The Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project

Project Overview Project outcome The Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project has improved the understanding of carbon storage and sequestration, the extent of these “Blue Carbon” ecosystems in Abu Dhabi and the other Ecosystem Services that they provide, within the limits of a one-year long project. This scientific foundation, along with a subsequent policy and financial feasibility analysis, was then used to identify options for the incorporation of these values into policy and management, in particular in relation to sustainable ecosystem use, their appreciation in the present and the preservation of these services for current and future generations. The results highlighted the importance of access to up to the most current data and information and where such gaps were identified, recommendations were made as to priorities of how these could be filled.

Project structure The project was comprised of five major components, each of which was delivered by leading experts. It was the first time such a variety of Blue Carbon ecosystems had been assessed and various components considered comprehensively. The result was a holistic assessment of Blue Carbon Demonstration Project is facilitated by the Abu Dhabi Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI) and supported by an expert team led by GRID-Arendal, including UNEP, UNEP-WCMC, Forest Trends, and a group of world-class coastal carbon scientists. Ecosystems in Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon

Figure 1 The relation of project components

Algal Mats & Coastal Sabkha Carbon

Salt marsh Carbon

Seagrass Carbon

Ecosystem Map

Carbon Map

Mangrove Carbon

Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem Values

Policy Feasibility

Financial Feasibility

Options for Blue Carbon Action

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