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Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi has successfully planted 1 million mangrove seeds using drones as part of the first phase of a project to support the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative.
The drone plantation was initiated by the Environment Authority of Abu Dhabi (EAD), the UAE’s environmental sector regulator.
The Abu Dhabi Mangroves Initiative was announced during Prince William, Duke of Cambridge’s visit to the UAE last February, when he met Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council Nahyan’s office, in Jubail Mangrove Park.
A drove across an island in the emirate
Image Credit: Supplied
Mangrove Conservation Center
Implemented by EAD with a range of local, regional and international partners, the initiative supports Abu Dhabi’s ambitious plans to establish the emirate as a global hub for research and innovation in mangrove conservation. It also highlights the importance of mangroves in sequestering carbon to combat climate change.
The Abu Dhabi initiative also supports the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment’s goal of planting 100 million mangroves.
Why mangroves?
Mangroves are shrubs or trees that grow in coastal salt or brackish water. In the UAE, the species seen is Avicennia marina. This hardy tree acts as a natural windbreak, protecting coastal areas from tidal surges and purifying surrounding waters. Mangroves are also very effective at sequestering carbon, which helps combat climate change. Additionally, trees provide a safe home for hundreds of bird and marine species, which supports biodiversity and increases fish stocks.
low tide
Image Credit: Supplied
pilot phase
EAD is the first organization to harness and plant mangroves on a large scale using ecological principles and through drone technology. One million seeds were planted following a successful initial phase implemented by EAD in partnership with global energy company ENGIE and drone engineering solutions company Distant Imagery.
The pilot phase focuses on planting mangroves by drone in 2020, with a success rate of 48%. EAD subsequently scaled up the project, planting 1 million mangroves by drone at various sites around Al Mirfa in the Al Dhafra region.
15 million mangroves planted on Abu Dhabi coast in past decade
Image Credit: Supplied
Benefits of Drones
There are several advantages to using drone technology to plant mangroves. The method has a low environmental footprint as it eliminates the need for intensive labor or sapling transport. It is also cost-effective as it reduces the overall price of mangrove plantations, eliminates the need for mangrove nurseries and associated costs, and facilitates access to remote and difficult areas. The project is also running a trial to incorporate machine learning into future monitoring phases.
“The UAE started mangrove plantations in the 1970s under the direction of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s founding father, also known as the first environmentalist [of the nation]. He started planting mangroves along the islands and mainland coast of the emirate of Abu Dhabi,” said EAD Secretary General Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri.
With the knowledge of the local community and his vision, Sheikh Zayed passionately advised and oversaw the project. The Eastern Mangrove Plantation is the start of the first mangrove plantation scheme in Abu Dhabi.
climate change mitigation
“While the world’s mangroves are declining due to the natural and man-made challenges they face, Abu Dhabi has a different story to tell. Mangrove planting continues throughout the UAE, especially in Abu Dhabi, at a slow pace But steady. A prime example is our latest project to plant 1 million mangrove seeds through innovative drone technology,” said Dr Al Dhaheri.
“The success rate of planting this year so far looks high and based on the data we will be repopulating the area for future success of the project. This project is a continuation of our efforts to mitigate the catastrophic effects of climate change as it turns out Mangroves are very efficient at sequestering carbon, thereby reducing the level of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere.”
Develop drone technology
With each round of planting, EAD is developing its seed germination method, field planting model, seed dispersal mechanism and drone flight timer. The drone was designed and engineered in-house to drop seedlings from the air, monitor the growth of mangrove saplings, map habitats, and generate 3D images.
EAD plans to further advance its methods and techniques. The data showed that the success rate of using drones to plant seeds in situ remained stable over a three-year period.
increase forest cover
In Abu Dhabi, plantation programs have helped expand the range of mangroves. Abu Dhabi’s mangrove area has increased by more than 35%, a result of planting and restoration programs and conservation laws and regulations that ensure the sustainability of the environmental ecosystem.
Over the past 10 years, EAD and its key stakeholders from the government and private sectors have planted more than 15 million mangroves along the coast of Abu Dhabi.
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