Dubai launches inaugural environment conference and reserve management programme

The inaugural Dubai Environment Conference and Exhibition (DECE) opened at the Grand Hyatt Dubai, themed ‘Protecting Our Environment… Securing Our Future.’ Inaugurated by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the event serves as a platform for climate action aligned with the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy and the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.

The Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority (DECCA) is collaborating with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to create an integrated management programme for Dubai’s eight nature reserves, covering marine, mountain, and desert environments. This framework aims to enhance resource sustainability and biodiversity conservation.

Key initiatives highlighted include the Dubai Reef project, which intends to deploy approximately 20,000 reef modules to support marine life and fish stocks. Additionally, DECCA is piloting artificial intelligence applications for environmental monitoring, including biodiversity tracking, bird nest surveillance, and animal population counts to improve data accuracy.