ANNUAL REPORT 2018 A CONSERVATION DIARY ANNUAL REPORT 2018 A CONSERVATION DIARY ABOUT EMIRATES NATURE-WWF CONTENTS Emirates Nature-WWF is a non-profit organisation established to drive positive change in FOREWORDS 4 the United Arab Emirates to conserve the nation’s natural heritage. Founded in 2001 under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN: H.E. MOHAMMED AL BOWARDI 4 Representative in the Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Governing Board of the Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi, Emirates Nature works in association with WWF, one H.E. RAZAN KHALIFA AL MUBARAK, MANAGING DIRECTOR 6 of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organisations. LAILA MOSTAFA ABDULLATIF, DIRECTOR GENERAL 8 For almost two decades, Emirates Nature-WWF has been a prominent and active partner in environmental conservation, working to alleviate the most pressing threats to nature 2018: THE YEAR OF ZAYED 11 and wildlife throughout our nation and the region by partnering with government, businesses and civil society on multiple conservation initiatives to protect the UAE’s natural heritage – our seas, lands, climate and the biodiversity they support. CLIMATE & ENERGY PROGRAMME 12 MARINE PROGRAMME 18 For more information please visit: www.EmiratesNatureWWF.ae @ews_WWF TERRESTRIAL PROGRAMME 26 @ews_WWF @EmiratesNatureWWF EDUCATION PROGRAMME 32 EmiratesNature_WWF @Emirates Nature-WWF COMMUNICATIONS 42 Emirates Nature-WWF, Abu Dhabi (Head Office). BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 50 P.O. Box: 45553 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates OPERATIONS 58 T: +971 (0)2 634 7117 F: +971 (0)2 634 1220 THANKS TO OUR VALUED PARTNERS 62 Emirates Nature-WWF, Dubai. P.O. Box: 454891 THANKS TO OUR PROGRAMME SUPPORTERS 63 Dubai, United Arab Emirates T: +971 (0)4 354 9776 OTHER SUPPORTERS 65 F: +971 (0)4 354 9774 Front cover: © Oliver Wheeldon / Emirates Nature-WWF FINANCIAL DATA 66 Published in March 2019 by Emirates Nature-WWF. Any reproduction, in full or in part, EMIRATES NATURE-WWF TEAM IN 2018 67 of the contents of this publication must be accompanied by a complete reference and provide full attribution to the copyright holder. Text ©Emirates Nature-WWF, 2019. All rights reserved. FOREWORDS H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi Chairman of the Board of Directors of Emirates Nature-WWF MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN: H.E. MOHAMMED AL BOWARDI As a nation, we are home to an extraordinary number of different nationalities – a diversity that is equalled only by the unique wildlife of our lands and seas. Whilst the United Arab Emirates is well known for the economic development and opportunities, many of those who call this country home remain unaware that its nature, underpinned by biodiversity, provides a wealth of services, which form the building blocks of modern society. Increasingly, research demonstrates momentum must be maintained in nature’s importance to our health, order to achieve meaningful impact, wealth, food economy and security. but this can only be realised through With more knowledge, we better the continuation and development of understand our reliance on natural partnerships with likeminded systems, and it has become organisations, institutions and publics increasingly clear that nature is in the UAE. essential to our survival. The forward-thinking visions and In this regard, it is inspiring to see strategies of our nation’s founders have collaboration from across society, led this nation to prosperity, but it is with so many organisations, our commitments today to securing companies and individuals from all long-term sustainability that will sectors and communities in the UAE determine our future success. Ensuring willing to contribute their time and the long-term prospects for a healthy resources to advance our shared natural environment in the UAE is vital cause. On behalf of Emirates Nature- WWF, I wish to express our deep if we are to ensure the prosperity of appreciation for their support in future generations. realising the organisation’s The ongoing efforts of Emirates mission and contributing to a Nature-WWF have contributed to sustainable UAE. achieving this aim and served to deliver continued growth in the organisation’s resources and capabilities. This EMIRATES NATURE–WWF ANNUAL REPORT 2018 4 © Oliver Wheeldon / Emirates Nature-WWF A CONSERVATION DIARY 5 FOREWORDS H.E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak Managing Director and Treasurer of the Board of Directors, Emirates Nature-WWF H.E. RAZAN KHALIFA AL MUBARAK programme provides a platform for the next generation of change makers and environmental leaders in the UAE and MANAGING DIRECTOR enables youth to experience a wide variety of experiences in nature, via the Connect In late 2017, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President with Nature website. of the United Arab Emirates, declared that 2018 would be known in the Throughout 2018 our partners UAE as the Year of Zayed. It marks 100 years since the birth of the late demonstrated exceptional support