More than 1,000 scientists and policymakers are meeting in Dubai to map out the future of the world's wetlands, after a sobering report showed more than a third of them have been destroyed since 1970.
The 170 signatories to the Ramsar Convention meet every three years to assess the state of wetlands.
This year's meeting follows the release of the first Global Wetland Outlook, a comprehensive look at global wetlands health.
“The hope is that the report will inform discussions here this week and be taken by up the local governments, the local policymakers and individuals when they go back home,” said Royal Gardner, a professor of law at Stetson University in Florida and one of the lead authors of the report.
“Hopefully they will use this report to take action with meaningful improvement on the ground.”
The report’s findings are bleak. It notes that 35 per cent of the world’s wetlands were destroyed between 1970 and 2015. They are at risk from industrial and agricultural pollution, urbanisation, rising water salinity, invasive species and changes to the marine environment that disrupt water flow and drainage. One in four species of wetland plants and animals are at risk of extinction.
Wetlands are crucial for global food security and the mitigation of climate change, yet their importance is often underestimated by world leaders and decision-makers.
The report gives a number of response actions, such as government integration of wetland conservation and restoration into climate change management strategies.
The United Arab Emirates has eight Ramsar sites covering a total of 369.8 square kilometres.
This week, the UAE delegation hopes to broaden the definition of what is classified as a wetland. It wants to add new categories, including arid wadis and sabkha salt flats.
"Wetlands in this region are not like any other wetlands," Hiba Al Shehhi, acting director of biodiversity at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, told The National. "Wetlands in this region have adapted. We want to highlight these areas and have them included in Ramsar because they are wetlands with a high international importance."
Seemingly devoid of colour, shape and life, sabkha salt flats are not what most people imagine when they hear the word wetland.
Yet coastal sabkhas experience periodic flooding and are home to algae and micro-organisms that make them a powerful carbon sink.
Arid wadis may not experience rainfall for years, yet when it rains they transform into lush sanctuaries for fish, reptiles and amphibians.
Having these environments recognised would help protect landscapes that have a less obvious value.
"When people imagine wetlands they imagine them to be wet all year long but that's not necessarily the case," Ms Al Shehhi said.
Of the world’s 12.1 million square kilometres of wetlands, about half are permanently inundated.
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The UAE will also propose that Arabic be included as an official language in the Ramsar Convention, and work with other countries in the region to establish or develop Ramsar sites.
Over the week, delegates will discuss topics ranging from rice paddy management to the future of peatlands, which occupy 3 per cent of land surface and store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests.
Mbarga Alega Celestin, an agricultural engineer from Cameroon, came to Dubai on behalf of residents on the Nyong, a 690km river fed by the rainforest that flows to the Gulf of Guinea. The river is a lifeline for the 4.6 million inhabitants but it has narrowed so much in some areas that it has become impassable in places for their pirogue canoes.
Mr Celestin had come in hope of advice and support. “I want to explain the problem and see if there are experiences from other regions that can help us. The people around the Nyong live from it – for water, for food, for fishing, even for communication. There are no roads in some places, only the pirogues. It’s how they take their goods to market. The river is our hope.”
Each party has come with its own concerns and goals that illustrate just how connected the world's wetlands are.
"You can see wetlands are drying out around the world," said Abolfazl Abesht, the director of the Conservation of Iranian Wetlands Project.
"They are the richest ecosystem in the world in terms of biodiversity. Unfortunately, because of agricultural activities, water extraction and the construction of dams in basins, we are losing wetlands all around the world.
"And if we lose wetlands, it means we are going to lose a high amount of biodiversity all round the world."
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What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
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%3Cp%3ENon-oil%20trade%20between%20the%20UAE%20and%20Japan%20grew%20by%2034%20per%20cent%20over%20the%20past%20two%20years%2C%20according%20to%20data%20from%20the%20Federal%20Competitiveness%20and%20Statistics%20Centre.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%2010%20years%2C%20it%20has%20reached%20a%20total%20of%20Dh524.4%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECars%20topped%20the%20list%20of%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20re-exported%20to%20Japan%20in%202022%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh1.3%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJewellery%20and%20ornaments%20amounted%20to%20Dh150%20million%20while%20precious%20metal%20scraps%20amounted%20to%20Dh105%20million.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERaw%20aluminium%20was%20ranked%20first%20among%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20exported%20to%20Japan.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETop%20of%20the%20list%20of%20commodities%20imported%20from%20Japan%20in%202022%20was%20cars%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh20.08%20billion.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
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CONCRETE COWBOY
Directed by: Ricky Staub
Starring: Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin, Jharrel Jerome
3.5/5 stars
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Biography
Her family: She has four sons, aged 29, 27, 25 and 24 and is a grandmother-of-nine
Favourite book: Flashes of Thought by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Favourite drink: Water
Her hobbies: Reading and volunteer work
Favourite music: Classical music
Her motto: I don't wait, I initiate
Previous men's records
- 2:01:39: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) on 16/9/19 in Berlin
- 2:02:57: Dennis Kimetto (KEN) on 28/09/2014 in Berlin
- 2:03:23: Wilson Kipsang (KEN) on 29/09/2013 in Berlin
- 2:03:38: Patrick Makau (KEN) on 25/09/2011 in Berlin
- 2:03:59: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 28/09/2008 in Berlin
- 2:04:26: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 30/09/2007 in Berlin
- 2:04:55: Paul Tergat (KEN) on 28/09/2003 in Berlin
- 2:05:38: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 14/04/2002 in London
- 2:05:42: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 24/10/1999 in Chicago
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Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Need to know
When: October 17 until November 10
Cost: Entry is free but some events require prior registration
Where: Various locations including National Theatre (Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi Cultural Center, Zayed University Promenade, Beach Rotana (Abu Dhabi), Vox Cinemas at Yas Mall, Sharjah Youth Center
What: The Korea Festival will feature art exhibitions, a B-boy dance show, a mini K-pop concert, traditional dance and music performances, food tastings, a beauty seminar, and more.
For more information: www.koreafestivaluae.com
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
