Efforts to improve the ecology of the UAE will be recognised through a series of Emirates Appreciation Awards for the Environment which were rolled out yesterday in Dubai. The awards were first announced in September 2011 by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and are in conjunction with the Higher Committee of the Zayed International Foundation for the Environment. In a statement issued yesterday, Shaikh Mohammad lauded UAE leaders for achieving a great deal of protection on behalf of the environment in a very short time. ‘Luminous milestone\' \"The clear vision, hard work and persistent follow-up of the leadership at both federal and local levels, have enabled the United Arab Emirates to achieve great accomplishments that have made it a luminous milestone on the map of global environmental action,\" he said. \"The global recognition and appreciation received by our country is a clear indication of the great importance we are giving to the environmental cause. It is also worth mentioning that these persistent efforts were not confined to the role of the government, but rather the private sector and civil society organisations have contributed significantly.\" To be awarded every two years, Dh1 million will be dispersed to leaders within the environmental community for five categories, each with a cash prize of Dh200,000, said Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water, at a press conference. \"This award was created to stimulate and appreciate all of the efforts and programmes to protect the environment and sustainable growth in the UAE,\" Bin Fahd told reporters. He said the award will help bolster those working in the environmental field to discover, track and create solutions for a healthier country in times ahead. The award was created \"in order to achieve strategic goals of the government to ensure the sustainable future for coming generations,\" said the minister.