UAE's Mangrove and Alhafeya Protected Area in Sharjah enlisted as Ramsar Site 2013

Sharjah, March 21, 2013 (WAM) - The Mangrove and Alhafeya Protected Area in Khor Kalba, Sharjah, was enlisted as a Ramsar site, the Chairwoman of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) of Sharjah told reporters yesterday. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, or the "Ramsar Convention" is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories. The Mangrove and Alhafeya Protected Area in Khor Kalba was established as a legally protected National Protected Area in 30 July by virtue of Emiri Decree No. 27 issued by H. H. Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council member and ruler of Sharjah. The project includes a learning and research visitor centre and workshops were established for the local exhibited animals. The Kalba Wildlife Centre will exhibit the Arabian Wolf, Mountain Gazelle, Reptiles, Gordon's Wildcat, Blanford's Fox, Eagle Owl, Brown Necked Raven and the Arabian Leopard. The facility is aimed at encouraging local the population and their involvement in the protection and implementation of projects for the region, she noted. The Kalba mangrove system has two parts: the mangrove environment as such and the connected man-made pond. The pond is a rectangular stagnant water body that shows signs of excessive phytoplankton growth. Water is quite greenish and its clarity is only 2.4 m. Salinity is not higher than sea water values and suggests some flushing or/and fresh water input. Nutrient concentrations are high, confirming its "eutrophic" status and over-fertilisation. The high phytoplankton (floating unicellular algae) concentration throughout the water column, as measured by Secchi disc, and resulting high nutrient values, are confirmed by high biological oxygen demand values and total organic carbon concentration.. Water quality testing indicates that water in the mangrove forest is different from sea water. Sea water salinity near the beach of the Gulf of Oman ranges between 34-38ppt which are normal sea water values. These values may rise from 38ppt in the upper part of the mangrove (closets to the sea) to 44 ppt, as one penetrates deeper into the mangrove system. Temperatures also rise, changing from 27 to 31 degrees C. Khor Kalba is of global importance for two species of bird, namely the subspecies of the White-collared Kingfisher, Todiramphus chloris kalbaensis which breeds only here in the world, and visiting Sooty Gulls Larus hemprichii, and is also one of just two breeding localities in Arabia for Sykes's warbler Hippolais rama. The Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii winters at the site. A number of characteristically Middle Eastern breeding bird species are also present in the area of Acacia savannah in (Al Haffeah Area within the Ramsar Site) on the alluvial plain west of the Kalba-Oman highway. These include Yellow-throated Sparrow (Petronia xanthocollis), Blue Cheeked Bee-eater (Merops persicus), Arabian Babbler (Turdoides squamiceps) and Striated Scops Owl (Otus brucei). All occur here at densities higher than in almost any other location in the UAE (nor does any other single site support all four of these species at once). This site also appears in Important Bird Areas in the Middle East, which details those sites of particular national and regional significance for their breeding or visiting bird populations. Nessrine Alzahlawi, Ramsar's Assistant Advisor for the Asia-Oceania region, at the press conference, said the Mangrove and Alhafeya Protected Area in Khor Kalba demonstrates further commitment by the UAE to Ramsar and to protecting environmental sustainability and biodiversity. The Mangrove and Alhafeya Protected Area in Khor Kalba (1,494 hectares, 24 59'54"N 056 21'45"E), a National Protected Area, is located in the far east of the country near the border with Oman and comprises coastal subtidal, intertidal (sand beach, mangroves, mud and tidal channels), supratidal sand, salt marsh and saline flats, as well as encompassing a narrow alluvial plain dominated by Acacia woodland, she added. The Avicennia marina mangrove trees found in Kalba are the tallest and comprise the most extensive mature woodland in the biogeographic region; they provide breeding, nursery and feeding grounds for several fish and invertebrate species, besides protecting the coastline from storm damage and erosion while trapping sediments washed off the land, she added. According to Alzahlawi, the critically endangered Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and endangered Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) can be observed near the mouth of the mangrove's inlet, entering the creeks at high tide to feed on sea grasses and algae. The area is of great ornithological interest, and an endemic subspecies, the White-collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris kalbaensis, breeds almost exclusively at this site, which is also one of just two breeding localities in the region for Sykes's Warbler Hippolais rama. The management and monitoring of this site is carried out with the involvement of the local residents, and an educational visitor centre is planned. The Kalba mangrove system has two parts: the mangrove environment as such and the connected man-made pond. The pond is a rectangular stagnant water body that shows signs of excessive phytoplankton growth. Water is quite greenish and its clarity is only 2.4 m. Salinity is not higher than sea water values and suggests some flushing or/and fresh water input. Nutrient concentrations are high, confirming its "eutrophic" status and over-fertilisation. The high phytoplankton (floating unicellular algae) concentration throughout the water column, as measured by Secchi disc, and resulting high nutrient values, are confirmed by high biological oxygen demand values and total organic carbon concentration.. Water quality testing indicates that water in the mangrove forest is different from sea water. Sea water salinity near the beach of the Gulf of Oman ranges between 34-38ppt which are normal sea water values. These values may rise from 38ppt in the upper part of the mangrove (closets to the sea) to 44 ppt, as one penetrates deeper into the mangrove system. Temperatures also rise, changing from 27 to 31 degrees C. The mangrove is inundated by tides coming in from the sea through the connecting channel. Nearby, Hajar Mountains and coastal plains expose the mangrove to intermittent fresh water input essential for maintaining system equilibrium. The principal tributary, Wadi Rhum, joins the mangrove area near the town of Kalba. Temperatures rise, changing from 27 to 31 degrees C. Water stagnancy inside the mangrove may allow heating up and evaporation, resulting in higher concentrations of dissolved substances and salinity. Forest is located just south of the town of Kalba and is connected at its northern extremity to the sea by a khor (creek), which will be referred to as the connecting channel. The Kalba Mangrove, consists of mudflats interspersed with salt marshes and sabkhas, creeks and channels, as well as the backdrop of Hajar Mountains and coastal plains, dominated by Acacia woodland. Mangrove cover is more important on the inland of the creek. – Emirates News Agency, WAM