Spanish Newspaper: The UAE Has Plundered Socotra’s Natural Treasures

The Spanish newspaper El País has revealed that the United Arab Emirates has committed environmental violations on Yemen’s Socotra Island, including the “theft and sale of coral—an element vital to marine stability—and the introduction of at least 126 invasive species, most of them plants imported for local agriculture or ornamental purposes.”

In a special report published on Saturday, the newspaper added that insects were introduced which led to changes in the island’s ecosystem, including the red palm weevil, an invasive beetle that reportedly reached the island through palm seedlings imported by the Khalifa Foundation.

The report also uncovered the existence of a “lucrative market for selling endemic species from the archipelago,” citing UNESCO, which stated that butterflies native to the region are being sold online for more than $1,200 per butterfly.

The report further addressed illegal overfishing, with fish being transported by air and sea to the UAE, the purchase of vast areas of protected reserves, and the suppression of voices opposing Emirati violations against the island’s unique environment.