In implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Environment Agency- Abu Dhabi (EAD), to propagate and preserve the local Al-Sarh tree, EAD has begun planting seedlings of this plant species. As a pilot, 25 seedlings were planted within the boundaries of Jebel Hafit National Park. This projectis part of the agency’sprogrammeto conserve and propagate important and threatened native plantspecies.
The Al-Sarh tree, which is considered among the local trees that support biodiversity and add beauty to the wild environment in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, is also one of the rarest plant species in the UAE, as originally it was onlyrecorded within Ras Al Khaimah Emirate.Earlier last year EAD recorded the existence of a single tree in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, estimated to be more than 100 years old. The tree wasdiscovered within one of the rock formations in the Malaqitarea, east of Al-Ain, near the border of the Sultanate of Oman.
HE Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, EAD’s Secretary General said:“Following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, EAD has made numerous attempts to propagate the Al-Sarh tree. We have propagated these trees in our nursery in Al Dhafra region, which provided the initial batch of 25 plants rehabilitated within Jebel Hafit National Park.”
HE Dr. Al-Dhaheri pointed out that EAD has created small incubators to provide protection and shade for the seedlings,to reduce evaporation and stress. During the first stage, the trees will be supplied with water, and then irrigation will be gradually reduced so they can grow independently without support. The EAD will continue to monitor their growth and adaptation to the surrounding environment.
Sheconfirmedthat theEAD will continue its operations of breeding the Al-Sarhtree and rehabilitating it in its natural habitats through a process of replanting the treeswithin distinct plant groups in selected locations.
Ahmed Al Hashemi, Acting Executive Director, Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at EAD said: “Al-Sarh tree, is an evergreen tree with a height of approximately 8 meters. It hassmall oval- shaped leaves whichare densely clustered on the branches giving them a dense crown and providing excellent shade when its mature. Its single, radial flowers form in January and February and thentransform into small fruits that ripen during March and April.”
He added "The Al-Sarh tree is considered a native speciesof Africa as well as being part of the Arabian Peninsula within the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Palestine, the Republic of Yemen, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Therange of the tree in the Sultanate of Oman and the UAE represents the global eastern border for the spread of this species, as it does not grow beyond that point".