Abu Dhabi launches first mangrove monitoring guide for GCC

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), in collaboration with the IUCN Mangrove Specialist Group, has launched the first regional mangrove monitoring guide tailored for the Arabian Gulf and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Produced under the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative and supported by ADNOC, the British Embassy in the United Arab Emirates and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the guide offers standardized, science-based methodologies to monitor mangrove ecosystems across arid and semi-arid coastlines.

“This guide represents a real turning point for the region. Success was previously measured by the number of mangrove seedlings planted, but today we have a scientific and practical reference that ensures those seedlings—and the ecosystems associated with them—are effectively monitored, protected, and restored. By equipping specialists and local communities with reliable tools—from advanced technologies such as environmental DNA analysis to simple citizen-science methods—we are transforming scientific evidence into tangible action,” said Maytha Mohammed Al Hameli, Director of the Marine Biodiversity Division at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi.

The guide was developed with input from leading global experts, including Professor Norman Duke, Dr. Stefano Cannicci and Dr. Sara Fratini from the University of Florence, and under the technical umbrella of the IUCN Mangrove Specialist Group. Professor Joe Lee, Chair of the IUCN Mangrove Specialist Group, noted the project’s emphasis on capacity building and public engagement: “Knowledge transfer is a core pillar of the Mangrove Specialist Group’s work, and we are pleased to have contributed to developing these tools, which represent a valuable addition to global mangrove conservation and management efforts, as well as the protection of associated habitats. Despite their immense ecological importance, mangroves remain among the least studied ecosystems in the world. This initiative helps bridge a critical knowledge gap by strengthening regional expertise and engaging both professional scientists and members of the public in research and monitoring.”

Guide highlights

• Region-specific methodologies for arid and semi-arid mangrove systems across the Arabian Gulf and GCC.
• Integration of advanced techniques such as environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis alongside simplified citizen-science approaches.
• Standardized protocols designed for use by specialists, government agencies, NGOs and local communities.
• Practical tools to assess ecosystem health, biodiversity and to inform restoration and management plans.

By providing clear, user-friendly protocols, the guide aims to improve the accuracy of ecosystem assessments and enable decision-makers and conservation practitioners to scale up restoration efforts more effectively. The launch also coincides with renewed regional scientific activity: the IUCN Red List update covering more than 70 mangrove plant species — the first comprehensive review since 2007 — underlines the urgency of coordinated monitoring and conservation.

EAD has already conducted a series of regional training workshops on mangrove monitoring, involving local and regional experts to strengthen technical capacities across the Gulf. The agency said it will continue collaborative work with the Zoological Society of London and the IUCN Mangrove Specialist Group to build long-term regional capacity and support the sustained health of coastal ecosystems.

Outlook: With standardized monitoring now available for the Arabian Gulf, authorities and communities in the GCC have a new scientific toolkit to measure mangrove condition, guide restoration priorities and adapt management in the face of coastal pressures and climate change. The initiative positions the region to move beyond planting targets toward measurable, evidence-based conservation outcomes.