Wadi Al-Wiraiah
Purpose of the project:
The aim behind the Wadi Al Wiraiah mountainous reservation was the need to establish a sustainable natural reservation merging the past traditions and old style of life, while preserving the bio diversity and ecological integrity of the place. The purpose was also to find an economic incentive consistent with the concept of protecting the environment, while making the project a unique model and an example to follow in the area.
The location:
The Wadi Al Wiraiah reservation is located within the Al-Hajar mountain series extending from the Sultanate of Oman in the South to the Hurmuz Strait in the North. The mountain series cut through the entire coastal strip of the Emirate of FUJAIRAH. The Wadi derived its name from the (War`aa) plant, which is the local name for the cane plant known for its quest for water and is therefore found mostly in areas of permanently filled ponds in the valley. The reservation comprises three sectors, the ecological tourism, the central sector and the protection sector (the periphery of the reservation).
Wadi Al Wiraiah reservation:
The reservation was the product of joint efforts of FUJAIRAH municipality (Environmental control section), the EWS and the WWF. The project began in 2006 with for the sole purpose of protecting the water reservoir from over usage, being the only fresh water source in UAE that feeds Wadi Al Wiraiah all the year round. Field surveys were carried out in the area in consecutive steps, beginning with the topography and the unique geology of the region, followed by the hydrological system that is responsible for formation of groundwater storage in a mountainous area with peaks elevating to around 965 meter. The survey was extended to include vegetation, the insects and the mammals in the valley. The survey had unearthed an unexpected surprise of bio diversity and the importance of water in the area for the preservation of the sensitive eco system of the area, normally classified as arid or semi arid.
Six months of concentrated surveying has convinced the working party, of the real
importance of the valley as a last resort for rare plants and animal species, not
only in UAE level but also in the entire Gulf area, threatened by extinction.
An agreement has been reached as to the continuation of the fieldwork in order to
carry out more detailed surveying with the international British bank agreeing to
continue funding the project. The project was then resumed under the auspices of
HH Sheikh Hamed bin Mohamed Al Sharqi, member of the supreme council ruler of the
Emirate of FUJAIRAH, who later issued the local Act no( 2) for 2009, declaring Wadi
Al Wiraiah as the first ever mountainous reservation at the UAE level.
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Geographical & Biogeographically Importance Of the Wadi Al- Wiraiah Bounteous Reservation:
The reservation lies around 25 kilometers from the city of FUJAIRAH in the northwesterly direction and around five kilometers from Khor Fakkan to the east and three kilometers from Badyia in the southwest. The reservation lies within the Gulf of Oman desert and sub desert area. It also touches the northern boarder of the green belt (the Arabian mountainous heights covered with shrubs). According to the WWF`s classification, this part of the region is regarded as an area of international importance. Although the UAE, mountain series cover only a small portion of the total area of the UAE, not exceeding 5% they capture at least 30% of the annual rainfall of the area.
Bio Diversity in Wadi Al Wiraiah:
Compared with the UAE animals and vegetation resources, the mountainous Wadi Al
Wiraiah reservation possesses around 44% of the UAE plants and 42% of land mammals
and 24% of reptiles and 73 species of birds. The Wadi is also home for the only
2 amphibious species registered in the UAE.
Surveys have also shown evidence of the rare orchard flower single specie of fish
indigenous of the Gulf area but thought to in the verge of extinction, according
to the UN’s records. 60 % of the total number of mammals discovered in the area
is also being threatened by extinction. Nevertheless, it is still hoped that the
Arabic tiger, which was thought to be at the verge of extinction if not already
been so, is still present in the area.
Seventy-three species of birds have been counted in the area to date, 5% of which
has been threatened of extinction., 7 new species of insects, at the global level,
have also been discovered, 4 of which were found to be entirely depend on fresh
water during their life cycle, and remain most of their time in water. However,
the presence of the May insect, has given strong evidence that the type water in
the area is of good quality. In addition to seventy-four species of arthropods belonging
to 12 different groups found in area, thus proving that Wadi Al- Wiraiah reservation
is the last resort of bio diversity that we can used for further rehabilitation
projects in other regions in the future.
The Social & Cultural Importance:
The Emirate of FUJAIRAH is rich in antiquity and archeological sites of local and
international interest. Graves belonging the pre historic era, in Wadi Sakumkum,
north of FUJAIRAH city and rock enragements in Wdi Al HaIl south and south west
of FUJAIRAH and Wadi Saham south west of Dabaa and settlements dating back to 3
thousand years around the Wadi Al Wiraiah reservation and broken wall and some graves
in Badyia dating back to 2 thousand years as well as a number of sites discovered
around the reservations at (Bathna, Wadi Ohila and others) belonging to the iron
age. The oldest mosque in the UAE has beenfound in Badyia five kilometers east of
the reservation, dating back to the year 1446 AD. To date 29 archeological sites
have been discovered within the Wadi Al Wiraiah reservation, ranging from ancient
settlements and rock enragements or graves dating back to pre Islamic era, and pottery
and porcelain found within the reservation dating back to between 15th and 18th
century.
The Wadi Al Wiraiah reservation has inhabited until very recently when the tribes
of the valley left during the eighties of the last century to settle in areas surrounding
the reservation. The inhabitants had used the area a pasturing fields for their
sheep in Wadi Al Wiraiah, and build their stone homes on top of flattened mountains
as safeguard against heavy torrential rains in winter, while abundance of water
in the area secured the daily requirement of water for themselves and their animal.
