There can be nothing more refreshing than unwinding on nature’s lap and thankfully Dubai is blessed with the best. While Abu Dhabi’s Mangrove forest is a favorite among nature lovers in UAE, we now have competition to this stunning spot. Dubai now has a gorgeous Mangrove forest and the pictures are making us want to head there right away!
The new forest is launched by the Emirates Marine Environmental Group and consumer goods giant Procter and Gamble. A first of its kind, the forest comprises of coral reefs, mangroves, and sea grass beds. Besides, the forest also has a natural beach, and will also be used for animal rescue and species preservation.
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Over One Million Sapling Will Be Panted This Year
The Mangroves Forest is located at the Jebel Ali Wildlife Sanctuary and will stretch for 15km when finished. There will also be another 6km of inland forest as part of the development. Mangroves are an important part of UAE’s coast line, serving as a natural habitat for wildlife including birds, gazelle, crabs and oysters.
The area dedicated to mangroves is 15km, with wetlands making up 6km of the forest. Speaking about the initiative, Major Ali Al Suweidi, President of EMEG, said: “The wetland always has many kinds of birds. The mangrove is also good for crabs, oyster and it’s amazing to see them grow very well in this area and the gazelle also come here to take salt from here.”
Also read: UAE Get’s Its Mangrove Beach In Umm Al Quwain
He further told Gulf News that he started planting mangroves in the beach area, used as a breeding ground hawksbill and green turtles, over six years ago. The area now has over 500 fully-green mangroves along the coast. Ali added that the plan was to plant one million sapling this year, which will eventually go up to 3 million in four to five years. “We have mangroves in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai. The reason we are planting this mangrove is because it soaks up five times more carbon dioxide than any plant. This is a good solution against global warming and other problems,” he added.
Visitors and residents are also invited to plant saplings at Dubai Mangrove Forest and can monitor their growth through an app. Now, that’s cool, right?