Dubai to plant 100 million mangroves in world’s largest coastal preservation scheme

Dubai is set to plant 100 million mangrove trees in a coastal regeneration project at the cutting edge of sustainable urban development.

The so-called “Dubai Mangroves” concept is being driven by a city partnership with URB, the firm behind projects in the Emirate state, such as Dubai Reefs and the 93-km “Loop” – a sustainable urban highway. Now the latest collaboration unites the city and URB in researching a massive planting programme that would see 100 million mangrove trees sown along 72 km of coastline in what would be the world’s largest coastal preservation scheme.

Six zones for pilot schemes

Zones have already been allocated to six pilot studies at Jebel Ali Beach, Dubai Marina Beach, Jumeirah Public Beach, Umm Suqeim Beach, Mercato Beach, and Dubai Islands Beach, where various “assets” associated with the ecological work will be developed.

These include a Botanical Musuem, a conservation centre and wildlife habitat, public education and engagement hubs to promote responsible environmental stewardship, in addition to scientific research units and areas for biosaline processes. A running track and other sports facilities and social spaces are also anticipated in a series of proposals designed to showcase how ecological infrastructure can combine with a rich, multifunctional coastal offer.

Mangroves’ CO₂ superpower

As well as acting as natural sea defences protecting Dubai’s coast from erosion and rising sea levels, the mangroves would help to filter water and promote marine stocks, but it is the trees’ unique ability to sequester carbon that is really attracting attention.

“At the heart of this initiative are mangroves, known for their unique ability to sequester carbon, protect coastal areas from erosion, and support marine life and food security,” URB has highlighted, noting: “With the capacity to absorb approximately 12.3 kg of CO₂ annually per tree, the entire project can sequester 1.23 million tonnes of CO₂ each year, the equivalent of removing the CO₂ emitted by more than 260,000 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles from the roads each year.”

The plan also fits right in line with Dubai’s 2040 Master Plan, which lays out various environmental targets around biodiversity and sustainable urban planning, but according to Baharash Bagherian, URB’s Chief Executive, Dubai Mangroves is about “much more than coastal regeneration or resilience; it’s about setting a global standard for how cities can balance the needs of the planet with the needs of the people.”