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Determining the current extent
The extent of Blue Carbon ecosystems in Abu Dhabi were
determined based on:
• EAD ecosystem layers derived from several
datasets compiled in 2000 and subsequently
updated and enhanced through stakeholder
workshops conducted in 2012 – 2013;
• Field verifications undertaken during the Abu
Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project
covering 20 sampling areas and a total of 155
ground-truthing sites.
The Extent of Blue Carbon Ecosystems
In total, the extent of mangroves
(51 sites), salt marshes (25 sites),
algal mats (10 sites), seagrass beds
(34 sites) and coastal sabkha (18
sites) was recorded to provide an
indication of the accuracy of the extent
of these mapped ecosystems. The
subsequent accuracy assessment
undertaken concluded that coastal
sabkha (83% accurate), seagrasses
(77% accurate to approximately
3.5 metres depth) and mangroves
(71% accurate) were mapped with
0
25
50
75
100
12.5
Km
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