emirates7 - H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), has instructed the expansion of the agency’s coral restoration initiative to include the planting of over four million coral colonies in Abu Dhabi's waters by the year 2030.
The expanded project will span more than 900 hectares, making it the largest coral rehabilitation initiative globally.
EAD had already met its initial goal of restoring one million coral colonies across eight sites, covering over 300 hectares. These efforts have significantly boosted coral coverage in the emirate, with restored areas recording a success rate exceeding 95 percent.
Signs of ecological recovery are already evident at these sites, with fish biomass and species diversity increasing by more than 50 percent. Remarkably, the corals, both in nurseries and restored zones, have continued to grow even during the intense summer heat, showcasing their resilience to extreme environmental conditions.
The project also involves developing coral nurseries to counteract the damaging effects of both natural and human-induced pressures on reefs, such as coastal development and the impacts of climate change, especially rising sea temperatures.
In its first phase, the project involved assessing and identifying resilient reefs, potential donor sites, and optimal nursery locations based on criteria like water quality, currents, depth, and temperature. The next phase saw the establishment of underwater nurseries capable of cultivating up to one million coral colonies. These corals were later transferred to degraded reef areas for restoration. The final phase involves completing coral translocation and fully rehabilitating affected ecosystems.
Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of EAD, stated that the agency's success in planting one million coral colonies has reinforced its commitment to scaling up the programme to over four million colonies by 2030. This initiative aligns with Abu Dhabi's environmental vision and biodiversity objectives, contributing to more resilient marine ecosystems.
She highlighted that despite the Arabian Gulf’s challenging environment, coral reefs in the region are notably adaptable, able to survive and thrive in some of the world’s warmest waters—making them uniquely resilient compared to other global reef systems.
The project represents a nature-based solution to combat the impacts of climate change and rising sea temperatures on marine habitats. It will not only expand coral reef coverage in Abu Dhabi but also rehabilitate areas that have been degraded, preserving a vital and diverse marine ecosystem.
Dr. Al Dhaheri reaffirmed EAD’s commitment to ongoing coral reef monitoring and restoration, supporting the emirate’s broader marine conservation efforts and climate resilience strategy under the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy.
Ahmed Al Hashemi, Executive Director of EAD’s Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector, added that the initiative focuses on enhancing the resilience of coral reefs by prioritising heat-tolerant coral species. These reefs play a critical role in supporting local fish populations by providing habitats for various marine species at different life stages, ultimately contributing to the replenishment of fish stocks.
The expanded project will span more than 900 hectares, making it the largest coral rehabilitation initiative globally.
EAD had already met its initial goal of restoring one million coral colonies across eight sites, covering over 300 hectares. These efforts have significantly boosted coral coverage in the emirate, with restored areas recording a success rate exceeding 95 percent.
Signs of ecological recovery are already evident at these sites, with fish biomass and species diversity increasing by more than 50 percent. Remarkably, the corals, both in nurseries and restored zones, have continued to grow even during the intense summer heat, showcasing their resilience to extreme environmental conditions.
The project also involves developing coral nurseries to counteract the damaging effects of both natural and human-induced pressures on reefs, such as coastal development and the impacts of climate change, especially rising sea temperatures.
In its first phase, the project involved assessing and identifying resilient reefs, potential donor sites, and optimal nursery locations based on criteria like water quality, currents, depth, and temperature. The next phase saw the establishment of underwater nurseries capable of cultivating up to one million coral colonies. These corals were later transferred to degraded reef areas for restoration. The final phase involves completing coral translocation and fully rehabilitating affected ecosystems.
Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of EAD, stated that the agency's success in planting one million coral colonies has reinforced its commitment to scaling up the programme to over four million colonies by 2030. This initiative aligns with Abu Dhabi's environmental vision and biodiversity objectives, contributing to more resilient marine ecosystems.
She highlighted that despite the Arabian Gulf’s challenging environment, coral reefs in the region are notably adaptable, able to survive and thrive in some of the world’s warmest waters—making them uniquely resilient compared to other global reef systems.
The project represents a nature-based solution to combat the impacts of climate change and rising sea temperatures on marine habitats. It will not only expand coral reef coverage in Abu Dhabi but also rehabilitate areas that have been degraded, preserving a vital and diverse marine ecosystem.
Dr. Al Dhaheri reaffirmed EAD’s commitment to ongoing coral reef monitoring and restoration, supporting the emirate’s broader marine conservation efforts and climate resilience strategy under the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy.
Ahmed Al Hashemi, Executive Director of EAD’s Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector, added that the initiative focuses on enhancing the resilience of coral reefs by prioritising heat-tolerant coral species. These reefs play a critical role in supporting local fish populations by providing habitats for various marine species at different life stages, ultimately contributing to the replenishment of fish stocks.