Natural resources of Abu Dhabi

Threats to fishing and pearling

• Over-collection / over-fishing• Climate change• Industrial water pollution• Oil spills• Fishing methods using dynamite and cyanide• High levels of sediment• Ecological changes resulting in absence of host fish

(salmon, trout)• Eutrophication

Oil and natural gas

• Non-renewable source of energy• A major contributor to climate change• Should be used with maximum efficiency• Human behaviour needs to change to

minimise energy usage and extend the life of oil-supplies

• Legislation needs to encourage fuel efficiency

Date palms

• Biggest threat is the red palm weevil• UAE scientists have developed the world's first

environment- friendly bio-technology to save date palm trees from red palm weevils.

• Parasitic nematode worms• The project was carried out by the Ministry of

Agriculture and Fisheries in cooperation with the Arab Organization for Agriculture Development

Coral reefs• A tourist attraction• Breeding grounds for many fish species• “The rainforest of the sea”; rich in biodiversity

• Threats to coral reefs• Rising sea temperatures• Storms• Sediment• Overfishing• Dumping at sea (litter)• Boats and ships• Tourists taking mementoes• Coral trading & fish collection for pet-shops• Cooling waters from power plants & factories

Desert

• A tourist attraction• Threats• Threatened by litter• Land pollution (e.g. mining & dumping of

hazardous waste)• Off road vehicles

Ground water

• In excess of 90 percent of all water requirements in Abu Dhabi are met by desalinising seawater.

• Renewable water supplies of freshwater is low due to low rainfall, high evaporation & exceptionally high water usage per capita

• Groundwater resources have reduced by approx 20% since 2003

• http://water.heroesoftheuae.ae/en

Beaches

• High amenity value• Tourist attraction• Threats• Land reclamation / dredging• Pollution (e.g. sewage, industrial effluent)• Litter• Algal blooms

The End