Description
Issuance of UAE Natural Reserves stamp series
As part of launching a series of stamps depicting the UAE’s Natural Reserves, 7X, in collaboration with Environment Protection & Development Authority – Ras Al Khaimah, has issued unique commemorative stamps, aimed at honouring the Authority’s efforts to enhance environmental protection within the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Muzahmi Protected Area – Ras Al Khaimah
Khor Al Muzahmi, declared a protected area in 2018, is a prominent ecological site in the biodiversity-rich Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah on the western coast of the UAE, and is located 15 km south of its city.
The coastal creek spanning 3.2sq km, lined by thriving mangroves is an important site for birds, from the tiny migrant Little Stint to the colourful Greater Flamingo and the majestic Osprey. The winter months witness the presence of large numbers of migrant birds from the Northern Hemisphere, making the dense mangrove canopy resonate with the calls of passerine birds. The mudflats, seagrass beds and the mangroves with their pneumatic roots, offer an important breeding ground for fishes, especially since the shallowness of the water makes the area inaccessible to large marine predators. Grey Mangrove, scientifically named Avicennia marina, in honour of the great Arab scholar Ibn Sinah, has vastly expanded its coverage in the area, since it was declared a protected territory. Muzahmi is also a feeding refuge for migrant Green Turtles that nest on the nearby beach.
The reserve is managed by the Environment Protection and Development Authority (EPDA). EPDA also runs a mangrove nursery at the site for supplemental planting.
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