02 March 2015
The Environment Protection and Development Authority (EPDA) in Ras Al Khaimah launched intensive inspection campaigns over the past few days against the (Unjust Logging) phenomenon which targets the local trees in UAE's environment, including ghaf, samar, sidr trees in all regions of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, in light of the spread of the phenomenon of abusing these trees which have a high environmental and natural value, damaging them through uprooting and cutting of branches and selling the timbers in the market during the last period.
Dr. Saif Mohammed Al Ghais, CEO of EPDA-RAK, stressed on the need to intensify inspection campaigns on illegal and offender "loggers", which will continue during the next phase, and aim to reduce the unjust logging, to preserve forest vegetation in the emirate, and protect the environment and natural biodiversity through the protection of local trees.
Dr. Al Ghais also clarified that unjust logging is a violation of federal law No. 24 of 1999, concerning the protection and development of the environment, which bans cutting, uprooting and damaging any tree or shrub or branch, in order to protect vegetation and preserve the environment, stressing that the phenomenon of unjust logging constitute a dangerous phenomenon on the environment and nature as it targets local trees like ghaf, samar, sidr trees, especially that the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him, stressed on their importance and the need to protect them for various natural and environmental factors in addition to their importance in UAE’s history and national heritage.