Today's Edition
Mays Ibrahim (ABU DHABI)
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) released its annual report on Tuesday, spotlighting its strides in various sectors, including marine biodiversity, throughout the “Year of Sustainability” 2023. Dedicated to preserving the marine environment in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the EAD’s multifaceted efforts covered pivotal areas such as mangrove restoration, coral reef rehabilitation, and marine life rescue.
Mangroves Flourish through Collaboration, Rehabilitation
The report spotlighted the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative, launched in 2022 with the aim of solidifying the position of Abu Dhabi as a local and global center for mangrove ecosystem restoration and blue carbon utilisation.
A notable stride for the initiative came in September 2023 with the official launch of its partnership programme through which the agency forged collaborations with local entities like Goumbook, Mubadala Energy, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and Jubail Island Investment Company, alongside international partnerships with the Zoological Society of London and the University of St Andrews.
The EAD report revealed that the initiative rehabilitated 6,782,080 mangrove trees in 2023, a sharp increase from 1,200,000 mangrove trees in 2022. The agency anticipates an annual carbon sequestration of 1,356 Mg/carbon per year by 2043 from rehabilitated sites.
Coral Reef Restoration: Successes in Figures
The Abu Dhabi coral reefs restoration project, which focuses on enhancing coral adaptation, saw a notable expansion in 2023, according to the EAD report.
The project now covers 71.8 hectares, compared to 0.21 hectares in 2022, and restoration efforts achieved a commendable 90% survival rate for corals despite challenges like coral bleaching.
Since the inception of the project, 312,025 coral fragments have been transferred from the nursery, with 65,340 coral fragments still undergoing nurturing.
Marine Life Thrives
The report recounts the successful rehabilitation and rescue of Malqout, a dugong calf, by EAD in 2019. Malqout was transferred to SeaWorld Abu Dhabi in 2023, where it’s being taken care of by a team of marine species experts.
The report also highlighted the Wildlife Rescue programme, a joint collaboration between the EAD and The National Aquarium of Abu Dhabi, which celebrated over 800 turtle rescues since 2020, 12 of which have been equipped with satellite tracking devices. The programme also facilitated the return of 120 rescued turtles to their natural habitat.
The EAD’s 2023 achievements also included signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) in Abu Dhabi to establish a pre-release turtle rehabilitation area at Louvre Abu Dhabi as part of the Wildlife Rescue Programme. The EAD and Miral company also signed an MoU to enhance marine environmental conservation and marine research through the Yas Seaworld Research and Rescue Center, according to the EAD report.
From November 2022 to May 2023, 178 turtles were rescued through this programme and 120 of them were successfully returned to their natural habitat.
The EAD’s expanded sea turtle nest surveys covered 25 sites in 2023, confirming 11 hawksbill turtle nesting sites. The survey recorded 247 turtle nests in 2023, with a 76% hatching rate and a 73% spawning rate, marking a significant step in the conservation of these endangered species.
The report further revealed that the first nesting activity of green turtles was recorded in Abu Dhabi in 2023, a species known to only forage in this area. However, the embryos of these turtles did not complete their development, so the process was unsuccessful.
Despite these hurdles, the EAD’s 2023 achievements stand as a testament to their unwavering dedication to preserving Abu Dhabi’s marine ecosystems.
