Digital Mangrove Observatory Goes Live in Abu Dhabi

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has launched a digital mangrove observatory to monitor and coordinate mangrove rehabilitation projects across the emirate.

Developed under the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative, the platform brings together data from 19 rehabilitation projects into a single system, supporting environmental planning and project management through field surveys, satellite imagery and datasets provided by participating organisations.

According to EAD, the observatory tracks more than 18.5 million mangrove trees planted across rehabilitation sites in Abu Dhabi. Programme data shows that more than 10.4 million trees have recorded growth, with an overall rehabilitation success rate of nearly 47%.

The integrated platform is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of rehabilitation efforts, enabling authorities to monitor site performance, assess growth rates and support decision-making across participating projects.

Launched in 2022, the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative supports mangrove conservation, rehabilitation, research and innovation. The programme has raised more than USD 1.3 million to fund scientific research and restoration projects. Abu Dhabi is home to the UAE's largest mangrove forest, covering around 176 square kilometres.