Last week an awkwardly named UN committee – the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services – issued a report warning that one-eighth of the world's species of flora and fauna are under threat of extinction, owing to human activity. With an estimated 8.7 million extant species, that means more than a million are in peril.
It is clear that efforts to preserve global biodiversity are up against enormous challenges. This is not simply the result of climate change. Other factors such as shrinking habitats, over-exploitation of natural resources and pollution have all played a part in creating the situation we now face.
“It’s not too late to make a difference, but only if we start now, at every level, from local to global,” says Sir Robert Watson, chair of the IPBES.
I will not even try to discuss the changes in political and social attitudes, and in economic systems, needed to address this impending global calamity. Doing so would require far more than a single column.
It is, however, worth noting that the UAE has already established a number of programmes to preserve biodiversity, both locally and further afield. They deserve more attention.
It was good to see a few days ago that the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation have launched the Al Maha Initiative to promote more awareness abroad of the country’s biodiversity.
If we are to protect the UAE’s natural wonders, it isn’t just a matter of tackling threats to them. It is also necessary to increase the amount of scientific research under way to identify exactly what and how many species of plants and animals exist here. After all, we cannot conserve what we do not know about.
Over the past few years, research has identified more than 2,500 insect species not previously known to be present in the country. More than 400 were entirely new to science. Insects are small and easily overlooked, but larger animals are still being found for the first time. Last year, porcupines were found in Abu Dhabi emirate, following their discovery a couple of years earlier in Fujairah.
Once identified, continued research can show how the presence of a species can change. The collared pratincole was once considered a migratory bird in the UAE – until 2010, when a pair was confirmed to have bred here. Earlier this week, at least 17 breeding pairs were found at a single location in Abu Dhabi emirate.
Even dedicated observation is not sufficient. Advances in science have meant that new discoveries are being made in the laboratory, which may not be visible in the field.
Last weekend, a friend asked me to identify a gecko he had found and photographed. That would have been pretty easy until a couple of years ago – the rock semaphore gecko or Pristurus rupestris, has been recorded widely in the UAE, throughout the Arabian peninsula and beyond.
It was long thought that a single sub-species was present in the UAE and Oman. The latest study, however, suggests that there are actually 14 closely related, but different, sub-species here. The one photographed by my friend hasn’t even been formally described yet.
It is clear that, despite the amount of work that has been done so far, there is still much to be learned about the UAE’s biodiversity. Certainly, those who are involved in the research are well aware of the need for it to continue and of the need for a greater degree of collaboration between all of the institutions and individuals concerned.
Earlier this month, a scientist with nearly 20 years’ experience of research and of teaching in the Emirates discussed with me the concept of a dedicated museum and research centre, perhaps called a Biodiversity Hub, which would focus on the UAE’s natural history.
Partners and stakeholders in such an institution could – and, indeed, should – include the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the various environmental agencies and departments, universities, colleges and schools. Perhaps donations could be sought for endowments, and the public could become involved, via a membership or supporters’ scheme.
Such a centre would have little difficulty in establishing partnerships with leading institutions overseas, such as the Natural History Museum in London and the Smithsonian in the US.
When I first discussed a similar idea, more than a decade ago, the time wasn’t right. Now, as warnings of an extinction crisis grow louder, perhaps the idea can gain some traction.
In launching the Al Maha Initiative, Abu Dhabi’s Environment Agency said that, along with its partners, it had “a shared commitment towards enhancing collaborative efforts between federal and local government entities”.
How nice it would be if one such effort was to support the establishment of a Biodiversity Hub not just for the UAE, but for the whole region.
