ABU DHABI, 1 Dec, 04 (WAM) - Quranic teachings supporting environmentalprotection were detailed at the 8th and the last General Meeting for 2004of Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), in Dubai yesterday.
The meeting was addressed by Professor David Bellamy, leading internationalenvironmentalist, botanist, ecologist, author and broadcaster, who pointedout the significance of the Arabian Peninsula and its resources in theglobal geographical jigsaw. He also highlighted the fact that the importanceof the region's environment was recognized by the Prophet (PBUH), wholaid down clear guidelines on its protection as stated in the Holy Quran.
Speaking on the occasion, Professor Bellamy said: "In terms of both understandingand conserving the World's fauna, the Arabian Peninsula is as importantas the fabled Galapagos or the Islands of Indonesia. Charles Darwin focussedthe World's attention on the fauna of the Galapagos and Alfred RussellWallace did the same for Indonesia in the late 1800's. 800 years beforeAbu Uthman had focussed the attention of the Arab world on a treasuryof animals that made their home on the Arabian Peninsula, nature's crossroads between Africa, the Mediterranean and Eurasia." "Today, news isnot so good for the survival of the species of Arabia and the rest ofthe World. In fact, the past century has been so catastrophic that allthinking people agree on this being our last chance to rescue some ofthe most beautiful and fascinating creatures in the wild. Well managedeco-tourism is already playing an increasingly important part in natureconservation and its continuing development is highly relevant to theGulf. With the shining example of the rescue of the Arabian Oryx, thevisionary reuse of wastewater to sustain new wetlands and the new islanddevelopments along the coast the potential is here in the Gulf to setan example for the world." Professor Bellamy's presentation was dividedinto three parts. The first part highlighted the past 10,000 years ofnatural history of the Arabian Peninsula, especially the animals thatcontinue to grace it. In the second part of his presentation, the Professordetailed the problems faced by these animals, and the environment in whichthey must subsist. The third part of his presentation, titled "The Rulesof the Game" outlined how, with care and understanding, eco-tourism canbring the discerning tourists flocking in and help to pave the way fora safer future for the animals of Arabia.
Earlier welcoming Professor Bellamy, Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson,Emirates Environmental Group said: "It is a proven fact that environmentalstrategies rooted in regional culture and religion have produced greatresults - perhaps because they are rooted in the collective psyche ofthe society they seek to mobilize - or perhaps because these strategiespoint out simple truths without the frills of scientific terminology attachedto them. In the context of environmental protection in the UAE and indeedthe entire Islamic world, the teachings of the Prophet (PBUH) are a constantreminder that the nature Allah created is a sacred trust placed in thehands of mankind, for man to protect and nurture, not to taint and destroy.""Sadly, the harmony that the Prophet (PBUH) advocated between man andhis environment has today all too often been lost. As we face the effectsof pollution and overexploitation, desertification and water scarcityin some parts of the world and floods and violent storms elsewhere, itis perhaps time for the world community as a whole to take a leaf outof the Quran and address the current environmental crisis seriously andwisely. The need of the day, then, is to take an in-depth look at theteachings handed down to us in the Quran - to unlearn our cynicism andset free the believer within on the path of environmental protection,"she added.
Al Marashi opened the lecture by paying respects to the memory ofthe late President H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. She also apprisedthe audience about ongoing preparations for the upcoming eco-marathonpopularly known as the Clean Up UAE day on December 12.
Professor Bellamy's masterful presentation was complemented by slidesof the exquisite, original watercolours used to illustrate Professor JonathanKingdon's 'Mammals of Arabia', the landmark treatise on wildlife in Arabia.
