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Building Blue Carbon Projects
An Introductory Guide
8
Case Studies
8.1
Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project
In just over 40 years, Abu Dhabi has evolved from a small fishing community to the most
populated of the seven Emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With the foresight and vision
from His Highness the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the environment has become an
intrinsic part of the preserved heritage and traditions of the people of the UAE. This national
affinity for the environment has led to the initiation of the Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration
Project, with the aim of exploring the value that coastal and marine ecosystems provide in the
UAE, with a focus on carbon sequestration, and to help preserve the Emirate’s environmental and
cultural heritage. The project studied the full range of Blue Carbon ecosystems (mangroves,
saltwater marshand seagrass) as well as cyanobacterial algal mats and coastal sabkha, two
ecosystems of particular local interest.
The project was developed as an integrated assessment of the extent of coastal and marine
ecosystems, the carbon they sequester and store, the further ecosystem services they provide, as
well as the policy and financial options for recognizing Blue Carbon ecosystems’ value in Abu
Dhabi’s decision making (Figure 8).
Figure 8
Estimated areas of highest concentration of Blue Carbon co-benefits arising from Blue Carbon and candidate
and associated ecosystems (AGEDI, 2013).
Two field missions brought together world-experts on carbon science, mapping and ecosystem
service valuation, with local volunteers, local scientists and agency staff, and international Blue
Carbon practitioners. The missions allowed participants to share expertise and knowledge, and to
jointly create a better understanding of how Blue Carbon supports the well-being of the people of
Abu Dhabi, the region and the globe. Experts from Madagascar and Indonesia were able to
participate in the field missions, thereby representing a global first in international Blue Carbon
scientific exchange. The visiting experts represented partners from the Global Environment Facility
(GEF) Blue Forests Project (Blue Ventures and the Government of Indonesia), providing important
capacity in Blue Carbon to these nations.
