29.8 C
Dubai
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
spot_img

UAE fights climate change with muddy mangroves

[ad_1]

ABU DHABI – In the face of heat, urbanization and dust in the United Arab Emirates, the calm, muddy waterways of mangroves along the coast of the Gulf state are being restored and planted in response to climate change.

Tropical mangroves are complex ecosystems that grow around mangroves, which thrive in hot, muddy and saline inhospitable environments. They protect coastal communities from storms and floods, are home to a variety of threatened species, and can moderate climate change by trapping carbon in the atmosphere.

“What makes mangroves like Avicennia Marina in Abu Dhabi special is that they are extremely resilient to harsh conditions, they can withstand very high salinity and extreme heat,” says environmental scientist Hamad al-Jailani . Agent in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

“This is very important in the context of climate change, as temperatures around the world are going to increase or become less stable,” he said in Abu Dhabi’s protected mangroves, nearly 40 percent of which are planted instead of natural.

The UAE, which will host the COP28 climate summit in December, has been planting mangroves since its founding in the 1970s and plans to plant 100 million more by 2030, on top of the existing 60 million trees in 183 square kilometers (70 square miles). forest. – The Ministry of Climate says it can capture 43,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, in 2020 the number of mangroves in the world has decreased by 3.4% since 1996, but has stabilized in recent years.

In Khor Kalba on the UAE’s east coast, a sign tells visitors that the mangroves they are in are more than 300 years old and part of the fight against climate change.

“The species diversity is remarkable,” says Khor Kalba conservation scientist Brendan Whittington-Jones.

He said the forest was once open to the public, filled with cars and camels, but has since closed.

“It enables the system to recover to a considerable extent,” he said.

Older mangroves store more carbon, and the UN says planted mangrove restoration projects may have low success rates.

Whittington-Jones said the focus should be on the survival of the mangroves, not the number of plantings.

“We do see that only a small fraction of areas have the right salinity, temperature or hydrological conditions for mangroves to persist,” he said.

[ad_2]

Source link

Related Articles

Empowering Women Through Entrepreneurship The Inspirational Journey of Remya Krishnakripa and SilverRay Global Coaching

In a world where corporate careers often trap individuals in a cycle of stress and stagnation, Remya Krishnakripa found a way to break free...

Abu Dhabi Oil and Gas Summit Ignites Strategic Dialogues on Energy Security and Innovation Amid Regional Challenges

Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s oil and gas industry recently convened for its annual summit in Abu Dhabi, where top energy leaders discussed strategies for...

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Invited to Arab-Islamic Summit: A Key Step Towards Regional Unity and Cooperation

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has received a formal invitation from Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to attend...

Sheikh Mohammed Unveils Bold UAE Investment Strategy: AED 2.2 Trillion FDI Goal to Drive Innovation and Sustainable Growth by 2031

Sheikh Mohammed Unveils Bold UAE Investment Strategy: Aiming for AED 2.2 Trillion in FDI to Power Innovation and Sustainable Growth by 2031 In a significant...

Snowfall in Saudi Arabia Sparks UAE Weather Alert: Gulf Region Braces for an Extraordinary Winter

snowfall in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jawf region and the UAE’s proactive response with weather alerts reflect a region adapting to unusual climate phenomena. Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jawf...

Latest Articles