Al Wathba Wetland Reserve (WWR) is a complex of natural and man-made surface water bodies located approximately 40km southeast of Abu Dhabi Island. Al Wathba Wetlands Reserve was established in 1998 as the first protected area in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It was recognized internationally and announced in 2013 as one of the Ramsar sites and the first wetland site of global importance in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The reserve is home to the large flamingo, which has been growing steadily since 2011, in the Arabian Gulf region, at Al Wathba Wetlands Reserve, where the last successful breeding was recorded more than 80 years ago in Kuwait. Thus, making it the only site in the UAE and the Arabian Gulf where this type of bird can breed. The reserve supports a variety of wildlife and biodiversity, including 55% of the total bird species present in the United Arab Emirates. The reserve also provides a sanctuary for many local species. The protected area contains five species of birds and reptiles that are globally threatened. It has more than 250 migratory birds, 11 mammals, 10 reptiles and more than 35 species of plants.
Public access to the site was developed in November 2014. The Reserve now receives more than 7,000 visitors per season. Al Wathba Wetland Park plays a key role in highlighting the biodiversity of the emirate and provides a good opportunity for environmental education.
Conservation
Good governance
Community benefits
Al Wathba Wetland Reserve (WWR) is a complex of natural and man-made surface water bodies located approximately 40km southeast of Abu Dhabi Island. WWR was established in 1998 as the first protected area in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It was recognized internationally and announced in 2013 as a Ramsar site and the first wetland site of global importance in the Emirate. The reserve is home to breeding populations of Greater Flamingo, numbers of which have been growing steadily since 2011. WWR is highly significant in the region, as the last successful breeding was recorded more than 80 years ago in Kuwait. The reserve supports a variety of wildlife and biodiversity, including 55% of the total bird species present in the United Arab Emirates. The reserve also provides a sanctuary for many species and local species. The protected area contains five species of birds and reptiles that are globally threatened. WWR plays a key role in highlighting the biodiversity of the Emirate and provides a good opportunity for environmental education. Public access to the site was developed in November 2014. The Reserve now receives more than 7,000 visitors per season.
The total surface area of the main lake is approximately 132 hectares. The lakes occupy an area of “inland sabkha”; a site where the water table lies just below the surface and the water is drawn upwards through the sands by capillary action where it evaporates leaving deposits of salts. Immediately to the north of the site is the Mafraq Water Treatment Works from which Al Wathba Wetlands receives much of its water in the form of treated effluent. The other main source of water being irrigation water runoff collected from the nearby fodder farms at Al Wathba camel station.
Site visit report: The site visit was successfully carried out by Mohammed Zaarour and Nabegh Ghazal Asswad.
EAGL consensus and vote: The EAGL were unanimous in their resounding support for the site’s recommendation to the IUCN Green List based on the quality of technical information, and the validation efforts of the site visit team.
EAGL statement
The EAGL unanimously and with full consensus agree that WRR meets all the indicators and criteria for the Green List. In particular, the tremendous success in biodiversity recovery and conservation with a special focus on adaptive management and active intervention to improve and increase the status of natural values to a significant level. In particular, the Greater Flamingo population management has seen 17 pairs nesting in 2011 to nearly 450 pairs in 2018. Aside from the wetland values, local stakeholders and business are active partners and the site is worth millions of Dirhams in economic benefits to Abu Dhabi city. Stakeholders were all fully supportive of the Green List process and recognition. The EAGL unreservedly recommends the site to the Green List committee for addition to the IUCN Green List.
Reviewer statement (Mounia Essefiani): The Reviewer validates Al Wathba’s Green Listing process as being in conformity with the User Manual’s rules and procedures. The site has made all efforts to document their process in COMPASS and to proactively and actively respond to EAGL members following their assessments of the site’s self-assessment and MoVs before the site visit took place. The Reviewer confirms that all this has been done in a transparent way and with full integration of the Assurance Provider. The EAGL assessment of the self-assessment and evidence submitted by the site prior to the site visit was very thorough and at all time evidence-based, and the site response, e.g. including action plans, reviewed argumentation or communications with the EAGL were at all times in compliance with the User Manual and aiming at demonstrating compliance.
Unfortunately, the Reviewer could not attend the EAGL’s discussion on Al Wathba that took place on Monday the 12th of November, but ASI’s Project Manager, Marnie Bammert, did attend on behalf of the Assurance Provider and briefed the Reviewer on the discussion. Recommendations made by the EAGL are transparently mentioned in the EAGL’s statement. The EAGL voted unanimously for the recommendation of the site to be added into the Green List. Based on the whole GL process, Marnie Bammert’s feedback and the EAGL statement following the discussion, the Reviewer confirms that the site is compliant with the User Manual procedures and submits the site to the Green List Committee for their final decision.
