Environmental Issues
The Emirates wildlife society acts in collaboration with the worldwide wildlife fund. The symbol of the organization is composed of a flying seagull with a mountain peak on the background on the left side (Pearson,2002). There is also the name plus a symbolic letter engraved in bold italic. On the right side is the image of a panda with the three letters capitalized and in bold to symbolize its association with the international organization. The organization is a conservationists type of group with main interest lying in the preservation of the natural ecological flora and fauna of the environment in the United Arab emirates. Some of the main goals of the organization are conservation of biodiversity. They are addressing this issue by first understanding the natural impact that humans have on the environment and how they can safeguard the country’s ecosystems and the species that live there.
One of the main areas of operation for the group is located in Dubai along the coastal line where they are trying to protect the hawkbill turtle an endangered species. Currently the organization had a three year conservation plan which had extended into the fourth year. The project, which began in the year 2010 proved to be a major success. This led to a newer project being put across in the year 2015 to conserve the green turtle which is also facing extinction. The hawkbill turtle is a species which historians believe has been in existence for over 100 million years. Therefore, it plays a very crucial role in the ecological system, especially in the sea (Polunin,2013).
The organization in United Arab Emirates is headed by a team of 9 directors who partake in the running of the organization. The 9 member team consists of the chairman, vice chairman, managing director who is involved in the daily running affairs of the organization. Then there is the secretary and five members. The main political objective of the group is to suppress the government to enact legislation that helps the conservation of the environment. Mostly headed by people in the ruling government it acts as the advisor to the government of the United Arab Emirates on matters relating to conservation and protection of natural ecosystems present throughout the country. With the United Arab Emirates not being headed by political groups rather by a monarch there are no political affiliations hence the group works in tandem with the ruling class.
The Emirates wildlife society is primarily affiliated with the worldwide wildlife fund, which is an international organization. It works also directly with the government of the United Arab Emirates and also the federal governments of the different states in the country. Due to the nature of the governance structure of that country some of the major projects undertaken by the society are closely in collaboration with the ruling government.
The command structure of the organization in United Arab Emirates is headed by a team of 9 directors who partake in the running of the organization. The 9 member team consists of the chairman, vice chairman, managing director who is involved in the daily running affairs of the organization. Then there is the secretary and five members. The five members are appointed for a three year term. The managing director acts as the president of the organization and with the approval of the board is involved in the management of the affairs of the organization. At the discretion of the board, he employs team members who assist him with the running of the affairs of the company.
The Emirates Wildlife society was founded in the year 2001 by the his excellency sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Hahyan. He is the ruler or the overseer of the western region of the United Arab emirates. He is also the chairman of the agency in charge of environment in Abu Dhabi. The organization was born out of the desire to conserve and protect the biodiversity of key strategic areas within the country. It was only borne out of the need to have an organization that creates and institutionalizes all the frameworks necessary in regard to the environment.
The organization chart consists of the chairman who acts as the overall head of the organization. He is normally referred to his excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Borwardi. He is assisted by HE Ali Ali AL Sayegh who is the deputy chairman of the organization. Then there is the managing director who also acts as the treasurer to the board.There is also the secretary to the board and five other members.
The main sources of funding usually come from donations which are received from corporate organizations and well wishers. Many corporate organizations as part of their corporate social responsibility endeavor to assist the organization, especially in areas of preservation of the hawkbill turtles. Due to the menace created making the turtles face extinction many corporate organizations are coming up with ways to assist. Another source of funding is the Environmental agency in Dubai (Berry&Wilcox,2016). Another source of funding is through fundraising, especially for events organized by the agency throughout the year.
The main source of external supply comes from a global perspective since there is a high number of foreign investors in Dubai. With the country being the ultimate business hub on a global scale most of the investors will be happy to support the turtle projects. The investors are the main culprits involved in the shipment of oil from the gulf countries. All these are some of carnages interfering with the natural ecosystems of the turtles. Other foreign contributors are tourists visiting the sandy beaches to come and watch the turtles in their natural habitats. The actual budget of the organization is not actually known, but runs into million of dollars which are necessary to clean the beaches which are mostly affected.
The organization does not have any military capability, but employs its vast resources in its conservation efforts. With the support of international partners the organizations try to establish breeding grounds and major routes the turtles use. With increased urbanization and development researchers have been able to identify the number one enemy of the turtles who is man. The humans are littering beaches with solid waste which is being consumed by the turtles, the turtles are also being caught in fishing nets yet there breeding grounds have been turned into public beaches for luxurious hotels. They are also being injured by the boats carrying oil or goods for both import and export (Conrad &Gassman, 2015).
With support of the government the organization tries to educate people on the value of the turtle eggs being collected on the beaches by people. One key factor put into consideration was that the eggs hold no sentimental nor monetary value, hence the organization sensitizes people on the need for them not to interfere with the eggs. With creation of this awareness more and more people will keep away from the eggs allowing them to hatch. With increased knowledge on the life patterns of turtles, during breeding seasons there has been a limit on the number of people to be present on the sandy beaches. But this is only possible with the beaches which are regulated.This is part of the effort to ensure a higher number of turtle eggs hatch during the season hence limitation to beaches ensures this.
Another tactic employed by the organization is the creation of marine sanctuaries where injured turtle collected from the seas and beaches can be treated. With the facility in place many turtles have been rehabilitated over short periods of time and released back into the sea.
Most of the trainings are being conducted towards mostly the stakeholders of the hawkbill project who in turn will use their influence to sensitize the general public on the importance of preserving the turtles. As part of the conservation efforts, awareness to the general public will be created regarding the turtles. The general public will be sensitized on matters relating to all turtles not just the hawkbill turtle.
The main ideology of the organization is the conservation and preservation of the biodiversity present in the United Arab Emirates. With increased development and urbanization the organization tries to advocate for policies which ensure growth does not affect the natural environment. Developments should be in conformity to standards which allow for the ecosystem to thrive despite the developments. In terms of religious views the organization is not affiliated to any religion and conducts its works in places with any religion.
The current project is the hawkbill project, which has been running for a considerable period of time. It has taken its research from the shores of Dubai to Iran, Oman, Afghanistan. It has been able to map out the feeding grounds of the turtles, mating zones and seasons. With this kind of research the organization is able to map out zones which need to be regulated to ensure the future of the turtles (Wyss, 2016). The next project will be the gulf green turtle conservation expected to end in 2020. It will provide a clearer picture which will be more science based rather than physical based. It will give a scientific viewpoint on the lives of the turtles enabling understanding a better understanding.
References
Pearson, B. (2002). Still the wild river runs : Congress, the Sierra Club, and the fight to save Grand Canyon. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.
Wyss, B. (2016). The man who built the Sierra Club : a life of David Brower. New York: Columbia University Press
Conrad, C. & Gasman, M. (2015). Educating a diverse nation : lessons from minority-serving institutions. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
Berry, J. & Wilcox, C. (2016). The interest group society. Abingdon, Oxon New York, NY: Routledge, Taylor & Francisc Group.
Polunin, N. (2013). World Who Is Who and Does What in Environment and Conservation. Chicago: Routledge.