São Paulo – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said on Wednesday (25) in its official account on Twitter that it has named the Wadi Wurayah National Park, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, a Biosphere Reserve.
Located some 40 km off the city of Fujairah, the 31,000-acre area is part of the Haiar mountain range and comprises a water catchment area in an arid climate. It is home to a rich fauna and flora endemic to the Arabian Peninsula. It is also one of the last places in the UAE where traditional farming practices still persist.
Biosphere reserve status is given to protected areas where people and nature coexist in harmony with sustainable development in place. Wadi Wurayah is one of 24 such sites around the world.
Wadi is home to 81 bird species, 20 mammal species, at least 9 reptile species and 467 invertebrate ones. Biosphere reserves comprise terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems. Each reserve boasts solutions which reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
