UAE poised to become ecotourist destination

A plan is being devised to develop ecotourism in the UAE, environmental officials announced yesterday. The Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, currently one of two protected areas in Abu Dhabi , will become an ecotourist destination in 2007.

The Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) manages the Al Wathba reserve and is in the process of finalising a master plan to construct a fully equipped visitor's centre, a museum and an educational centre. The final proposal will be submitted later this year in September and the development should begin one month later. Plans for the Al Wathba nature-inspired centre include picnic areas, guided tours and natural hiking trails.

All buildings will be made from natural materials, including wood, reeds and mud. Visitors will be educated about the site upon entering the area, and will have to follow strict regulations in a bid to safeguard the environment. The main building will be set up on the reserve's highest point (3.5 metres), where observers will have a full view of the lakes.

"We want to promote nature-based tourism," said Khaldoun Kiwan, head of the protected areas section at the EAD. "People have to first understand what's there, so they can then appreciate the nature around them. This will change their behaviour and they will become more involved in conservation."

Known for attracting more than 230 different species of migratory birds, including the greater flamingo, the area was designated as a protected area in 1998.The Al Wathba Wetland reserve is currently the only site in the region where greater flamingos have successfully bred. "The objectives of managing this site are habitat and species conservation, education, tourism and ecological research. We are not looking for mass tourism, but for environmentally-friendly tourism. We want to change people's attitudes and get them involved in protecting the environment," said Kiwan.
(Gulf News)