By Rafiq Vayani
ABU DHABI: In the Year of Community,environmental charity Emirates Nature-WWF welcomes professionals, adults and youth to train as citizen scientists through its first ‘Winter Conservation Camp’. Organized under its Leaders of Change community-mobilization programme, the camp provides exclusive training from conservation experts and scientists, and a chance to contribute to conservation on the ground in Wadi Wurayah National Park. Wadi Wurayah is normally closed to the public, making this a rare opportunity to access the protected area.
Running from 9 to 20 December 2025, the ‘Winter Conservation Camp’offers apurposeful and productive way to spend the Winter Break, building hands-on conservation skills and supporting professional development. It also provides students and early-career participants with valuable experience to strengthen their CVs and university or job applications. All online sessions are delivered live and can be joined from anywhere.
Discover UAE’s unique biodiversity – and make a difference: Through online workshops, participants will learn about conservation solutions used in the Hajar Mountains — and how they can support them as citizen scientists. This includes analysing wildlife footage from motion-sensor camera traps and restoring native trees to build healthier mountain ecosystems that benefit soil, wildlife, pollinators and local farmers.
UAE-based participants who attend at least two online workshops will be eligible for an exclusive reforestation field trip inside Wadi Wurayah National Park – the UAE’s first mountain protected area and home to over 1,100 documented species – organized in partnership with Fujairah Environment Authority (FEA).
Arabella Willing, Head of Conservation Outreach & Citizen Science, Emirates Nature-WWF commented: “Everyone has a role to play in conservation. We’re thrilled to launch the first ‘Winter Conservation Camp’ under our Leaders of Change programme – giving people the chance to contribute as citizen scientists, supporting researchers in studying species, habitats in the Hajar Mountains. This camp builds on the success of our previous summer training series and offers a fantastic way for people to learn new skills, connect with nature and protect biodiversity.”
Nasser Teiseer Obeidat, Head of Terrestrial Biodiversity and Protected Areas, said: “Building a culture of environmental stewardship begins with giving people the skills, confidence and opportunities to care for nature. Through our ongoing community engagement in Wadi Wurayah National Park, we continue to witness how meaningful participation strengthens protection of the UAE’s fragile ecosystems. We are proud to open this experience to more people through the Emirates Nature-WWF Winter Conservation Camp.”Winter Conservation Camp schedule
- Workshop: Nature of the Hajar Mountains –Tuesday 9 December 2025 (1 hour)
- Workshop: Caught on Camera – Thursday 11 December 2025 (1.5 hours)
- Workshop: Habitat Restoration – Tuesday 16 December 2025 (1 hour)
- Field Trip: Restoration of Native Trees –Saturday 20 December 2025 (3 hours)
Events are first come, first served – sign up now on the Leaders of Change website to reserve your spot and become a citizen scientist here.
