Category Archives: Nature

Role of Algerian Matorrals in Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Adaptation

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Matorrals, Mediterranean shrublands including maquis and garrigue form a key component of Algeria’s ecological landscapes. Stretching from coastal zones to foothills and lower mountain belts, they serve as transitional ecosystems between humid northern forests and southern semi-arid steppes. Despite their limited spatial coverage, they host rich biodiversity, including many endemic and xerophytic species, and provide crucial ecosystem services such as soil protection, carbon storage, and hydrological regulation. Their structural diversity and adaptive traits make them among the most resilient vegetation types under Mediterranean climatic stress. Recent national studies and international assessments (IUCN, Plan Bleu) highlight their essential role in land … Continue reading →

Soil as the Foundation of a Healthy Earth

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A special day, a day to reflect on how critical and important the soil is for everyone on the planet. Soil is a life-giving and a life-sustaining component of all our environmental ecosystems. Yet most people look at soil with disgust, thinking it is just dirt, acting as if it’s the dirtiest component of the natural world.  I beg to differ and will set out information to inform our readers of just how crucial soil is to our very existence. Soil is so critical in our survival. It controls the food security of the planet. It ensures the sustainability of … Continue reading →

Mining the Deep: How the Indian Ocean Ridge Faces Ecological Crossroads

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Primarily, deep-sea mining is done by extracting minerals from the ocean at thousands of meters of depth. The ocean ridges contain millions of dollars’ worth of minerals that are produced due to different chemical reactions near hydrothermal vents, undersea volcanoes, and other areas with immense geological activity. The Indian Ocean is especially known for containing minerals like nickel, cobalt, and manganese, which are essential for the construction of wind turbines, car parts, airplane parts and other important materials used in our everyday lives. How Deep-Sea Mining is done In this generation, deep-sea mining methods use remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and … Continue reading →

لماذا تظل أشجار القرم في الإمارات عُرضة للخطر

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تمتلك دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة العديد من الكنوز الخفية، مثل أشجار القرم. تكمن وظيفتها في عزل الكربون (carbon sequestration) وليس إنتاج الأكسجين. يُطلق على نوع أشجار القرم الموجود في الإمارات اسم “القرم الرمادي” (Avicennia marina)، وغالبًا ما يوجد في منطقة الخليج. وقد اختارت هذا الموقع تحديدًا بسبب مياهه المالحة وشبه الاستوائية ألضحله. خلال العقدين الماضيين، واجهت أشجار القرم تهديدات هائلة مع تزايد التطور الساحلي السريع في الإمارات (حسيبة، 2025). إشكالية الهشاشة إحدى التهديدات الرئيسية التي تواجه أشجار القرم في الإمارات هو تطوير الجزائر الاصطناعية. لإنشاء جزيرة اصطناعية، يتم استصلاح الأراضي عن طريق التجريف. يتم التجريف عن طريق الحفر العميق للمناطق المستهدفة، مما يزيل … Continue reading →

Biodiversity Conservation in Jordan: Perspectives

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Jordan is situated at the center of unique biota, representing the biodiversity of dry lands. The natural ecosystems in Jordan support human activities in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, tourism, traditional and pharmaceutical health products, traditional medicine and many others. These ecosystems are also important for their intrinsic value, and for protection of overall environmental quality. The Levant states in general, and Jordan in particular, went through changes during the past two centuries from various anthropogenic activities. These changes are threatening the natural ecosystems, which have been destroyed to make way for agricultural, industrial, or housing developments. Species biodiversity have been … Continue reading →

Why Mangroves in the UAE Remain at Risk and How Restoration Can be Improved

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The UAE, as a country, has many hidden treasures, such as the mangroves. Their function is carbon sequestration and not oxygen production. The type of mangroves found in the UAE is called Avicennia marina, and they are often found in the Gulf region. They chose this particular location due to its salty and subtropical shallow waters. In the past two decades, mangroves have faced immense threats as coastal development has rapidly increased in the UAE (Haseeba, 2025). The Vulnerability Problem One of the main threats to UAE mangroves is the development of man-made islands. To create a man-made island, land … Continue reading →

How Climate Change is Threatening Life on Kiribati

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Life on an island in the South Pacific has long been considered an idyllic location. But that once reality is becoming a daunting nightmare for the people of Kiribati (pronounced Ke-ree-bas). This nation consists of three archipelagos in the centre of the Pacific Ocean. The total land mass is approximately 811km2 and is spread across 3.5 million km2  of ocean. Of the 33 island and atolls, two-thirds of these land masses are inhabited. The total population of 120,000 people predominantly live on the main island, Tarawa. With the growing trends in the changing global climate, this small Pacific community is … Continue reading →

How Engineering is Shaping the Future of Underwater Habitats

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The idea of living and working beneath the sea has fascinated engineers and explorers for generations. As scientific research, climate monitoring, and marine conservation become increasingly urgent, the development of permanent underwater habitats is no longer a distant dream. These structures must be strong enough to survive intense pressure and corrosive salt water while providing a safe, comfortable environment for their occupants. Here is a detailed look at how advances in materials and mechanics are turning ambitious concepts into achievable projects. Why Build Underwater Habitats Undersea bases offer unique benefits that surface stations or ships simply cannot match. They provide … Continue reading →

Islamic Perspectives on Environmental Stewardship

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Everyone is well-aware of the cause of severe climatic disturbances which affect us all and the poorest and most vulnerable in particular – sheer greed and unbridled, reckless, consumption. Islam has always provided the keys to a harmonious life in which humans refuse to take more from nature than they need for their sustenance and enjoyment. Islam has repeatedly warned about the imbalances and inequalities that would arise if one were not to follow its recommendations. God created the world in balance (mizan): habitats, ecosystems and all forms of life. A balance that only humans are capable of breaking, due … Continue reading →

Red Sea “Super Corals” – A Ray of Hope for Global Reef Survival

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Coral reefs often known as the rainforests of the seas are a critical part of our ecosystem due to its role in providing coastal stability, species habitat, and nutrient cycling. Corals are known to share a symbiotics relationship with algae which provide them with nutrient byproducts from photosynthesis and in return the algae have can live in the host coral giving it its colour. These natural barriers protecting us against storms and floods are in threat from global warming as even a slight increase in the local average maximum temperature can activate coral stress response which can lead to increased … Continue reading →

Dubai’s Green Cover: A Vanguard of Hope for Global Conservation

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My recent visit to Dubai was an eye-opening experience that challenged my preconceived notions of what a desert city can achieve. As a botanist and environmental law expert, I am accustomed to observing the delicate balance of ecosystems. However, in Dubai, I witnessed something truly remarkable: a flourishing biodiversity in a landscape defined by extreme heat and arid conditions. It’s a powerful contrast. While many cities with naturally fertile land are losing their green cover, Dubai, a city built on sand, is actively transforming its environment. The omnipresent chirping of house sparrows, a species in decline in many of the … Continue reading →

Things to Know About Habitat Loss in MENA

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Habitat loss of native species in MENA region is increasing at a sensational rate as a consequence of natural and human causes. MENA has diverse ecosystems, including aquatic and terrestrial, with different climate patterns. The region have three globally recognized hotspots; the Irano-Anatolian region, the Mediterranean forest region and the Horn of Africa region. According to 2015 IUCN Red List, approximately 2476 species in MENA are under threat comprising of mammals, fishes, birds, mollusc, amphibians, reptiles, and other species.  28% of threatened species comprises of fishes, 18% plants, 12% birds, 9% mammals and rest others. IUCN data show highest threatened … Continue reading →