Mangroves are UAE’s Super Heroes
By Faris Saadaat, Youth Ambassador for Nature. This blog is part of our Youth Voices series in which future leaders and change-makers share their perspectives and passions on nature and climate.
UAE’s particular environment – hot and dry – has an impact on the country’s biodiversity. But they also harbour mangroves – one of the UAE’s most biodiverse ecosystem. Many desert countries like the UAE have limited options for sustainable forestation to absorb carbon emissions. With a relatively large coast line along the emirates, mangrove plantation becomes an obvious and most viable choice. Mangroves are carbon sequestration and storage powerhouses. They are in fact one of the planet’s most powerful climate solutions sequestering carbon 3-4 times the rate of terrestrial forests and storing carbon not only in their biomass but also in their soil and sediments. According to the research by Eden Reforestation Projects, each mangrove tree can store up to 12.3kg CO2 per year per tree. If we plant half a million mangroves, we will contribute to offset more than 100 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
My name is Faris. I am a Year 12 student at Dubai College. My journey with mangroves began in 2022 when I interned with a local NGO in the UAE focused on mangrove restoration. This experience was a turning point, deepening my understanding of the crucial role mangroves play in the UAE. It's a journey I'm excited to share with you.
As one of the youngest members of the Emirates Nature-WWF Leaders of Change program, my environmental activism was further fueled by the exceptional learning opportunities I received through workshops, volunteering opportunities, online training and more. These experiences not only help me understand UAE’s particular environmental challenges but also allow me to play an active role in combatting the twin threats of climate change and biodiversity loss in the UAE.
Furthermore, my selection as the UAE Ambassador for Nature ahead of COP28 also provided me an unmatched opportunity to not only be a voice for youth at regional and international forums, but also to lead and manage various volunteering and conservation activities including mangrove restoration across the UAE.
Volunteering on behalf of the Emirates Nature-WWF and the Environmental Agency of Abu Dhabi at the Mangrove Escape Room during COP 28 allowed me to raise awareness amongst the COP28 visitors about the twin challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss besides showcasing the significant benefits of the mangrove ecosystems to countries like the UAE.
Having planted dozens of mangroves with my own hands and learning that mangroves are essential in providing critical ecosystem services, I gathered inspiration for my project : Yalla Mangroves – a digital platform to promote mangrove plantation in the UAE.
Our generation is facing the looming threat of climate change, and I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all young adults (and adults) living in the UAE to be part of Leaders of Change which provides access such exceptional learning and training opportunities for youth. Not only does it offer today’s youngsters a unique opportunity to learn firsthand about the impact of the present climate change issues, it also inspires them to take action and discuss fresh ideas to address tomorrow’s challenges.
