Planting Mangrove Seeds to Slash Carbon Emissions: Here’s How They Do It

Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, has been planting mangrove seeds with the help of drones, as part of a major innovative initiative to plant 100 million seeds by 2030 and reach net zero emissions by 2050.

In recent years, 1.2 million mangrove seeds have been planted along Abu Dhabi’s coastline using drone technology – recognized as a top innovative initiative by the World Economic Forum – thus cutting down planting costs. Over the last two decades, some 20 million seeds have been planted, increasing mangrove covering by 64,000 hectares.

Also known as the ‘Guardians of the Coast,’ mangroves are hailed as carbon sinks, as they capture four times more carbon than rainforests and lock it deep in their roots for millennia. The low-lying trees can sustain entire ecosystems, scale up biodiversity, and defend shores against flooding. With the launch of the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative in 2022, the UAE’s capital has the potential to become a global hub for research and innovation in mangrove conservation. The initiative is looking at how to best conserve and restore mangrove ecosystems by developing science-based guidance and cutting-edge planting methods, enhancing the success of restoration projects not only in Abu Dhabi but wherever the initiative is deployed around the world. The UAE is looking to decrease its CO₂ emissions by 40% by 2040 and increase its CO₂ capture capacity by 500% – or approximately five million tons per year – by 2030.