G06: Ecosystem Problems & Solutions: Mangrove Forests & Threats

May 27, 2024
Mangroves in the Arabian Gulf and surrounding regions could shrink by 45 per cent over the next half century if current trends continue, scientists have warned in a study.
The assessment, by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), found that the area in the Gulf covered by mangroves has declined by about 14 per cent since 1996.

February 01, 2018
Cities and nature have an uneasy relationship. The pressure of expanding populations and economic growth have often been at the expense of greenery and wildlife.
Wetlands are particularly at risk, in the past often seen as useless areas good only for draining and redevelopment. World Wetland Day, on Friday, aims to promote their value and encourage governments and communities to work for their preservation.

Citation:
Jabado, Rima W., and Cécile Javelle. Marine Ecosystems in the United Arab
Emirates: An Educational Resource. Emirates Marine Environment Group, 2012.

Mangroves are estimated to cover more than 150 square kilometres of the UAE's coastline, acting as a "green lung" for big cities such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai, while also providing habit for wildlife and recreation grounds for humans.

August 2018 A new campaign to protect wetlands across the UAE - and the diverse species that inhabit them - will be developed at a strategic meeting next month.

More than 20 representatives from government and environmental organisations will meet in Sharjah to develop a regional strategy for wetland and waterbird management in early September.

January 2023: Drones have dispersed one million mangrove seeds in Abu Dhabi, the Environment Agency — Abu Dhabi (EAD) said.

The seed-firing drones took to the skies as a part of the first phase of a drone mangrove plantation project that supports the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative.

February 01, 2018
After decades of conservation, the mangroves in the UAE have grown to become the largest in the Arabian Gulf coast, according to a new study.
Analysis of satellite images acquired from the King Abdul-Aziz City for Science and Technology recently published in Environmental Monitoring and Assessment show that the UAE is now home to nearly 50 per cent of all mangroves in the region. Moreover, the mangrove coverage in the Emirates has nearly doubled.

January 10, 2018
Tens of thousands of mangroves will be planted and coral gardens cultivated in a bid to reduce the impact of climate change.
Some 30,000 mangrove trees will be planted to develop the marine areas of the UAE, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said on Wednesday.

The Global Assessment Report for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services 2019 highlighted that land use changes, accelerated mainly by agriculture, forestry and urban development, have adversely affected species and ecosystems. This has pushed more than 25 per cent of all species towards extinction. Additionally, with nearly 75 per cent of the land and 60 per cent of the marine environment degraded, affecting nearly one third of the global population, the world seemed to be headed in a dangerous direction.

December 10, 2024
A new UAE-based technology has been launched to tackle sustainable issues such as mangrove restoration. Nabat.ai, an initiative by the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), aims to boost mangrove regeneration – with an estimated seed success rate of about 30 per cent.