Since 2020, Abu Dhabi has planted 44 million mangrove trees
As of 2030, the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency had planted 44 percent of the 100 million mangrove trees that were part of their objective. The objective was to assist the emirate in being carbon neutral by 2050. Since 2020, forty-four million trees have been planted, with 23 million of those planted in the last two years. That would be 9,200 hectares in all. The program aims to expedite the restoration and maintenance of mangrove ecosystems in line with the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy.
An estimated 233,000 tons of carbon emissions, or more than 25,000 households' worth of energy use, are predicted to be stored by these trees each year. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, the agency's chairman of the board of directors, stated, "Abu Dhabi's tireless efforts to plant and preserve mangrove trees are a continuation of the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed in enhancing and sustaining coastal ecosystems."
"Mangroves are one of the world's most prolific coastal ecosystems, and they are crucial because they offer a range of economic and environmental benefits. By absorbing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, mangrove trees not only help reduce the consequences of climate change and help adapt to it but they are also thought to be one of the most important ecosystems for the survival of many marine species, including those that are endangered.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) supported proposals in September for a $4 billion global investment by 2030 to protect mangroves. The declaration followed the UAE's endorsement of the Mangrove Breakthrough project, which seeks to conserve and restore 15 million hectares of mangroves worldwide by 2030. According to studies done by the organization, mangrove trees in Abu Dhabi can sequester at least 8,800 tonnes of carbon yearly at a rate of 0.5 tonnes per hectare per year.
