The Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project

Salt marsh

Salt marshes are relatively limited in extent, compared with

the other Blue Carbon ecosystems, covering 4,770 hectares

(equivalent to over 29 Formula 1 Yas Marina Circuits). They

occur in patches along the fringe of coastal sabkha, locally on

sand veneers, adjacent to channels within coastal sabkha, and

amongst higher intertidal areas of mangrove stands.

The salt marshes are dominated by the succulent, halophytic

shrub

Arthrocnemum macrostachyum

and subdominant species

Halocnemum strobilaceum, Halopeplis perfoliata, Suaeda

vermiculata, Salicornia europaea, Limonium axillare, Anabasis

setifera

and

Salsola

species. These species are typical of high

salinity conditions and dryer, more aerated wetland soils.

Highly adapted to the extreme environments

of Abu Dhabi, salt marshes play a vital role in

the coastal web of life.