ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Aligning with 2024’s theme of The Year of Sustainability, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) announced it will be organising the first edition of the International Mangroves Conservation and Restoration Conference (IMCRC), taking place from 10 to 12 December 2024.
The conference, the world’s first, aims to present the most important scientific studies in the field of mangrove forest ecosystems, and the best practices for the rehabilitation and development of these environmental habitats. The main themes of the conference include promoting the adoption of an integrated approach to restoring coastal systems and shedding light on the conservation of mangroves in the Arabian Peninsula. Additional agenda topics include a review of possible ways to address the effects of climate change through the preservation and rehabilitation of mangroves.
Her Excellency Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD, said: "In the UAE, and especially in Abu Dhabi, we are very well aware of the importance of mangroves and have our own exceptional story. We have been exceptionally successful in preserving, protecting and restoring them.
"The emirate’s mangrove restoration efforts date back to before the 1970s, making Abu Dhabi a pioneer in the rehabilitation of these valuable ecosystems. The total coverage of Abu Dhabi’s mangrove restoration projects across the emirate is currently 17,600 hectares. And since 2020, EAD and its partners have planted more than 27 million mangroves using innovative solutions, such as drone seeding.
"We are proud to be hosting the International Mangroves Conservation and Restoration Conference, the first of its kind in the world, reflecting Abu Dhabi’s interest in these coastal habitats, which are an important component of its ecosystem. The conference will certainly help us offer a platform to support the global dialogue on mangrove restoration. By convening global scientists, as well as conservation and restoration professionals working in the public and private sectors on mangrove and other coastal ecosystem programmes, all stakeholders working in the field will be able to exchange knowledge on applied science and best practice with people from all over the world and share their own experiences.
"We, at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, invite all mangrove experts to be part of this event because we believe that joint efforts across the whole community will provide the key to our success. Close cooperation will allow us to devise innovative solutions, projects and initiatives to protect mangroves – a unique species and nature-based solution that will play a critical role in helping us combat our greatest challenge: climate change."
The IMCRC will be hosted under the umbrella of the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative (ADMI), launched during His Royal Highness Prince William, the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge’s, landmark visit to the UAE where he met His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, at Jubail Mangrove Park in February 2022.
The ADMI is the overarching programme for all mangrove restoration initiatives in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and its goals include implementing science-based restoration, prioritising protection efforts and fostering innovation and collaboration for mangrove and blue carbon ecosystems locally and globally.
The conference is being jointly organised by a global group of leading environmental protection bodies, which includes more than 10 scientific partners, including the EAD.
The EAD aims to lead efforts to protect mangrove forest ecosystems, in cooperation with environmental organisations and scientific bodies, including the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Global Mangrove Alliance, the University of St. Andrews, the IUCN Mangrove Specialist Group, the Zoological Society of London, Wetlands International, and Emirates Nature-WWF.