UAE residents to remove toxic oleander plant from gardens after Abu Dhabi ban
Experts claim that this beautiful plant has been utilized in the country for years, surviving the horrible climatic conditions of the region.
As a British expatriate who moved to Dubai for 6 years, Chandan Sojitra is struggling to come to terms with the fact that one of his most treasured garden plants has been declared toxic. Chandan Sojitra who always pushed back planting an oleander sapling as it was said to be low mobile maintenance has to do it now.
The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has prohibited the growing, making, breeding, and marketing of this beautiful yet deadly plant on Tuesday yesterday, October 8th.
Willing instead to request his gardener to carefully cut out the tree, and possibly replace the earth which supports the tree, Sojitra’s apprehension of the tree is being affected by the aspects of safety. It had planned to use Soshitra's living room, which contained a tree that had hammer handles attached to the wall.
It has been observed, however, that every single section of the oleander plant is hazardous when ingested and may induce various symptoms, including, but not limited to, great nausea and extremely adverse cardiovascular conditions.
By the time of purchase of the oleander three years ago, no bipolar oleander was purchased by Sojitra at all. “I browsed through several popular garden center's websites and they didn't caution about it. At that time, I also didn’t find any such information in - Google,” he explained. Chandan also pay attention to the little birds, “That tree seemed to be adored by small birds which would fly in a silly manner and shred the flowers, also similarly cats came there.”
“I want to plant an oleander,” said Linne Dugo resident of Abu Dhabi. “I have always wanted to grow them because they are beautiful flowers, which I first saw in the area.”
I was however taken by the news spread on social media about the prohibition and truthfully speaking a bit disgruntled. At this point of time, I can not plant it anymore; back home there is a toddler; it would not be wise to have such a poisonous plant.”
The Filipina informed, “We seem to be living in a pet-loving society because several children can be seen playing in the parks and other open spaces where this plant grows. It is a good thing if people abided by the rule, such that they do not do the removal later than six months as the authorities have recommended.”
Why it is toxic
Engaging in yet another one of the poisonous plants the oleander is often abused by these plants as environmental scientist dr. Nabil Ibrahim states that oleander is declared toxic because it contains cardiac glycosides that are poisons if ingested. “Poisonous symptoms can become as mild as a feeling of wanting to vomit or reverse into cardiovascular problems”, he explained. “This is why I consider it as very important for the ban to be enforced to safeguard those who are at risk.”
Ensuring safety
Even as the ban is in place, debates go on so that the region is safe while maintaining the area’s environmental features. An exact replica of the Abu Dhabi resolution five questions involves the methods used in the safe disposal of the oleander within six months from the passage of the resolution. It motivates the cooperation of the people arguing about globalization and how it is possible to protect the people and culture in a growing city.
As opined by local experts, oleander has been part of the UAE’s history for quite long and even survived the adverse climatic conditions of the region.
Thinking about the story, Humaid Obaid Al Zaabi owner of Sara Plantation Ajman added “This plant could be found around the world from the tropical region to the temperate region.”
Nevertheless, Dr Nabil Ibrahim pointed out that while oleander does beautify gardens, care should be taken since it is a poisonous plant. “It is not the native plant that one is concerned with but the safety of Edmontonians where the plant's use is uncommon if not totally rare. Though the eating of these plants is nearly absent, the usual accidents of animals and children may happen.”
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