Environmental Education
Shared III.2
and Shared Responsibility
Responsibility
I.3 Mitigate Climate Change and Adapt to its Impacts
Protect
Our Water, IV Strengthen Abu Dhabi’s Environmental
IV.1
Air & Land I.4 Ensure Integrated Management of Waste in Policy & Planning Framework
Abu Dhabi to Protect the Environment Ensure Effective
Protect Quality of Marine Water to Preserve Policy and Improve the Environment Regulatory
I.5 IV.2
Ecosystems and Public Health Regulations for Framework and Enhance Compliance
the Environment
Ensure Sustainable and Integrated Approaches to Enhance Emergency Preparedness and
I.6
Protecting Land and Soil IV.3 Effectively Respond to Environmental
Emergencies and Crises
II II.1 Ensure Effective and Evidence-based Planning and Position EAD as an Employer of
Regulation for Abu Dhabi’s Biodiversity V
Choice that Fosters Staff Excellence
Position EAD as V.1and Development in a Healthy & Safe
II.2 Improve Implementation of in-Situ Conservation & an Organisation
Build a Representative Network of Protected Areas Workplace
Conserve and of Excellence and Enhance Organisational
Lead Ex-situ Conservation Efforts to Maintain a Leader in V.2
Protect Our II.3 Sustainable Populations of Key Flora and Fauna Efficiency & Service Delivery
Biodiversity Environmental
Sustainability Distinguish EAD as a Leader in
II.4 Sustainably Manage Fisheries and Aquaculture V.3
Environmental Sustainability

Manage Abu Dhabi Forests and Ensure their Long

II.5
Term Viability and Sustainability
Environment Priority Area Environmental Enabling Priority Area Organisational Enabling Priority Area

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 NEED FOR INFORMATION
• Rapid growth and development ……requires comprehensive,
accurate, timely and relevant
• Socio economic changes data & information…….
• Increase in awareness of local &
global environmental issues

• National, Regional, International

obligations

• Environment 2030, State of

Environment reporting, EPI,
Ecological Footprint, etc…

• Information requests from

leadership, stakeholders, etc.

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 CHALLENGES
ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES

Global environment facing unprecedented challenges

– Population growth
– Decrease in natural resources
– Climate change
– Land degradation
– Threatened species
– Habitat loss
– Unsustainable fishing
– Pollution
– Air quality
– Water quality
– Etc.

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 MONITORING PROGRAMS IN EAD

Biodiversity

Water Quality

Air Quality

Soil

Habitats

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 WILDLIFE TRACKING – HOUBARA BUSTARD

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 WILDLIFE TRACKING - BIRDS

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 WILDLIFE TRACKING – MARINE SPECIES

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 WILDLIFE TRACKING – ARABIAN ORYX

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 SOME MONITORING INITIATIVES
Dugong Tagging Marine Water
Monitoring

Air & Noise Monitoring

Groundwater Monitoring

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 MARINE WATER QUALITY
Monitoring Stations

HAB Incidents

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 MARINE WATER QUALITY SYSTEM
Sampling Sites Classified
(Marine Water Quality Index)

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 GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT

Monitoring Network
Monitoring Station

Daily Water Level Monthly Water Level Annual Water Level

Fluctuations Change Change

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 UAE SOIL INFORMATION

http://www.uaesis.
ae

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 ‫‪HABITAT MAP‬‬

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 CALCULATING HABITAT REPRESENTATION
Habitat Representation in Marine Protected Areas in Abu Dhabi 2014
Coastal sabkha, including sabkha matti
Coastal cliffs, headlands, rocky slopes and wadis in coastal situations
Coastal sand sheets and low dunes
Coastal plains on well-drained rocky or gravelly terrain
Coastal plains on well-drained sandy ground
Deep sub-tidal seabed
Dredged area wall
Dredged seabed
Marine structure
Rock armouring / artifical reef
Unconsolidated bottom
Hard-bottom with macroalgae
Hard-bottom
Seagrass bed
Patch reef with macroalgae
Patch Reef
Fringing reef with macroalgae
Fringing Reef
Beach rock and gravelly beaches
Sandy beaches
Storm beach ridges
Mangroves
Saltmarsh
Sheltered tidal flats with cyanobacterial mats
Mudflats and sand exposed at low tide
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Proposed Habitats % Established Habitats %

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 EAD IMAGERY DATABASE
1. WorldView 2 2013/14 LandSat World View 2
1972
2. RapidEye 2012
3. MODIS 2012
4. IRS 2006
5. IRS 2004
6. Landsat 2002
7. LandSat 2000
RapidEye 2012 MODIS 2012
8. LandSat1998
9. Landsat 1996
10. LandSat1990
11. LandSat1985
12. LandSat1972

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 FIELD DATA COLLECTION
Customized Collector App •
Trained users on Collector •
App/Survey

Used traps/devices •

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 ‫‪DECISION SUPPORT‬‬

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 PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT

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 INFORMATION DISSEMINATION

Reports

Spatial
information

Statistical
infomation

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 ‫‪ENVIROPORTAL‬‬

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 ‫‪AIR QUALITY‬‬

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 ‫‪MARINE WATER QUALITY‬‬

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 SAS REPORTS - BIODIVERSITY

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 SAS REPORTS – TURTLE NESTING

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 SAS REPORTS - TURTLE NESTING

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 ‫‪SAS REPORTS - DOLPHINS‬‬

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 ‫‪SAS REPORTS – MWQ INDEX‬‬

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 ‫‪SAS REPORTS - REPTILES‬‬

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 THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING !!!

Our site links :

www.ead.ae
enviroportal.ead.ae
www.uaesis.ae
www.adairquality.ae