EAD has adopted the use of Conservation Drones, as part of its continuous effort to implement the latest efficient technologies, to further assess and monitor the flamingo population at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve. Utilizing these drones will assist the agency in collecting the information needed for conservation planning.

 

The drones will capture footage of difficult to reach areas while verifying species numbers without making close contact with the birds. EAD will also benefit from the accuracy of the unmanned aerial vehicle’s images of the breeding birds, as well as providing a data collection method that is both cost and time effective.

 

A common visitor to the UAE, the Greater Flamingo can be observed all year round in lagoons and mudflats along the coast. One of the major wetlands in Abu Dhabi protected and monitored by EAD, Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is home to the first successful breeding grounds of the Greater Flamingo population in the Arabian Peninsula. Earlier last year the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve was internationally declared as a Ramsar site, joining a list of more than 2,000 acclaimed wetlands around the world.

 

Understanding movement and migration patterns of important species is essential for the overall conservation of species and the key sites they use. Through research and the investment in new technology that further the work conducted by the EAD, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is able to make continuous strides towards sustainable living, placing biodiversity conversation at the forefront of its agenda.

 

To watch “A View From Above: Conservation Drones in Action at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve”, you can visit EAD Youtube page here: http://ow.ly/wYbpP