It lasted for 168 days…the end of the annual grazing season in Abu Dhabi

October 15

The Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi confirmed the end of the annual grazing season in the emirate, which lasted for 168 days, with the aim of organizing grazing to protect natural pastures and promoting sustainable traditional practices, in coordination with the concerned authorities to care for protected areas and sensitive natural habitats, according to precise principles that guarantee the protection of all types of plants. From overgrazing.
The Authority indicated that the grazing season began on May 1 and continued until October 15, in accordance with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, where the Authority issued the regulations. Executive Law No. (11) of 2020 regarding regulating grazing in the emirate, in which it specified the annual grazing season to ensure the recovery of vegetation, give pastures an opportunity for natural regeneration, enhance biodiversity and its sustainability, and the continuity of pastures for future generations, as part of its efforts to regulate grazing and provide protection for natural pastures. In the emirate.
In July 2023, the Authority began issuing licenses to livestock owners and breeders to regulate grazing activity and all activities related to it. To obtain a grazing license, the applicant for the license must be a citizen of the UAE, not be less than 21 years old, and have an inventory certificate. Livestock is valid and approved by the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority.

The Authority’s measures contribute to giving natural pastures the opportunity to recover, and protect the desert environment from the damage caused by overgrazing, such as the deterioration of desert vegetation and beneficial local plants, and soil erosion and erosion, which leads to a decline in the number of livestock that depend entirely on natural pastures, and the appearance of signs of Desertification in some areas of Abu Dhabi, as well as necessary measures to give desert habitats the opportunity to recover and regenerate naturally. In parallel, the Authority is making additional efforts in research and rehabilitation, within an in-depth program to evaluate environmental pastures, in addition to the rehabilitation of major plant species.
During the specified period, those licensed to graze must adhere to a number of environmental requirements, which include not introducing exotic plants or animals or any harmful materials into the grazing areas, and not uprooting, burning, transporting, cutting, damaging, logging, removing or collecting pastoral plants or any part. Among them, not to harm biological diversity or cause harm to the environment, and to adhere to the permitted grazing seasons. The periods of suspension of grazing determined by the Authority in coordination with the concerned authorities should be taken into account, to ensure the sustainability of the grazing areas. It is prohibited to use any type of vehicle or machinery in the grazing areas, including It affects the vegetation cover, and it is prohibited to transfer the grazing license to another person