Natural reserve status sought for Musandam

A marine conservation group is anxious for Musandam to be declared a natural reserve, but with lack of government support, the group is hopeful a recently received Dh37,000 grant from Ford Motor Company will help them collect more data to push for protective status. Musandam, the most northern tip of the Arabian Peninsula and part of Oman, is a popular weekend destination for UAE residents. Biosphere Expeditions, an international wildlife conservation organisation which takes paying volunteers to help collect scientific data from select places on earth, have been studying coral reefs in Musandam with help from the Emirates Diving Association. Together, the two organisations have found that the coral cover is particularly good in the seas around Musandam, especially in comparison to nearby Dubai, where construction work has left hardly any reefs at all, said Matthias Hammer, founder and executive director, Biosphere Expeditions. "The reefs in Musandam are some of the best I have seen in the world. They have withstood the high levels of salinity in the water and, for this region, are in great shape," he said. Ford Motor Company Conservation and Environmental Grants are awarded every year to empower individuals and non-profit organisations that are working towards preserving the environment. Since the year 2000, Ford has awarded more than $2,000,000 in grants to over 300 projects around the world. So far, Biosphere Expedition and EDA have amassed a sizeable volume of information, which Hammer hopes will help him and his team make their case to the authorities to see a marine protected area declared. At risk Musandam, like much of the Arabian Gulf, is at risk from overfishing and other threats that disturb the corals and marine ecosystem. The grant will be used to create more awareness among the local community on how best to live sustainably in the area. "Much needs to be done to persuade decision-makers that this area deserves protected status but, with the help of a $10,000 grant from Ford, I am confident that Biosphere Expeditions and its partners in the region will be able to do everything possible to make a strong case for Musandam," said Hammer.