Epaa celebrates World Sea Day

Sohaila Ahmed, Staff Reporter

On the occasion of World Sea Day, the Environment and Protected Areas Authority’s (Epaa) Environmental Education Section organised an exhibition at Wasit Wetland Centre. The exhibition, which was held from Sep 25th till 30th, was aimed at different groups in the community. The public and visitors to the Centre appreciated the variety of programmes, activities, workshops and events.

The audience listened to detailed descriptions of the wetlands at Wasit Centre and their different classifications in terms of freshness, salinity, soil and organisms, examined samples of fresh and salty water under the microscope, and watched video presentations about the outer lakes in the protected area. There was also a workshop on the properties of the lakes. The event aimed to educate visitors about the history of the region.

Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Epaa Chairperson, said, “The celebration of World Sea Day is an opportunity to recognise the importance of the seas and environmental challenges. We are keen to celebrate this occasion on September 30th every year in the hopes of drawing the public’s attention to the seas.

Epaa is also keen to celebrate various events related to water, which constitutes more than 70% of the planet, and everything related to the environment. Water is the cornerstone of sustainable development. Water resources and related services promote poverty reduction, economic growth and environmental sustainability.”

She pointed out that the exhibition had been received warmly from the first day. The attendees expressed their appreciation for Epaa’s great interest in this international event and its efforts to identify ways to preserve and protect the environment from various threats. Everyone is responsible for preserving the seas and protecting them from pollution and damage to the environment.

Epaa is keen to focus on water-related issues in general, including the call for the sustainable management of freshwater resources and the strong relationship between water availability and global food security.

Epaa also raises various community groups’ awareness about issues related to water and the importance of conserving water and rationalisation.