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Building Blue Carbon Projects
An Introductory Guide
Mangroves of the United Arab Emirates - cultural heritage as a significant driver for the
conservation of Blue Carbon ecosystems
While Mangroves are suffering degradation and decline worldwide, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) may be
the only country where this key Blue Carbon habitat experiences positive growth in area. This is due to the
tremendous impact and inspiration of the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who in
recognizing the importance of mangroves to the UAE, instituted a massive mangrove reforestation
campaign. This effort has continued since the 1970s with the UAE becoming a global leader in mangrove
reforestation. A current Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) initiative involves the planting of 2 million
mangroves. The late HH Sheikh Zayed’s policies have harnessed the cultural value of mangroves as a
significant driver for their conservation.
