Hello, Did you know that roughly 80 per cent of all mangrove projects fail? This statistic shared by Wetlands International shocked me. How can and should initiatives be conducted to preserve precious mangroves? Fifty per cent of which are at risk of collapse by 2050. This week, the inaugural International Mangrove Conservation and Restoration Conference, organised by Abu Dhabi Environment Agency, gathered more than 500 professionals from around the world passionate about mangroves to discuss the importance of science, technology, and artificial intelligence in ensuring successful mangrove conservation and restoration. In fact, as Amna Almansoori, a mangrove specialist here in the UAE highlighted, Abu Dhabi’s mangroves in most cases do not require their regeneration to be "boosted". They are very effective at regenerating naturally left be – and if dredging in and around them is stopped. That said, in countries such as the Philippines, more urgent action is needed to restore mangroves to protect coastal areas from extreme weather events. This is where seed planting plays a vital role. But understanding the right type of seed, and the correct habitat are critical. You can read more about the importance of science-based action and technology to support mangroves<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/2024/12/10/uae-to-harness-ai-to-help-protect-crucial-mangroves-as-global-efforts-falter/" target="_blank"> here.</a> We've all sought shelter and shade under a tree at some point or another. However, a new study has found that <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/travel/above-the-canopy-in-laos-a-stay-in-the-world-s-highest-tree-house-that-is-only-accessible-by-zip-line-1.953192" target="_blank">tree canopies </a>can trap heat at night – leading to higher temperatures. In tropical wet and dry climates, trees cool cities in countries such as <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/nigeria/" target="_blank">Nigeria</a> by as much as 12°C during the day, but heat the area around them at night by up to 0.8°C. In arid climates, <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/government/uae-s-national-tree-to-take-pride-of-place-at-expo-2020-dubai-1.781994" target="_blank">evergreen species</a> dominate and cool more effectively in cities like Cairo and Dubai. Read Gillian Duncan's full story <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/2024/12/10/hot-in-the-city-planting-trees-not-the-whole-answer-to-cooler-urban-living/" target="_blank">here</a>. More than three quarters of the Earth has become irreversibly drier over the past three decades, according to a <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/un/" target="_blank">UN</a> report that says there is an existential crisis that could affect billions more worldwide. About 77.6 per cent of Earth’s land was under drier conditions during the three decades up to 2020, compared to the 30 years before, according to the report from the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)<i>.</i> The report was released as part of the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/2024/12/06/cop16-strategy-to-tackle-over-cultivation-to-bolster-global-food-security/" target="_blank">UN Cop16 summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on combating desertification</a>, which concludes on Friday. Read Neil Murphy's full story<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/environment/2024/12/09/billions-face-arid-future-as-climate-change-turns-land-to-desert/" target="_blank"> here.</a> According to Conservation International – mangrove forests cover just 0.1 per cent of the planet's surface but store up to 10 times more carbon per hectare than terrestrial forests. <b>Pneumatophores:</b> These are the roots of mangroves that stick out of the ground like a stalagmite. They have small openings which helps the tree to "breathe" – passing oxygen to the roots beneath the mud. A full guide to understanding climate jargon<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/cop28/2023/11/09/cop28-net-zero-15c-our-guide-to-climate-change-jargon/?utm_source=The+National+newsletters&utm_campaign=0a087136ba-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_07_09_02_20_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-138f6bcf16-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D" target="_blank"> is here</a>. <b>READ MORE</b>
