25. April 2024 — Press Release
25.04.2024 — خبر صحفى

Emirates Nature-WWF announces Community Volunteering events to Aid Flood Recovery and Build Resilience of Rural Communities in the UAE

  • Members of the public invited to join clean-up and restoration efforts organized as part of the Leaders of Change programme at local conservation sites
  • The first two events will take place at Wadi Shees on Saturday, 27 April and at Al Bithnah on Sunday, 28 April, with more events to be announced shortly

Dubai, UAE, April 25, 2024: In response to recent extreme weather events, local environmental charity Emirates Nature-WWF is channelling community volunteering efforts to aid flood recovery, build resilience of rural communities and implement climate adaptation measures at key sites where the charity implements a portfolio of conservation projects with local governments.

For the next three weeks, all community mobilization activities organized as part of the charity’s flagship Leaders of Change programme, will be open to the public and dedicated towards clean up and restoration at impacted rural areas, with the aim of climate-proofing these areas against future storms, flash floods and inundation.

Volunteers will join conservation experts in clearing debris and repairing falaj irrigation channels to ensure the continuous flow of fresh water. Farmlands and nature trails affected by flooding will also be restored. In addition, volunteers will support the implementation of climate adaptation efforts to build long-term resilience of rural communities, such as the planting of native Arabian Moringa Shu’a trees to improve soil health and enhance ecosystem stability.

“People across the UAE have demonstrated the power of community, coming together at this challenging time to support one another,” commented Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director General of Emirates Nature-WWF. “By channelling our Leaders of Change and community volunteering efforts towards recovery, we aim to strengthen the resilience of rural communities whom we work with closely on local conservation projects around climate mitigation & adaptation, preservation of nature, and food & water security.”

Building Resilience of Rural Communities

Around the world, climate change is altering weather patterns and causing more extreme weather events, which can range from intense storms and heavy rainfall to longer and more severe droughts. While additional rainfall can be beneficial for biodiversity in dry, arid parts of the world, it requires climate adaptation measures such as the development of storm walls, or gabions, and water catchment zones to manage the flow of excess water and enhance water storage. These solutions also help reduce the potential impact of future floods on communities and infrastructure. 

Emirates Nature-WWF’s conservation work around Building Resilient Communities focuses on advancing agroecology principles and implementing Nature-based Solutions across rural communities in the UAE to support carbon capture, climate adaptation and biodiversity preservation while also strengthening local food security and creating alternative income for rural communities. 

The charity works closely with rural farmers to restore traditional falaj irrigation channels, implement sustainable irrigation and promote circular farming practices that improve soil health, support local crops and unlock multiple socioeconomic benefits for the community. In addition, a pilot project is currently underway to innovate new food products that can be derived from native crops that can be produced by local communities and contribute to economic diversification, SME growth and overall resilience of the local community.

Register Now for Flood Recovery

Leaders of Change and members of the public are invited to register for the following events taking place this weekend:

Additional events will continue to be announced so please sign up for updates at www.leadersofchange.ae