Work has commenced on a new mangrove research centre in Indonesia, in partnership with the UAE.
Funded by a $10M investment from the UAE, the Mohamed bin Zayed-Joko Widodo International Mangrove Research Centre will be established on 2.5 hectares of land within Bali’s Ngurah Rai Forest Park.
The park already hosts over 1,158 hectares of mangroves, and the research centre was initially announced at last year’s Cop28 climate change conference in Dubai.
“This project demonstrates the UAE’s dedication to protecting vital ecosystems, such as mangroves, aligning with the country’s climate mitigation efforts,” stated Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, who attended the groundbreaking event.
“The centre will serve as an excellent platform for scientists and researchers to collaborate and share knowledge to enhance our capacity to address current and future environmental challenges.”
“It aligns with the UAE’s goals, as outlined in the outcomes of Cop28, to promote collective climate action and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”
The centre will also focus on further research to cultivate mangroves, boosting their role as natural carbon sinks and their importance in improving coastal habitats and supporting biodiversity.
Mangroves can sequester carbon over 400 per cent faster than land-based tropical rainforests, thus absorbing emissions and safeguarding the coastal environment.
Approximately 80 per cent of global fish populations rely on healthy mangrove ecosystems.
“The UAE acknowledges that further loss of these forests is worsening the impacts of climate change, such as increased flooding and storms, and endangering coastal communities,” said Amna Al Shamsi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, who was also present at the ceremony.
The UAE has also committed to planting 100 million mangroves by 2030.