Peter Hellyer is a consultant specialising in the UAE’s history and culture
MO
Creators: Mohammed Amer, Ramy Youssef
Stars: Mohammed Amer, Teresa Ruiz, Omar Elba
Rating: 4/5
CREW
Director: Rajesh A Krishnan
Starring: Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kriti Sanon
Rating: 3.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company Profile
Company name: Namara
Started: June 2022
Founder: Mohammed Alnamara
Based: Dubai
Sector: Microfinance
Current number of staff: 16
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Family offices
The Mother
Director: Niki Caro
Stars: Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Fiennes, Gael Garcia Bernal, Omari Hardwick and Lucy Paez
Rating: 3/5
Australia men's Test cricket fixtures 2021/22
One-off Test v Afghanistan:
Nov 27-Dec 1: Blundstone Arena, Hobart
The Ashes v England:
Dec 8-12: 1st Test, Gabba, Brisbane
Dec 16-20: 2nd Test, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (day/night)
Dec 26-30: 3rd Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Jan 5-9, 2022: 4th Test, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Jan 14-18: 5th Test, Optus Stadium, Perth
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: PlanRadar
Started: 2013
Co-founders: Ibrahim Imam, Sander van de Rijdt, Constantin Köck, Clemens Hammerl, Domagoj Dolinsek
Based: Vienna, Austria
Sector: Construction and real estate
Current number of staff: 400+
Investment stage: Series B
Investors: Headline, Berliner Volksbank Ventures, aws Gründerfonds, Cavalry Ventures, Proptech1, Russmedia, GR Capital
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qureos
Based: UAE
Launch year: 2021
Number of employees: 33
Sector: Software and technology
Funding: $3 million
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre flat-six twin-turbocharged
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 445bhp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh474,600
On Sale: Now
How Beautiful this world is!
Company profile
Company name: Fasset
Started: 2019
Founders: Mohammad Raafi Hossain, Daniel Ahmed
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $2.45 million
Current number of staff: 86
Investment stage: Pre-series B
Investors: Investcorp, Liberty City Ventures, Fatima Gobi Ventures, Primal Capital, Wealthwell Ventures, FHS Capital, VN2 Capital, local family offices
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
STAY, DAUGHTER
Author: Yasmin Azad
Publisher: Swift Press
Available: Now
World Food Day
Celebrated on October 16, to coincide with the founding date of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, World Food Day aims to tackle issues such as hunger, food security, food waste and the environmental impact of food production.
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 299hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 420Nm at 2,750rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 12.4L/100km
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Price: From Dh157,395 (XLS); Dh199,395 (Limited)
WWE Evolution results
- Trish Stratus and Lita beat Alicia Fox and Mickie James in a tag match
- Nia Jax won a battle royal, eliminating Ember Moon last to win
- Toni Storm beat Io Shirai to win the Mae Young Classic
- Natalya, Sasha Banks and Bayley beat The Riott Squad in a six-woman tag match
- Shayna Baszler won the NXT Women’s title by defeating Kairi Sane
- Becky Lynch retained the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing match
- Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women’s title by beating Nikki Bella
HEADLINE HERE
- I would recommend writing out the text in the body
- And then copy into this box
- It can be as long as you link
- But I recommend you use the bullet point function (see red square)
- Or try to keep the word count down
- Be wary of other embeds lengthy fact boxes could crash into
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Final round
25 under - Antoine Rozner (FRA)
23 - Francesco Laporta (ITA), Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA), Andy Sullivan (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG)
21 - Grant Forrest (SCO)
20 - Ross Fisher (ENG)
19 - Steven Brown (ENG), Joakim Lagergren (SWE), Niklas Lemke (SWE), Marc Warren (SCO), Bernd Wiesberger (AUT)
BACK TO ALEXANDRIA
Director: Tamer Ruggli
Starring: Nadine Labaki, Fanny Ardant
Rating: 3.5/5
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
TOP 10 MOST POLLUTED CITIES
1. Bhiwadi, India
2. Ghaziabad, India
3. Hotan, China
4. Delhi, India
5. Jaunpur, India
6. Faisalabad, Pakistan
7. Noida, India
8. Bahawalpur, Pakistan
9. Peshawar, Pakistan
10. Bagpat, India
Source: IQAir
Federer's 19 grand slam titles
Australian Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Marat Safin; 2006 bt Marcos Baghdatis; 2007 bt Fernando Gonzalez; 2010 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Rafael Nadal
French Open (1 title) - 2009 bt Robin Soderling
Wimbledon (8 titles) - 2003 bt Mark Philippoussis; 2004 bt Andy Roddick; 2005 bt Andy Roddick; 2006 bt Rafael Nadal; 2007 bt Rafael Nadal; 2009 bt Andy Roddick; 2012 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Marin Cilic
US Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Lleyton Hewitt; 2005 bt Andre Agassi; 2006 bt Andy Roddick; 2007 bt Novak Djokovic; 2008 bt Andy Murray
ROUTE TO TITLE
Round 1: Beat Leolia Jeanjean 6-1, 6-2
Round 2: Beat Naomi Osaka 7-6, 1-6, 7-5
Round 3: Beat Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-2
Round 4: Beat Anastasia Potapova 6-0, 6-0
Quarter-final: Beat Marketa Vondrousova 6-0, 6-2
Semi-final: Beat Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-4
Final: Beat Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis