Urbanisation in the United Arab Emirates: The challenges for ecological mitigation in a rapidly developing country

By

Gardner, Andrew G.
Howarth, Brigitte

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2009

Original Publication

BioRisk : biodiversity & ecosystem risk assessment

Volume

3

Pages

27-38

Subjects

United Arab Emirates, UAE, mitigation, environment

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/biorisk.3.18

 

Abstract

The United Arab Emirates is a small Gulf country with perhaps the fastest rate of infrastructure development anywhere. While there is legislation in place requiring environmental impact assessments (EIA) to be undertaken for all major projects, the speed and scope of development provides special challenges in devising and implementing ecological mitigation against the loss of habitats and biodiversity that this development engenders. This paper critically discusses mitigation strategies that have been attempted, and suggests mitigation strategies in the local context. It is hoped that this will assist both the environmental consultants involved in the EIA process and the competent authorities who issue development licences, to the benefit of the remaining native biodiversity of the area.