both for Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE and our current and forthcoming programmes. an inspirational voice in the global conservation community. For that support we are very grateful and hope that together in 2019 we can put Featuring events and initiatives across connecting with nature, we believe that nature at the top of everyone’s to-do list in the UAE and beyond, the Year of Zayed more people across the emirates will order to bring about the change required to intended to both commemorate his life come to realise the responsibility we all safeguard the future of our nation’s natural and showcase his values, impact and share in protecting this vital and wealth, its people and future generations. legacy – a key aspect of which was his beautiful inheritance. visionary attitudes toward the In this way, and through our various preservation of the nation’s rich programmes and initiatives, Emirates biodiversity, which he viewed as an Nature-WWF aims to conserve nature integral part of the nation’s history, and reduce the most pressing threats to heritage and future. our environment for the benefit of Our forefathers thrived on the natural society. To achieve this in an assets of the land and the sea, and in interconnected world requires the turn maintained a deep appreciation combined efforts of all stakeholders, for their inherent importance to their including local communities, mutual existence. By recognising the homegrown and multinational need to conserve them, taking only organisations, governments and NGOs. what was needed to survive, they preserved these resources for future We are proud of and grateful for our generations to enjoy. partnerships with a variety of leading This understanding of both the organisations in the UAE which enable us to engage with society and significance and vulnerability of the drive tangible change. One such UAE’s natural beauty and diversity is collaboration is our recently shared by Emirates Nature-WWF. We launched Connect with Nature youth aim to encourage all who call the UAE engagement programme, in their home to interact with and partnership with the Environment experience the extraordinary natural Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD). The assets this nation has to offer. By EMIRATES NATURE–WWF ANNUAL REPORT 2018 6 © Oliver Wheeldon / Emirates Nature-WWF A CONSERVATION DIARY 7 FOREWORDS Laila Mostafa Abdullatif Director General of Emirates Nature-WWF LAILA MOSTAFA ABDULLATIF the Ramsar Convention, in October 2018. This was the first time the event has been held in an Arab country, and our DIRECTOR GENERAL participation was a unique opportunity to promote what is currently happening and The Year of Zayed celebrated many of the founding principles that lie at being developed in the UAE, by our the core of the Emirates Nature-WWF mission. Throughout his organisation and our partners. remarkable life, the late Sheikh Zayed maintained a deeply-held belief in Safeguarding the health and diversity of the importance of environmental conservation to the emirates. As we our environment, both today and in the reflect on the UAE’s environmental successes in 2018, we are heartened to future, is a responsibility we all share see that his legacy lives on in the UAE. equally. The accomplishments of 2018 are only made possible due to the commitment Throughout 2018 Emirates Nature- action on climate change, more made by our willing partners and WWF progressed with a renewed opportunities to engage and act with volunteers. Collaboration is key to putting urgency towards our goals, marked by our initiatives and plentiful guidance our strategy into action and achieving our goals – only together can we achieve our refreshed strategy, and visualised on how to make a difference through meaningful conservation for the good of by a new name and brand. Our new bigger campaigns, more outreach and the nation, its people and our planet. We brand reflects the late Sheikh Zayed’s awareness raising in the UAE. know that we must redefine humanity’s environmental legacy and is symbolic As part of this refreshed strategy, relationship with the planet, and together of the mark that we, as a society, have Emirates Nature-WWF is championing with our partners we passionately believe left on the environment, and the a special journey, where youth discover that we can do so. responsibility that we must protect it. the magic of nature around them and This brand relaunch coincided with the take ownership of the conservation mid-way review of our 5-year strategy knowledge and leadership skills and signified a new era for our required to uphold the legacy of the late organisation, where given the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. increasing challenges the world faces, Together with The Environment we placed even greater emphasis on Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), this building a sustainable United Arab programme is designed to educate and Emirates where our economy, society inspire Emirati youth to connect with and the environment thrive side nature to celebrate and respect the by side.