Dubai Municipality visits the EPDA to know about the best practices in the field of increasing green areas in the Emirate

A delegation from Dubai Municipality visited the Environment Protection and Development Authority in Ras Al Khaimah to review the efforts made by EPDA in increasing the green areas in the Emirate in addition to the best environmental practices implemented by EPDA. The delegation, consisting of representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Irrigation and the Office of Support and Development in the Infrastructure Services Sector in Dubai Municipality. They met with HE Dr. Saif Mohammed Al Ghais, Director General of the Authority, who welcomed the visit and praised the importance of exchanging expertise and knowledge in raising the efficiency and effectiveness of environmental work. In addition to unifying efforts to achieve the objectives and environmental strategic vision of the UAE. Worth mentioning, that number of environmental initiatives have been reviewed by EPDA in accordance with international best practices aimed at increasing and enhancing the green area of the Emirate. In addition to the various activities and projects that are followed up by the different departments of EPDA. The discussion focused on the initiative of one million and one tree, and how to plan, run, and follow up its results and outputs. What distinguishes this initiative is its focus on the cultivation of local plants such as Sidr, Samar and Ghaf, along with some endangered species. The initiative was armed with local experiences not recorded and learned from them lessons and lessons for the benefit of future generations, and the use of the process of characterization and numbering of trees before delivery. Plant cover has been increased by approximately 35,000 square meters since the start of the initiative. They also discussed the procedures followed by EPDA in the field of preserving the tree cover from unfair logging. There are strict actions to reduce the negative phenomena associated with this phenomenon. They also Addressed modern farming systems and methods of controlling invasive species, such as removing Damas trees and replacing them with local trees. About 80% of the Damas trees were removed from the licensed facilities from EPDA. They also discussed the initiative to replace environmental fines by planting local trees provided by EPDA free of charge. They also brought up the project of planting mangroves in Khor Al Muzahmi reserve with the participation of various community groups. In addition to supporting and encouraging sustainable agricultural practices through the provision of desalinated water to farmers in order to relieve pressure on groundwater and encourage organic agriculture.