The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) will kick off the Winter Environmental Program for adolescents to raise their awareness about environmental protection in a bid to foster the next generation of environmental stewards.
Scheduled to run from December 23 to 30, the program will comprise a variety of activities that, in addition to the fun factor, will bring youngsters closer to nature and help them acquire a deeper understanding of natural life.
The agenda will include a visit to Al Wathba Wetland Reserve and Al-Muzahmi Protected Area to learn about their rich biodiversity, organized in cooperation with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and the Environment Protection and Development Authority of Ras Al Khaimah.
Moreover, the Fujairah Adventures Center will tailor an activity to introduce the participants to the ecological significance of the emirate and its biodiversity, and enable them to try eco-friendly sports.
In addition, the program will feature a series of workshops on animal welfare, biodiversity, and the impacts of pollution on the environment, hosted in cooperation with Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center.
To get to know more about the fishing profession, the youngsters will attend a lecture by Dibba Al Fujairah Fishermen Association with a focus on correct fishing gear, permitted and prohibited fish species, minimum catch sizes, fishing seasons, marine biodiversity, and marine pollution.
A tour of the Hatta Honeybee Garden and Discovery Center, an apiary in the mountains of Hatta, will also be on the agenda to enable the participants to observe the behavior and life cycle of the pollinators, as well as understand their significance to the human food system.
Speaking on the program, Taif Al Amiri, Director of Government Communication at MOCCAE, said: “The Ministry is keen to launch regular initiatives that nurture young people’s connection to the environment and help them realize that the responsibility to protect our precious biodiversity will lie on their shoulders one day. We also aim to pique their interest in pursuing volunteering and careers in the environmental sector.”
MOCCAE calls on youngsters between the ages of 10 and 18 to register for the Winter Environmental Program.