Today's Edition
MOHAMMAD GHAZAL (ABU DHABI)
As the world grapples with climate change and biodiversity loss, Abu Dhabi has emerged as a beacon of innovation amid a green revolution that is quietly unfolding in the emirate’s serene waters.
The Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative (ADMI), spearheaded by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), is not just a conservation project; it is a comprehensive approach to ecological restoration, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development.
The numbers tell a compelling story of dedication, ambition, and success. In the past decade alone, approximately 15 million mangrove trees have been planted in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant increase from the early efforts initiated in the late 1970s. At present, Abu Dhabi boasts 176 square kilometres of mangroves, with 112 square kilometres naturally occurring and 64 square kilometres planted through rehabilitation efforts. Through these efforts, there has been an astounding 92% increase in mangrove area from 1987 to 2021, according to Ahmed Al Hashmi, Executive Director of Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at the EAD.
The ADMI stands out not only for its scale, but for its innovative, forward-looking, and technologically advanced approach. The Agency uses custom-built drones for seed dispersal, hailing a new era in environmental restoration, and mangrove restoration efforts in particular. These drones allow for highly precise planting in areas previously rendered inaccessible, thereby reducing the ecological footprint associated with planting and scaling up restoration. This novel approach was recognised as one of the top 12 innovations by the World Economic Forum’s Uplink platform in 2022.
In February of 2022, Abu Dhabi set ambitious plans to establish the emirate as a global hub for mangrove conservation, research, and innovation through the ADMI, which was announced during HRH Prince William, the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge’s, landmark visit to the UAE where he met H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, at Jubail Mangrove Park, Al Hashmi told Aletihad in an interview.
Additionally, the initiative is an extension of the Blue Carbon project, which carefully focuses on mangroves’ carbon sequestration properties and the critical role the trees play in supporting biodiversity. The initiative involves establishing a centre for mangrove research, conservation, and restoration, through collaborative efforts with local and international partners. They include capacity building and channelling support to enhance the role of mangroves as havens for biodiversity and as nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation, Al Hashmi added.
A Haven for Biodiversity and Climate MitigationMangroves in Abu Dhabi are more than just trees; they are vital ecosystems supporting an incredible range of biodiversity. These habitats are home to at least 74 species of water birds, 24 species of fish, and 42 species of invertebrates. They serve as critical nurseries for fish, bolstering local fisheries and indirectly supporting food security.
The mangroves play a crucial role in absorbing carbon emissions, with Abu Dhabi’s mangroves estimated to sequester carbon at a rate of 0.5t/ha/year. By stabilising coastlines and reducing coastal erosion, mangroves also protect infrastructure and communities along the coast. They enhance water quality, mitigate rising sea levels, and act as natural coastal defence system.
Mangrove preservation and restoration efforts support the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy and the UAE’s Net Zero goals by ensuring that carbon sequestered by mangroves continues to be stored in the soil, he said.
In addition to their mitgative role, mangroves also help in climate change adaptation. They stabilise and protect coastlines from storms, reducing erosion and protecting coastal infrastructure and communities. “By protecting and restoring mangroves, we are enhancing nature’s resilience and reducing the impact of climate change,” he added.
Numbers Speak VolumesWorldwide mangroves prevent an estimated $1.5 billion in direct flood damage, and at least 80% of global fish catch is dependent on mangrove ecosystems, as the trees serve as critical fish nurseries.They are also known for protecting coastal communities from the impacts of coastal erosion, enhancing water quality, attracting sustainable tourism, inspiring and facilitating environmental education and awareness, and enhancing human health and well-being.
Mangroves are essential components of Abu Dhabi’s seascapes, as they are associated with nearby coastal ecosystems such as seagrass and salt marsh. It is this critical symbiosis that mangrove restoration and preservation efforts are striving to maintain.
“When coastal habitats are well preserved together in a holistic way, they can continue to function and maintain the environmental balance needed for nature to thrive and, in turn, provide benefits in terms of climate mitigation, adaptation, and ensuring human wellbeing, as we are dependent on nature. Species need healthy natural habitats to survive and thrive, and this is why Abu Dhabi’s biodiversity goals focus on habitat conservation and restoration,” Al Hashmi added.
