Abu Dhabi agency encourages use of native plants

The agency will distribute one million seeds to be sown across the emirate

The seeds of native plants are sown in Abu Dhabi under an intiative to green the emirate. Courtesy Environment Agency Abu Dhabi

An Acacia tree

A Ghaf tree. Bloomberg via Getty Images

Red Bristle grass.

More than a million native wild plant seeds will be distributed across Abu Dhabi in a bid to increase the emirate’s green cover and promote the use of indigenous fauna that require less water.

Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi will distribute seeds for wild plants including the acacia tree, bristle grass and ghaf, the UAE’s national tree, under the initiatie.

These local, heat-resistant plants consume less water and need little care. The ghaf tree, with its deep roots, is a resilient plant that not only survives in arid climate but is also good for the soil.

“The seeds will be sown in four different locations within the emirate to support the natural habitat, and increase the plant cover in their natural habitat,” the agency said.

Abu Dhabi is home to 60 per cent of the UAE’s wild plant species and the agency’s seed bank has about 58 local wild plant species.

“Native plant species can easily acclimatise in the local environment,” said Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, EAD’s secretary general.

“Besides enriching the region’s biological diversity, plants can be used for food, medical treatment, as well as preventing soil erosion.

“However, we continue to face challenges as urban development, overgrazing and other non-environmentally friendly practices such as logging and the illegal trade in firewood is killing the destruction of natural habitats."

The agency’s initiative is complemented by Abu Dhabi Municipality’s push to plant more species that are native in urban areas. Last year, the municipality planted drought tolerant saplings along Cornche Road, under a Dh7 million initiative to make the city greener.