Dubai: Plants, seeds and animals brought to the UAE illegally are affecting its fauna and flora as pests and invasive species take over native varieties, and degrade the fragile environment of the country.
Travellers coming through UAE airports should have import and export permits for cats, dogs and even plants they plan to take with them. Failure to do so could see animal owners leaving their pets in quarantine.
Tourists and residents carrying plants or soil in the smallest quantities could be held responsible for bringing in pests that can infest plants.
The Ministry of Environment and Water is upping its awareness campaign to reduce disappointment for people going through customs.
The 'What You Carry May Cause You Harm' campaign offers advice on plant and veterinary procedures. The ministry will be distributing brochures and photos to explain the dangers of plant and animal diseases, as well as explaining that under international law, some products such as ivory or animal skins are illegal to travel with.
Dr Reza Khan, head of Dubai Zoo and qualified botanist, said the soil in pot plants can carry fungus or viral diseases. It is believed a snake species was introduced to the UAE after eggs in potted soil entered the UAE, he said.
"We don't know the full impact [of bringing in foreign plants and animals] but by the time we realize it might be too late," he told Gulf News. Khan said mesquite, a plant commonly found in Ras Al Khaimah, is an invasive species originally from South America and Mexico.
"There are hectares of it in RAK. It is well known that a lot of people here are allergic to the pollen of that plant, but it was never supposed to grow here. Burning it only makes it grow with fervour."
An indigenous bird to the UAE, the graceful warbler, which measures less than 10cm and weighs 8gm, is preyed on by the myna, a larger Asian subcontinent bird that eats warbler chicks, he said.
Airport staff, air, land and marine customs officials as well as civil aviation companies are being briefed to be particularly careful with animals and plants listed under CITES, the convention on international trade in endangered species. All rules and regulations can be found on the ministry's website.
The convention conserves environmental balance by maintaining species in nature, regulates the international trade and combat illegal trade with the endangered species of plants and animals.
The CITES convention includes 500 animal species and 2,800 plant species. This agreement does not ban trade; but regulates it subject to laws and trade permits.
According to the ministry, the most traded animal species in the country are wild animals, reptiles, skins, aloe plants, caviar, coral reef, birds and falcons.
On buying falcons, travelers should observe the CITES provisions and conditions, obtaining a re-export certificate from the exporting country , a CITES import certificate from the concerned authorities and a health certificate showing that the bird is free from diseases and has a leg ring.
Dogs and cats imported into the country should be identified with an electronic tag accompanied with a vaccination card and an attested official health certificate from the exporting country and a pre-permit from the ministry or from the e-website.
The ministry advises people bringing plants to the UAE to obtain an import permit, make sure there is no soil with the plants and that the plants are not banned or endangered.
Have you brought plants from outside? Do you know the effects of exotic plants on UAE's flora and fauna?
I have a Mesquite plant in tree in my garden and was about to cut it down as I have kids that play in the garden, after looking the tree up on the internet I found the tree to be a source of food for native Indians and others that live in Arizonan (UAS), who can clarify if it is indeed harmful to humans?
Gary Guscott
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 09, 2009, 16:58
I am not sure if I agree with this comments as I beielve you have to enrich your country by lots of plants and birds. You should not think those are harm for UAE environment. You need thousands of plants and hundreds of birds in here
Mir Hussain
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 09, 2009, 16:49
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