AlQurm Protected Area in UAE Joins Marine Turtle Conservation Efforts

The Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah (EPAA) has announced that the AlQurm Protected Area in Kalba City is now part of the Indian Ocean’s South-East Asian (IOSEA) Marine Turtle memorandum of understanding (MoU). This makes it the second site in Sharjah, after Sir Bu Nair Island Reserve, to join this important conservation effort.

The UAE participated in the ninth meeting of the signatory countries of the memorandum held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from June 24 to 27. The meeting highlighted the role of the Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority in environmental conservation and biodiversity, with a special focus on protecting marine turtles.

Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the EPAA, expressed her gratitude to Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for his support in achieving this milestone. She emphasized the EPAA’s commitment to representing Sharjah in global environmental meetings and showcasing their innovative steps and achievements.

The AlQurm Protected Area serves as a center for research, education, and conservation initiatives. It has been designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention since 2013. The area is the only habitat of mangrove trees on the coast of the Gulf of Oman in the UAE and hosts the critically endangered Arabian Collared Kingfisher.

The site is also home to the largest gatherings of juvenile marine turtles on the east coast of the UAE, providing them with nourishment and protection through the Sharjah Strandings Response Program. Additionally, it supports over 150 species of local and migratory birds, 90 species of crustaceans, and 100 species of fish.

The Khor Kalba Mangrove Centre within the reserve educates the public about mangrove habitats and their conservation. It is also the only center for the rehabilitation of marine turtles on the east coast of the UAE.