The Environment and Natural Reserves Authority in Sharjah announced the inclusion of the Khor Kalba Mangrove Reserve as a party to the Memorandum of Understanding concerning the conservation of sea turtles and their natural habitats in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia (IOSEA). This makes it the second site in the Emirate of Sharjah, following the Sir Bu Na'air Island Reserve.
The recent ninth meeting of the signatory countries to the memorandum, held in the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, which included the UAE, was an excellent opportunity to showcase the Authority's roles in conserving the environment and wildlife. It emphasized its commitment to protecting various species, particularly sea turtles, and highlighted its pioneering experience featured in the file presented at the meeting about the mangrove reserve in Khor Kalba, located on the eastern coast of the UAE. The inclusion in the memorandum represents an acknowledgment of the file submitted regarding sustainable achievements and efforts in the Khor Kalba Mangrove Reserve.
Heena Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairwoman of the Environment and Natural Reserves Authority in Sharjah, confirmed the Authority's commitment to representing Sharjah in such prominent environmental meetings worldwide and showcasing the qualitative steps and major successes achieved in this regard. She pointed out that the Sharjah government provides continuous care and attention to the Authority's efforts to succeed in the environmental goals it strives for.
She stated that the Khor Kalba Mangrove Reserve serves as a comprehensive center for research, education, and conservation initiatives. Therefore, the official classification of the area as part of the IOSEA site network will enhance conservation efforts in various ways. It serves as tangible evidence for policymakers about the ecological value of the site, which was also designated as a Ramsar site for wetlands of international importance in 2013.
Al Suwaidi explained that the Khor Kalba Mangrove Reserve is distinguished as the only habitat of mangroves on the Gulf of Oman coast in the UAE and is home to the oldest mangrove forest in the region, where the Arabian collared kingfisher is found exclusively in this area worldwide. It also hosts the largest concentration of sea turtles on the eastern coast of the state.
She emphasized that the Authority works to protect these sea turtles from threats through the Sharjah Marine Wildlife Stranding Response Program. The mangrove reserve serves as an important site for juvenile turtles and provides a habitat for their nutrition. Additionally, it is an ideal place for feeding and nesting over 150 species of resident and migratory birds, more than 90 species of crustaceans, and 100 species of fish in the area.
The Khor Kalba Mangrove Center, located within the reserve, serves as a comprehensive educational center to raise public awareness about mangrove habitats and emphasize their importance. It is also the only center for the rehabilitation of sea turtles on the eastern coast of the UAE.
