Bu Tinah
What are the 7 wonders of the world. It's a question that always stumps us. Even more confusing now that there is a new list being put together and it's based on the voting public. Abu Dhabi is getting in on the action with Butinah Island. You may not have heard of it but here's the spiel:
Imagine an island with shallow sparkling blue waters and sandy beaches, visited by critically endangered animals, musical with birdsong and remote from the bustle and noise of human habitation. Add colourful coral reefs and seven metre high mangrove trees to that picture and you'll start to get an idea of the peace and beauty of Bu Tinah Island. Bu Tinah's thriving habitat and species form a unique living laboratory, with key significance for climate change research. An undisturbed but threatened paradise,Bu Tinah has much to teach mankind about environmental protection and survival. Its significant coral community and the health of its habitats and species despite its high temperature and salinity levels make the island of keen scientific interest. Bu Tinah is host to critical marine habitats containing internationally important species, as well as other charismatic wildlife. Seabirds such as the flamingo and the osprey, diverse species of dolphins, and the critically endangered turtles including hawksbills and greens can all be found in and around Bu Tinah. The island's waters are also home to the planet's second-largest population of dugongs, a large marine mammal that is globally threatened. Bu Tinah Island, rich in biodiversity, lies within the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve. The Biosphere reserve is the region's first and largest UNESCO-designated marine biosphere reserve. Closed to visitors, fishing and the collection of turtle eggs are prohibited on Bu Tinah Island. Its continued survival and protection must be ensured.
Anyway, for sure it's interesting, but it is not really getting the votes. Of the 14, Bu Tinah features in the bottom 7. Back in March when the campaign was launched, Dhs28m was being thrown behind the campaign, but that doesn't seem to have done the trick. Despite voting boots all over Abu Dhabi and now even at the airport, the campaign doesn't seem to have gone viral. This should have been an online viral campaign. Maybe Shakira singing hip shaking and singing "Bu Tinah, Bu Tinah". Just saying. There's still time though, so perhaps Abu Dhabi will have a new 7 wonder and not just a 7 star wonder.
Here's your reason 7 reasons to vote:
7 Reasons to Vote for Bu Tinah Island
1. Coral Reefs: Their survival, despite the harsh environment, has given researchers insight into coral reef survival elsewhere in the world in the face of global warming.
2. Natural Mangroves: They reach an average height of 5 metres and support wildlife including birds, fish and crustaceans.
3. Hawksbill Turtles: Every year, these critically endangered species arrive to Bu Tinah Island to nest.
4. Dugongs: These threatened species are often spotted swimming among the Island's extensive seagrass meadows. They have been able to live without disturbance in a clean natural sanctuary, thanks to EAD's management of the marine biosphere reserve.
5. Dolphins: The Indo-pacific humpback, bottlenose and common dolphins swim around the Island.
6. Ospreys: Bu Tinah Island is a major breeding site for this globally important bird.
7. Socotra Cormorants: Bu Tinah Island is a roost site for about 20,000-25,000 of these birds.
...and not an oil spill in sight.
New & Wonders - Vote for Butinah
Butinah
UAE's Bu Tinah vying to be amongst new Seven Wonders of Nature
Bu Tinah voting moves to Abu Dhabi airport
Imagine an island with shallow sparkling blue waters and sandy beaches, visited by critically endangered animals, musical with birdsong and remote from the bustle and noise of human habitation. Add colourful coral reefs and seven metre high mangrove trees to that picture and you'll start to get an idea of the peace and beauty of Bu Tinah Island. Bu Tinah's thriving habitat and species form a unique living laboratory, with key significance for climate change research. An undisturbed but threatened paradise,Bu Tinah has much to teach mankind about environmental protection and survival. Its significant coral community and the health of its habitats and species despite its high temperature and salinity levels make the island of keen scientific interest. Bu Tinah is host to critical marine habitats containing internationally important species, as well as other charismatic wildlife. Seabirds such as the flamingo and the osprey, diverse species of dolphins, and the critically endangered turtles including hawksbills and greens can all be found in and around Bu Tinah. The island's waters are also home to the planet's second-largest population of dugongs, a large marine mammal that is globally threatened. Bu Tinah Island, rich in biodiversity, lies within the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve. The Biosphere reserve is the region's first and largest UNESCO-designated marine biosphere reserve. Closed to visitors, fishing and the collection of turtle eggs are prohibited on Bu Tinah Island. Its continued survival and protection must be ensured.
Bu Tinah in 3 Minutes (English) from Bu Tinah Island on Vimeo.
Anyway, for sure it's interesting, but it is not really getting the votes. Of the 14, Bu Tinah features in the bottom 7. Back in March when the campaign was launched, Dhs28m was being thrown behind the campaign, but that doesn't seem to have done the trick. Despite voting boots all over Abu Dhabi and now even at the airport, the campaign doesn't seem to have gone viral. This should have been an online viral campaign. Maybe Shakira singing hip shaking and singing "Bu Tinah, Bu Tinah". Just saying. There's still time though, so perhaps Abu Dhabi will have a new 7 wonder and not just a 7 star wonder.
Here's your reason 7 reasons to vote:
7 Reasons to Vote for Bu Tinah Island
1. Coral Reefs: Their survival, despite the harsh environment, has given researchers insight into coral reef survival elsewhere in the world in the face of global warming.
2. Natural Mangroves: They reach an average height of 5 metres and support wildlife including birds, fish and crustaceans.
3. Hawksbill Turtles: Every year, these critically endangered species arrive to Bu Tinah Island to nest.
4. Dugongs: These threatened species are often spotted swimming among the Island's extensive seagrass meadows. They have been able to live without disturbance in a clean natural sanctuary, thanks to EAD's management of the marine biosphere reserve.
5. Dolphins: The Indo-pacific humpback, bottlenose and common dolphins swim around the Island.
6. Ospreys: Bu Tinah Island is a major breeding site for this globally important bird.
7. Socotra Cormorants: Bu Tinah Island is a roost site for about 20,000-25,000 of these birds.
...and not an oil spill in sight.
New & Wonders - Vote for Butinah
Butinah
UAE's Bu Tinah vying to be amongst new Seven Wonders of Nature
Bu Tinah voting moves to Abu Dhabi airport
Labels: butinah
posted by grapeshisha at
1:34 PM
3 Comments:
It stands no chance against the competition I'm afraid. Not too much unique about the place - same as many tropical island clusters.
Unfortunately the UAE has already been responsible for an incredible amount of environmental damage by dredging choral reefs to construct hideous palm islands etc.
Neil - I'm afraid you're wrong. There are actually many things that make Bu Tinah Island unique in the world:
1. It has one of the world’s healthiest populations of dugongs, a gentle seal-like mammal that grazes on seagrass.
2. Its coral species survive in the uppermost threshold of the physical environment where salinity reaches more than 48 ppt and temperatures reach more than 36degrees Celsius. This doesn't happen anywhere else in the world.
3. It is home to the healthiest mangroves in the UAE (reaching an average height of 5 m.)
4. It is the only site amongst the finalists in the new 7 Wonders of the World competition that is restricted to visitors. This has helped keep it safe, clean and relatively undisturbed as nature intended it to be.
Al in Arabia - You've touched on one side of the story. On the other side, the UAE (Abu Dhabi in particular) continued to do a lot in environmental protection and wildlife conservation. The prime example I can think of right now is how the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi has brought the Arabian oryx back from the verge of extinction and released it back into the wild. Today, thanks to a successful breeding programme, the UAE is home to the largest population of Arabian oryx in the world. This is now considered one of the greatest conservation stories of all time and international conservation agencies are looking to the UAE as a leader in this field.
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