UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory
UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory
UAE
Marawah Island is well known for hosting the second largest populations of Dugongs and the earliest complete ceramic vessel yet known from the United Arab Emirates. The landscape is a mix of both the Arabian Desert and Palearctic bioregions. The biosphere reserve is home to the seagrasses, coral reefs, mangroves, coastal Sabkhas, rocky and sandy seashores and rocky ridges. The Island is a safe haven for waterbirds, such as curlew, bar-tailed godwit, lesser sand plover, Kentish plover, western reef heron and migratory birds. It is a refuge for hawksbill sea turtles. The island holds fish bones remains, dugong, turtle and dolphin, and evidence of pearling, grazing and hunting gazelles. Local communities preserve the use of the fixed net locally named ‘Hadhra’, the shore net locally called ‘Al Sakkar’, and the seine nets locally called ‘Daffara’. Marawah features cultural and archeological vestiges with more than twenty (20) fossil and archeological sites dating back to the 16th century.
Call reserve
