46 ACTIVITIES Eco tourism
THE ISLAND'S WEALTH OF FLORA AND FAUNA MAKE IT AN IDEAL SAFARI DESTINATION, AND THIS IS JUST ONE OPTION AVAILABLE TO INCENTIVE GROUPS
The visitors' centre features 100 percent biodegradable paper tags; the idea is that each new visitor to Sir Bani Yas writes their name on a tag, which is then attached to a mangrove and planted on the island. It is a way of giving visitors ownership of the island and shows that sustainability is high on the agenda. Next stop is the Desert Islands Resort & Spa Ð the first resort to open on the island, which is managed by Thai hospitality group Anantara. The 64-room boutique hotel is located on the north shore of the island, about a 20-minute drive from the seaport.
Treasure Island
Originally conceived as a wildlife reserve more than 20 years ago to ensure the survival of the region's most endangered species, the Arabian Wildlife Park covers more than half of Sir Bani Yas and is home to many free-roaming animals, including one of the world's largest herds of Arabian oryx. This species of antelope is almost extinct in the wild.
Sir Bani Yas is also a bird watcher's paradise. About 170 spe- cies of birds have been spotted on the island, including flamingos that gather in dense flocks in the shallow lagoons. During the spring and autumn migrations, more than 250,000 shore birds nest and feed on the island's intertidal sand and mud flats. The island's wealth of flora and fauna make it an ideal safari destination, and this is just one option available to incentive groups.
Going green
Sir Bani Yas has been developed with respect to the island's delicate ecosystem. It is home to the region's only wind tur- bine, which currently powers a portion of the island's facilities. Expanding on Sheikh Zayed's eco-philosophy, TDIC plans to utilise solar and wind solutions throughout Desert Islands.
TDIC has partnered with Masdar, Abu Dhabi government's future energy company responsible for developing renewable energy re- sources in the emirate. Masdar's alternative energy production facility on Sir Bani Yas powers the island's desalinisation plant.
Water to nourish the island's animals and vegetation will be sourced from this desalinisation plant, thus guaranteeing food supply for the animals.
abudhabi 2011
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112