The Environment and Protected Areas Authority’s (EPAA) organised an Earth Day celebration titled ‘Preserving Species’ at Sharjah Natural History & Botanical Museum.

The event was targeted at the Museum’s staff and visitors and a number of government organisations. The celebration included an exhibition highlighting the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and its importance in preserving endangered species. It also shed light on the UAE’s role in preserving the Arabian Oryx. There was an insect exhibit to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the ecosystem, and EPAA’s Scientific Research Department presented studies and showed marine animals that were found dead on beaches.

Ali Saqr Sultan Al Suwaidi, the President of Emirates Marine Environmental Group (EMEG), delivered a lecture in the Museum’s Cinema Hall, highlighting EMEG’s achievements and the ways in which it helps to preserve the marine environment. The event included an opening ceremony, a reception and a tour of the exhibition.

“We are always keen to organise events for important international environmental occasions. These events and activities serve as an important platform to raise the community’s awareness about various environmental issues and about EPAA’s efforts to preserve the environment,” said HE Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, EPAA Chairperson.

Maryam Jumaa in charge of Sharjah Natural History & Botanical Museum Added: “The Earth Day event aims to highlight the UAE’s achievements in terms of preserving the Arabian Oryx, to raise awareness about the accelerated extinction of millions of species, to highlight the danger of overfishing and how it affects ecological balance, and to encourage individual actions such as adopting a vegetarian diet and minimising the use of pesticides,” .

Earth Day is an international day dedicated to spreading awareness about the natural environment. It aims to advocate for a healthy, safe and fair environment and a stable world by celebrating the environment and raising worldwide awareness about pollution through various activities around the globe. The majority of the world’s countries have agreed to discuss environmental problems on this day in light of the increased global interest in the environment and efforts to reduce the threats posed by pollution and environmental degradation. Earth Day is celebrated on April 22nd each year.