ABU DHABI (WAM)
The first edition of the International Mangroves Conservation and Restoration Conference (IMCRC), organised by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) under the umbrella of the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative (ADMI), will be held from December 10-12, at Bab Al Qasr Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
The event is expected to welcome 468 specialists and more than 96 speakers from 82 countries, who will attend various sessions focusing on bridging the gap between cutting edge science and mangrove restoration, promoting global best practices and discussing community engagement and the application of innovative technologies for enhancing restoration efforts.
This event, the first of its kind in the world, aims to highlight key scientific studies on mangrove ecosystems, and the best practices for rehabilitating and conserving these environmentally important habitats.
The conference aims to enhance integrated efforts to conserve and restore coastal systems and environmental habitats, highlight efforts to conserve and restore mangrove ecosystems in the Arabian Peninsula and apply nature-based solutions to climate change, guided by scientific knowledge and global best practice. It will also provide a global platform for sharing knowledge and lessons learnt amongst researchers and specialists from worldwide.
The three-day conference programme includes plenary sessions, panel discussions, field visits, and working sessions on best practices, as well as recent mangrove restoration innovations, integrated approaches to marine habitat restoration, habitat connectivity and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The conference focuses on the scientific aspects of mangrove conservation and restoration and provides an opportunity for university students, researchers, NGOs, and country representatives to attend this world-first event.
The inaugural IMCRC also includes an exhibition and a scientific poster session that emphasises the importance of the community’s role in mangrove forest restoration, in addition to a review of technological tools that can contribute to their rehabilitation.
With mangrove restoration as its key theme, the three-day conference programme will review the potential of nature-based solutions to combat climate change and showcase monitoring tools such as the Global Mangrove Watch platform and modern rehabilitation techniques, with a focus on engaging the community through interactive tools.
Youth-led efforts to restore mangroves and establish new coastal reserves will be discussed, highlighting the funding for rehabilitation projects and long-term strategies.
Conference sessions will take place addressing the interconnectedness of marine ecosystems, the status of mangrove forests globally and regionally, and the importance of restoring them to enhance biodiversity.
In addition, the conference will feature sessions discussing innovative applications for mangrove monitoring reinforcing the conference’s message of protecting and restoring these habitats through cooperation and knowledge exchange. The event will also highlight the importance of tracking and documenting the success of restoration programmes.