A number of date trees were counted in places where house ruins were also evident.
The local inhabitants in the past used to benefit from the local herbs for their
daily medication or fodder for their sheep. They also used to collect honey from
the mountains, and still do so today.
The Economic & Tourism Importance:
The reservation and the area of the waterfalls, in particular is one of the prominent features in the Emirate, and have recently become an important tourist destination, despite the difficult terrain leading to the place. The reservation has recently been receiving larger numbers of visitors and tourist groups, particularly that many hotels and resorts have been made available in the vicinity, beside the 4 marine reservations established as decreed by HH Sheikh Hamed bin Mohamed Al Sharqi, member of the Supreme council , ruler of the Emirate of FUJAIRAH, which reflects commitment on the part of the FUJAIRAH government in protecting the ecological wealth and promoting the principle of sustainable development through developing the Wdi Al wiraiah reservation in the future in accordance with the highest international standards for ecological tourism.
Threats:
The reservation is currently prone to numerous dangers and threats that might affect
in the short term as well as in the long term. The element of threat might affect
the natural and unnatural components of the reservation.
Over usage of water resources is one of the major threats because it affects the
basic element of existence and the main aspect of biodiversity .This area is the
main source for Wadi Al- wuraiah feeding basin, of an area of 127 square kilometers.
Over grazing, is also another main reason for depletion of the grass cover. Some
inhabitants still tend to collect plants from the valley to feed their sheep. However,
unlawful hunting is in fact the most serious threat, as it directly affects the
little left of the animals that are now near extinct, while we regarded them as
part of our national wealth, and must be protected in the best interest of the next
generations. These threats are also coupled with the difficulty of rehabilitation
of the wild life and repairing damage already done beside high cost of maintenance
of the reservation.
The remaining threat such as destruction of the natural sanctuaries and separation
of the natural habitat due to arbitrary construction of civil establishments, extension
of roads, the high-tension electrical lines and the mining activities. All these
destructive elements will have enormous effect on the local environment in the long
term, resulting from acoustic and light pollution, thus reflecting negatively on
the wild life, forcing them to migrate, and tarnishing the natural beauty of the
surroundings.
The reservation have recently began attracting huge numbers of visitors, particularly
at week ends, but unfortunately, some visitors leave a lot of garbage in the area,
particularly plastic material and glass ware, while others have brought alien species
of fish and reptiles into the reservation, which are multiplying in the area in
the expense of the local indigenous creatures competing in their shelter and food.
The Future:
The Wadi Al-Wiraiah reservation is regarded as an ideal example of a fresh water
environment in a mountainous area lying in northern boarder of one of the vital
regions of international importance, as specified by the WWF. It is also characterized
by its unique geological, and hydrology system supporting its water storage, which
is in turn supporting a sensitive, vital area rich in bio diversity, thus making
the Wadi Al-Wiraiah reservation an important site not only, at the regional level
but at the international level as well.
The reservation has therefore become a strong candidate as a wet land under the
international (Ramsar) regulations. The FUJAIRAH municipality endeavors to develop
the reservation by maintaining and protecting the reservation and preserving its
resources to suit the relevant international standards, while maintaining distinguished
partnerships at the regional and international level, and exploiting these partnerships
in the preservation of the biological diversity, the wildlife, and consolidating
sustainable environmental development.
One of the most desired objective of this project in the long run, is developing
awareness as to the importance of preserving the natural resources, and building
a new responsible generation, aware of the importance of the environment, and closing
the gap between the development and education, by propagating a purposeful program
to advance awareness of the new generations with their local environment and natural
heritage and understand how to protect these treasures in the future.
Extraction from the of Wadi Al-Wiraiah reservation establishment Act no (2) for 2009.
The Act as a whole contains 3 articles, with an illustrative drawings defining perimeters,
borders and sections of the reservation. The most important articles of the Act
were:
Article 5 (prohibited activities):
- Conducting any of the following activities within the reservation without prior
permission is prohibited.
- Taking or moving any living creature from the reservation for the any purpose what so ever.
- Erecting any Buildings or establishments or paving any roads, or driving vehicles within the reservation.
- Practicing any agricultural cultivation, animal pestering activity or collecting wood in the reservation.
- Spraying any insecticides within the reservation area.
- Digging or deepening any wells in the reservation or selling or taking water from any wells situated within the reservation.
- Currying out any of the works stipulated below inside the reservation is prohibited.
- Destruction or removal of any protected natural, vegetal, or ecological constituents of the reservation environment or its products.
- Usage of guns, glues, poisonous material, or traps inside the reservation for the purpose of catching or hunting or killing any living creatures.
- Damaging area were animals, birds or their eggs are found or their sanctuaries within the reservation.
- Introducing, species alien to the environment of the reservation, which may threaten, indigenous species living in the reservation.
- Hunting or killing or catching or selling any animals, reptiles or any living creatures in the reservation, such as hunting, killing or catching wild animals i.e., deers, gazelles, ibex, lizards wild cats eagles. Hunting, killing, or caching, any of the reservation birds, such as pigeons, corncrakes, land rails, sparrows, nightingales, doves, houbaras, curlews, hoopoe, flacons, eagles or collecting their eggs or destroying them.
- Causing damage to trees or cutting them or uprooting shrubs or grass or plants in the reservation.
- Dumping refuge or waste in the reservation or acting in a way that may pollute or damage components of the reservation or its biodiversity.
- Using loudspeakers within the reservation beyond permissible levels.
- Moving vehicle l in places within the reservation, not allocated for this practice.