In addition to their vital roles, both direct and indirect, in enhancing and protecting biodiversity, maintaining the stability of coastlines, and supporting food security, mangroves also enhance water quality thanks to their complex root systems. The aquatic trees have above-ground roots called pneumatophores that can help slow down water flow, which in turn assists in sediment depositing processes and reducing coastal erosion. Their root system also plays a vital role in filtering nitrate, phosphates, and other pollutants from the water, improving the quality of the water flowing into coastal wetlands and the sea.
“We are continuing our mangrove research studies, working with the government and private sector to ensure urban development does not impact mangrove populations, and developing stronger policies and regulations to preserve mangroves and all-natural terrestrial and marine ecosystems in the emirate,” Al Hashmi said.
The preliminary studies, which indicated the mangrove carbon sequestration rate of 0.5t/ha/year, indicate that this rate is far higher than other studied ecosystems, although there might be variations depending on the site. According to Al Hashmi, the EAD is planning on conducting more studies in the future.
Other important blue carbon ecosystems that store carbon include seagrass beds (which have the highest storage in Abu Dhabi due to the extent of the emirate’s seagrass ecosystems, which measure 2,922 square kilometres), algae mats, salt marsh, and coastal sabkha. Blue carbon ecosystems are essential in fighting climate change, and ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrass and salt marsh offer a nature-based solution that helps remove carbon from the atmosphere, especially when these ecosystems are well preserved.
Fostering Global Collaboration The Agency has already secured its first partnerships with the Zoological Society of London, the Jubail Island Investment Company, and Mubadala Energy. Furthermore, additional local and global partnerships are soon to be underway.
The ADMI has launched a partnership programme inviting government and non-government actors to join and adopt key principles for conservation, education and restoration.
“Locally, we are engaging with businesses, government and community groups to highlight the role of these precious habitats as key nature-based solutions, as well as to guide all mangrove restoration projects and ensure they are implemented according to best practice to help us achieve our goals of successful evidence-based restoration,” Al Hashmi added.
“Regionally and internationally, we are developing collaboration agreements with organisations working on the conservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems, such as the Zoological Society of London, and other members of the Global Mangrove Alliance, to benchmark our methods and support capacity building, disseminate best practice, and contribute to the global goals for mangrove ecosystem protection,” he said.
“As part of this effort, we will be co-developing innovative capacity-building materials and holding a series of training workshops to disseminate best practice for mangrove restoration and share lessons learnt and success stories in engaging with communities and applying innovative technology to scale up restoration efforts. We have also worked closely with international partners such as Indonesia, Kuwait and Bahrain to support them with their mangrove restoration efforts,” he added.
Harnessing the Power of TechnologyDrone technology has allowed mangrove restoration to be conducted with less direct impact on the mangrove ecosystems from human disturbance. “It allowed us to reach inaccessible areas, be more precise in where seeds are dispersed, reduce costs and manpower required for restoration and scale up restoration while ensuring good success rates,” Al Hashmi said.The ADMI supports high-impact research and innovation projects for mangrove and marine ecosystem conservation, whether implemented by the EAD or by its network of collaborators. “We work closely with academic and research bodies through the Abu Dhabi Environmental Research Network (ADERN) to identify high-priority projects that align with Abu Dhabi Emirate’s environmental research needs,” Al Hashmi said.
“We also test out and study innovative concepts for local mangrove restoration projects with our partners, such as our recent project using custom-built drones to spread seeds at a higher rate, allowing us to reach remote areas, lower the environmental footprint on the ecosystem, and save costs. We are also working together with our team to develop innovative and cost effective methods of post-restoration monitoring using field-based surveys, drones and remote-sensing technology,” he added.
Looking Ahead“As part of ADMI and the UAE’s Year of Sustainability, and in line with the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy and under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of EAD, we aim to plant 10 mangrove trees for every COP28 participant, using drones and community-based planting to enhance environmental awareness and highlight the important role of these ecosystems as nature-based solutions in combating climate change,” Al Hashimi said.
The long-term vision is for ADMI to serve as a local and global hub for innovation, research and capacity-building on mangroves and other equally important blue carbon ecosystems, such as salt marsh, seagrass, and algal mats, he added.
