Khor Fakkan mountain preservation campaign launched

Environment authority wants to keep the Hajar Mountains free from graffiti and other forms of detrimental human activity.

SHARJAH // The second mountain preservation campaign has been launched to protect the natural beauty of Khor Fakkan.

The Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA), Khor Fakkan branch, launched the drive in a bid to prevent the Hajar Mountains of the east of the country being defaced by human activity, such as graffiti or engravings; billboard poles or advertising; moving rocks and plants from their original places; or modifying natural mountain landmarks.

Violators will be fined Dh10,000, in addition to paying the cost of rectifying the damage and having the tools they used confiscated.

Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, chairman of the EPAA, gave a speech in the presence of Sheikh Saeed bin Saqr bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Chairman of the Ruler’s Office in Khor Fakkan, where he thanked Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed, Ruler of Sharjah, and Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, for their support in the preservation of wildlife and biodiversity through several environmental rulings.

The mountain campaign will continue until March next year and a photography competition for over 15s will be run at the Cultural Centre of Khor Fakkan to coincide with it.

Prof Awatef Abdullah Al Rawi, from the EPAA’s Eastern Region branch, gave an overview of the first edition of the campaign, and a film showed its accomplishments, from environmental workshops to awareness programmes targeting the community, schools, universities, institutions and mountain walkers.

Pupils from Al Khalil bin Ahmad High School also put on a play related to the adverse environmental and social effects of defacing mountain areas.