ABU DHABI, 14th March, 2023 (WAM) — The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the British Embassy Abu Dhabi have planted 70 mangrove saplings on Jubail Mangrove Island, as part of the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative and inspired by the Queen’s Green Canopy Project.
The Queen’s Green Canopy Project is a tree planting initiative created in 2022 to mark the Platinum Jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth II, while the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative was launched in February 2022 during a meeting of H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, and Prince William, at Jubail Island in Abu Dhabi.
The Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative was established to provide a platform for developing innovative mangrove planting solutions, while helping mitigate the effects of climate change and raising awareness of mangroves’ importance and the need to restore them.
Representing EAD at the event was the Secretary-General Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, who was joined at the ceremonial planting ceremony by Patrick Moody, British Ambassador to the UAE, and Abdulla Al Shamsi, Corporate Director of Jubail Island.
Also in attendance was a group of Emirati and British students, who helped plant the mangroves as part of a youth outreach programme – a core mandate for both EAD and the British Embassy.
On the occasion, Dr. Shaikha said, “It is such a pleasure for us at EAD to honour the late Queen Elizabeth and be inspired by the Queen’s Green Canopy Project, with today’s planting ceremony acting as an extension of the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative, especially in the Year of Sustainability, which highlights the UAE’s rich heritage to promote sustainable practices.
At EAD, we have several UK partners with whom we have developed successful projects and programmes. I would like to thank Moody for joining us today, helping to plant a significant species whose prime carbon-sink properties help us to combat climate change.”
She also provided an update on the recent achievements of the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative and outlined the Agency’s impressive progress regarding the planting of mangroves in Abu Dhabi as part of EAD’s successful marine conservation programmes.
Moody, in turn, said, “As we look forward to the UAE hosting COP28 later this year it is important that we take action in various ways to tackle the interlinked crises of climate change and nature and biodiversity loss. Conserving and planting mangroves provides natural adaption to the effects of climate change and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Al Shamsi said that Jubail Island is committed to planting one million mangroves over the next ten years.
Recently, EAD has planted around 15 million mangroves across Abu Dhabi’s coastal areas, including Jubail Island, Al Mirfa, and different locations across Al Dhafra region. This aligns with the UAE’s aim of planting 100 million mangroves by 2030 to help achieve Net Zero by 2050.