UAE-ENVIRONMENT: Commitment to biodiversity

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is by the United Arab Emirates news agency (WAM)

ABU DHABI, May 23 2003 (IPS) - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Federal Environmental Agency (FEA), observing the International Day for Biological Diversity yesterday, reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to conservation of the environment and biological diversity.

In a statement issued to mark the occasion, the FEA said: – Today the country joins the international community to celebrate this auspicious occasion by reaffirming the country’s commitment to conserve the environment in general and the biological diversity in particular," according to a report in the UAE’s dailies.

The statement added that the celebrations are also part of the worldwide efforts to conserve the biological diversity badly damaged due to infrastructure development without taking into consideration the environmental, food and health services.

ôBuilding activities in many parts of the world have been carried out without taking the issue of environmental and natural resources into consideration. This has alerted the global community to act promptly, seriously and effectively to save what is left and compensate for the destruction and rehabilitate affected areas by taking biodiversity into consideration very seriously."

The agency added that the UAE is exerting all its efforts for the protection of the environment and other related issues as a signatory to the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) signed by 187 countries in Rio de Janeiro.

ôThe UAE’s attention to biological diversity is not only a commitment to the convention but is part of the environmental programs initiated by President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, stressing upon the need to protect our environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner for the sake of future generations."

The FEA also said that conserving biological diversity has also been given priority in the National Environmental Strategy and Action Plan, a long-term program adopted by the country.

Meanwhile, Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, in a statement yesterday reminded the world that biological diversity is essential for human existence and has a crucial role to play in sustainable development for eradicating poverty.