Ten thousand mangrove trees to be planted across Emirates this year
Ten thousand mangrove trees will be planted across the UAE in the first stage of a project to plant 100 million by 2030.
They will be planted during events across all seven emirates throughout this year. The trees featured in National Day celebrations in December.
The Today for Tomorrow: National Day Mangrove Project began on Thursday, with 500 volunteers planting 100 trees at Yas Beach, Abu Dhabi.
Led by the Organising Committee of the 51st National Day Celebrations, the project is part of the UAE’s overall goal of planting 100 million mangrove trees by 2030, a pledge made at Cop27.
“Today for Tomorrow is the slogan of the UAE Year of Sustainability, which aims to inspire collective action and promote positive behavioural change, ensuring a culture of sustainability and raising awareness about the importance of protecting the environment for future generations,” Eisa Al Sabousi, project lead for the Year of Sustainability, told The National.
“The main goal of the initiative is to encourage individuals, families and communities to adopt sustainable practices and reduce their environmental footprint.”
Mr Al Sabousi said the project would include events throughout the year to encourage people to take small daily steps to help the environment, “such as reducing single-use plastic, keeping our beach and environment clean, switching to eco-friendly products, consuming resources responsibly and conserving our biodiversity”.
More than 2,000 volunteers have signed up to take part in the project. There are 10 confirmed plantings scheduled for this year – including events in Abu Dhabi and Ajman.
The project was launched following an announcement by President Sheikh Mohamed that 2023 would be the Year of Sustainability.
Mangroves are a vital part of the UAE’s ecosystem. They reduce carbon emissions and provide habitats for fish and other sea creatures.
The trees also protect the UAE’s coasts from rising sea levels and storms. The Emirates is already home to 60 million mangroves, which form forests that cover 183 square kilometres and capture 43,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.
Planting 100 million mangroves will increase the coverage to 483 square kilometres, with forests capturing 115,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.
The project is part of the UAE’s overall goal of planting 100 million mangrove trees by 2030, a pledge made at Cop27