Abu Dhabi is making the most of its natural assets with an ecological wonder that sits along the coastline of the capital; rich in wildlife, history and culture, one small island is shaping the future for Abu Dhabi and gaining international recognition along the way.

When asked to consider some of the usual Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal, the Great Barrier Reef or even The Great Pyramid of Giza may spring to mind, but there are in fact numerous lists that identify some of the world’s greatest historical, natural and modern landmarks and sites.

The New7Wonders of Nature is one such list; and it’s on that particular list that Abu Dhabi could make its way into the history books.

The official New7Wonders of Nature is a global campaign that began in 2007 to create a list of seven natural wonders as voted for by people in a global poll. The initial campaign received over 440 nominations from over 220 countries: this list was then narrowed down to the top 77, from which a panel of experts recommended the list of the most deserving 28 official finalist candidates. This was based on the unique beauty of the nominated site, ecological substance, historical legacy and geographical location.

Now with the campaign in its third and final phase in which the wonders will be chosen by an estimated one billion votes, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) are working hard to draw international attention to a small, environmentally unique island for those all important votes before the Official Declaration of the New7Wonders of Nature is announced on 11th November 2011.

Abu Dhabi is certainly not short of beautiful islands; the surrounding waters are dotted with over 200 in fact; from Sir Bani Yas to Bahraini Island, there’s plenty of natural beauty around. But this island is unlike any other.
The island is Bu Tinah. In fact, it’s a cluster of tiny islands: the Bu Tinah shoals lie some 25km from Zirku island in Abu Dhabi, forming a unique, bio-diverse land and waterscape that homes some of the world’s critically endangered creatures.

“Bu Tinah is tiny,” explains Laila Yousef al Hassan, a spokesperson for Bu Tinah and EAD. “It’s a very unique and fragile ecosystem that houses a fantastic array of wildlife – it’s quite unlike anywhere else.”
The cluster of low-lying islands and shoals (the highest point within the archipelago being no taller than three metres above sea level) that join, or almost so, at low tide, is part of the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve, the region’s first and largest UNESCO-designated marine biosphere reserve – a protected area in the country, with a territory of more than 4,000 sq km. Bu Tinah is a core zone within the protected area, meaning fishing is prohibited and only a limited number of supervised visitors are allowed. “EAD has recognised the importance and fragility of the site – Bu Tinah island therefore has the highest level of protection with very strict preservation rules,” explains Laila.

“The Bu Tinah Core Area is considered an exclusive wildlife zone in which human interaction is restricted to scientific research and no other human uses are permitted. Maintaining Bu Tinah island and its surrounding waters in a natural and healthy state is critically important to maintaining the overall marine environment of Abu Dhabi.”

Competing in the islands category, Bu Tinah has already made it into the finalists: amid the 28 entries in the running for the all-important final votes, Bu Tinah is the only natural spot not open to tourism.

Aside from being restricted access, ensuring the island stays peacefully protected, what makes Bu Tinah unique against the others in the running, including the Maldives (Indian Ocean), Bays of Fundy (Atlantic coast) and Jeju Island (South Korea)?

A unique environment

“We’re proud that Bu Tinah is the only site in the running that is not open to tourism as we want to protect the Island. The island is unique on so many levels, and it’s important to protect those unique elements,” explains Laila.

“On an ecological and cultural level we hope to gain recognition for the site, and there are plenty of reasons that we believe Bu Tinah deserves that recognition.”
The island, that today homes a variety of species, is thought to have once been home to pearl fishermen: “We have found two, possibly three graves on the island – and there are thought to be more,” says Laila. “There is certainly a unique cultural value to the island.”

On land, the endangered Hawksbill turtle not only makes the island home but returns each year to nest. In fact numbers are “steadily increasing” each year, according to Laila. Record numbers of Osprey nest and make the island their home too.

In the surrounding waters, globally unique corals line the beds. “What’s particularly interesting about the coral around Bu Tinah is that it can withstand and actually flourish in our harsh environment and temperatures.” As many as 16 species of coral are recorded in the area, and the reefs survive in conditions that would kill coral species in other parts of the world: the Gulf’s waters are among the most saline in the world, as well as among the warmest. Corals live in water that is between 23°C and 28°C but in the UAE water temperatures go as high as 35°C in summer.

Mangroves – the tallest in Abu Dhabi – also thrive in the waters. Marine life includes a huge variety of fish, dolphins and jellyfish. Dugongs – profoundly shy creatures and a globally threatened mammal – are plentiful in the waters, so much so that the area can claim the second largest population in the world after Australia. Some 600 out of the estimated 3,000 dugongs in the country live in the waters around Bu Tinah.

Bu Tinah’s thriving habitat and species form a unique living laboratory – one that is monitored carefully by a number of rangers stationed on the island, working in shifts of two weeks to protect, conduct marine research and learn from the island.

Seven reasons to vote for Bu Tinah

Coral reefs: Bu Tinah has globally unique corals. Their survival, despite the harsh environment, has given researchers insight into coral reef survival elsewhere in the world in the face of global warming. Coral reefs around the island are extensive and mainly consist of hard corals. Bu Tinah’s corals are particularly special as they survive in a very harsh and challenging environment.

Mangroves: A long stretch of mangroves stretch along the backwaters of Bu Tinah. They reach an average height of five metres and support wildlife including birds, fish and crustaceans.

Hawksbill turtles: Every year, these critically endangered species return to Bu Tinah island to nest.

Dugongs: Bu Tinah island supports the highest density of dugongs in the world, per square metre. These threatened species are often spotted swimming among the island’s extensive seagrass meadows. They have been able to live without disturbance in a clean natural sanctuary, thanks to EAD’s management of the marine
biosphere reserve.

Dolphins: At least three species of dolphin are found around the island: the Indo-pacific humpback dolphins are observed close to the Island, while common dolphins can be found in deeper waters in the area. Bottlenose dolphins swim around the Island in both shallow and deep waters.

Birds: Several bird species take refuge in the winter on Bu Tinah. It is an important stopover site for migratory birds and is a breeding site for the Osprey, the Western-reef heron, the Bridled and the White-cheeked tern. Bu Tinah is also a roost site for the Socotra cormorant, supporting approximately 20,000 to 25,000 birds.

Seagrass and seaweed: Three species of seagrass and over 21 species of marine algae are found around Bu Tinah. These aquatic meadows provide food for a variety of marine wildlife, including globally endangered sea turtles and dugongs. They also supply shelter to a number of smaller sea animals.

Charlie Kennedy