HOW UAE PROTECTS ITS AQUATIC HERITAGE

From seagrass meadows to wetlands, conservation and technology are reshaping the nation's coasts

- BY SHAIKHA SALEM AL DHAHERI | Special to Gulf News

From the calm wetlands of Al Wathba to the pristine seagrass meadows of Marawah, the UAE's protected areas are vital sanctuaries for biodiversity — particularly within its aquatic and coastal ecosystems.

These cherished landscapes and seascapes are places where nature thrives and people reconnect with the natural world. This reconnection has been encouraged by the integration of conservation activities combining classroom learning with hands-on fieldwork in protected areas in school curricula, as well as citizen science programme which empowers people of all ages students, families, corporate teams, and government employees to participate in real-world environmental research.