To mark the World Biodiversity Day on May 22, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) is raising awareness of local and global natural heritage among children by publishing six encyclopedic books on biodiversity.

 

Aimed at students aged eight to twelve, the six “Endangered Species” books highlight several critically endangered animals along with featuring scientific facts about these species and their current status in terms of daily risks and threats. The series also spans terrestrial wildlife, birds, marine life, reptiles, amphibians, and the plant kingdom.

 

The series of books will serve as important reference material students and teachers, with the aim to promote and support the schools’ academic curriculum. The books published both in English and Arabic are currently in the process of being distributed to school libraries for the upcoming academic year and will also be available online on www.ead.ae

 

Scientists estimate that one of every eight species of birds, four species of reptiles, and three species of amphibians are on the brink of extinction. 75% of the world’s fish species are also in imminent danger. With the loss of almost 31% of the forest cover, the ecosystem has already lost much of its resources and habitat for the animals.

 

Biodiversity is crucial to human existence, their loss has a direct impact on our environment such as pollution, introducing of invasive species, and climate change. Human interference is a key factor in such ecological damage.