As of March 16, when a decree was issued by the Ruler of Fujairah, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammad, the area is off-limits for development such as construction and quarrying.

But preserving Wadi Wurayah will require efforts to ensure the law is respected. A draft management plan has been prepared by EWS-WWF and submitted to Fujairah Municipality.

Famous for its scenic waterfall set amid the Hajar Mountains, Wadi Wurayah is recommended as a must-see in UAE off-road and tourist guides. It is a spectacular location with streams and pools dotted around the rocky outcrops.

It is one of few remaining places in the world where the endangered Arabian tahr still roams free. Conservationists believe it to be among the last places in the UAE where the Arabian leopard, which has not been seen in the UAE since 1995, still survives. The same is true for the caracal lynx, a small, shy predator, which like the leopard is persecuted by farmers who believe it targets chickens and goats.

The wadi is also home to a type of freshwater fish, the garra barreimiae, which lives only in the Hajar Mountains.

Among the more than 300 species of plants is a species of wild orchid unique to the UAE, Epipactis veratrifolia.

The protection plan calls for the hiring of local people to work as rangers to ward off poachers targeting the rare animals of the wadi and to prevent littering.

A visitor centre, nature trails, barbecue and camping areas and an eco-resort are all on the cards as part of the draft, said Mohamed Saif al Afkham, general manager of Fujairah Municipality.

Besides municipal officials, the management plan will also be reviewed by the tribal communities in the area, whose support will be essential for the success of the project.

“There will be many discussions with the local tribes. We also have to hear what they have to say about the management plan,” said Dr Christophe Tourenq, manager for science and research at EWS-WWF.

“We need to go step by step because this is still a new concept in this area.”

In the UAE, what constitutes a protected area is vague. There is no set of unified country standards. Few protected areas have management plans, while in many places it is difficult to enforce laws protecting rare animals.

“All around the world, the main problem is implementation,” said Dr Tourenq, adding that in the UAE an additional challenge is public ignorance of the concept.

The Wadi Wurayah protected area will be set up so it meets international standards established by WWF as well as by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

Sponsorship is another issue that is vital to the success of the project. The management plan was produced after three years of surveying the area to establish its conservation value in terms of diversity. The project would not have succeeded if it were not for money donated by HSBC Middle East, said Dr Tourenq. The conservationists are now in discussions to ensure the continued financing needed for the project.

“We still have some funds,” said Dr Tourenq. “We are in discussion with potential sponsors, including HSBC for more.”

“The most expensive part will be the visitor centre,” he said adding that the team was now working to assess how much it would cost to build the centre, planned as a sustainable building.

The full details about the design of the facilities, their cost and the number of people needed to staff them are expected within a year, he said. Meanwhile, a management board, with local municipality officials, Ministry of Environment and Water staff and representatives of local tribes, is now being set up.

It is hoped the management plan will help the wadi avoid the fate of other picturesque spots that have in recent years been unable to deal with the impact from a rising number of visitors.

Dibba Rock is an example. It is a marine protected area also in the emirate, which attracts hundreds of divers and snorkellers. During weekends, a large number of visitors arrive on boat excursions offered by nearby resorts and it is common to see tourists walking on the reef surrounding the rocky outcrop – which damages the coral. A boat with staff from the Ministry of Environment and Water patrols daily but their main concern is to protect it from fishing, leaving the tourism problem unaddressed.

“There is high tourism pressure,” said Dr Tourenq, explaining that the site’s accessibility has contributed to the problem.

In contrast, Wadi Wurayah is much more difficult to reach and there the negative impact from visitors – litter – affects the most popular area around the main waterfall.

The management plan includes the suggestion of fines for people who litter.

“This matter is on the table,” Mr al Afkham said. “We want to attract people, not to have them run away from the project. We are studying to make it as logical as possible. We do not want people to make mistakes so we can fine them, we prefer it that they do not make mistakes.”

Besides dealing with visitors who litter, rangers are also to target poachers, who hunt gazelles and the Arabian tahr. The poachers are not only from Fujairah but other emirates as well.

While hunting is illegal, activities such as honey and medicinal plant gathering will be allowed.

“This is an old tradition and we do not want to stop it,” Dr Tourenq said.


vtodorova@thenational.ae

Marawah makes grade guidelines

In the UAE, there is a lack of unified guidelines on what represents a protected area. Few locations meet international guidelines.

The Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve off the coast of Abu Dhabi is the only protected area in the country which meets guidelines by Unesco. With a territory of more than 4,000 sq km, it is the largest reserve in the UAE. Its coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves are home to more than 70 species of reef fish, as well as dolphins and turtles.

In addition it is home to 60 per cent of the UAE’s dugongs, large marine mammals. The area also has important archaeological sites dating to the Stone and Bronze Ages. It was established as a protected area in 2001 and gained Unesco recognition in 2007.