UAE reaches 51% of target to plant 100 million mangrove trees by 2030

The UAE has completed more than half of an ambitious programme to plant 100 million mangrove trees by the end of the decade, as it expands efforts to restore marine habitats, protect coastlines and strengthen biodiversity.

The country has reached 51 per cent of its national mangrove planting target, Hiba Obaid Al Shehhi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Biodiversity and Aquatic Life Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, according to Al Bayan newspaper.

Al Shehhi said marine conservation was no longer focused solely on protecting existing natural resources, but increasingly involved restoring damaged ecosystems, strengthening their ability to adapt to climate change and ensuring their sustainability for future generations.

The UAE previously raised its 2030 mangrove target from 30 million to 100 million trees, a move Al Shehhi said reflected the growing importance attached to the coastal ecosystems.

Mangrove forests provide breeding and nursery grounds for fish and other marine species. Expanding them therefore supports coastal protection, biodiversity and food security, she said.

Marine and coastal protected areas currently account for about 12 per cent, according to Al Shehhi, while authorities are assessing their effectiveness and opportunities for further expansion.

The UAE has 16 protected areas, and national plans seek to increase marine protected areas to 30 per cent by 2030, in line with the National Biodiversity Strategy 2031.

The ministry's artificial cave programme, launched in 2016, creates artificial marine habitats designed to provide breeding and nursery areas for fish and help rehabilitate damaged marine environments.

About 22,982 environmentally friendly artificial caves had been deployed by the end of 2025 under the programme and associated projects. They have been placed in locations including Ras Dhadna Reserve, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and the east coast.

Over time, the structures develop into habitats and nurseries for young fish and other marine organisms, supporting fish stocks and the sustainability of the fishing industry.

Coral reefs form another major part of the UAE's marine restoration programme.

The ministry has conducted research involving the cultivation of 24 coral species along the country's coastline and mapped their geographical distribution. The work identified 210 coral locations and recorded more than 55 species of hard coral.

In Fujairah, a coral gardens project launched with partners aims to plant 1.5 million coral colonies over five years, covering more than 300,000 square metres.

Previous rehabilitation projects have cultivated about 66,173 pieces of coral across approximately 22,827 square metres of UAE coastline since 2018.

Al Shehhi said such programmes reflected a broader shift from simply protecting existing reefs towards restoring damaged habitats and improving their capacity to regenerate.

The ministry is also drawing on the experience of fishermen as it develops marine policies.

Al Shehhi described fishermen as the “eyes of the environment at sea”, saying their daily presence on the water gives them an important role in identifying environmental changes.

The ministry holds meetings with fishermen's associations and conducts field visits to discuss fishing regulations, breeding seasons and operational challenges.

Al Shehhi said maintaining a balance between protecting fish stocks and preserving fishing as a livelihood remained central to managing the UAE's living aquatic resources.

Aquaculture is also emerging as part of the country's food security strategy. The UAE's aquaculture sector has a production capacity of 2,572 tonnes, with 18 registered marine aquaculture farms operating across the country.

She also stressed the importance of Gulf-wide co-operation, noting that marine ecosystems and fish populations extend across national boundaries and require co-ordinated approaches to conservation and fishing regulations.