ENHG Lecture: Mangrove Research and Marine Monitoring by Amna Al Mansoori

TIME:  Membership signup from 7:00pm, lecture from 7:30pm

VENUE:  NYU Abu Dhabi, building A3, lecture room 001. Click here for a google maps and here for a campus map https://nyuad.nyu.edu/content/dam/nyuad/news/documents/campus-map-with-directions.pdf 

LECTURE SUMMARY: This talk will focus on the importance of researching and monitoring one of Abu Dhabi’s unique marine habitats; the grey mangroves (Avicennia marina), which are the only dominant species found in Abu Dhabi Emirate. When compared to tropical and subtropical countries, mangroves are understudied in this region. Therefore, this talk first present what mangroves are, what are their values, and the threats they are facing from human impacts and climate change. Further, present programs established to monitor mangroves from field surveys and satellite images using GIS and remote sensing techniques. Then, present the different ways to developing adaptation measures, restoration and conservation efforts for mangroves. Finally, present the gaps in mangroves ecology, marine science, and the importance of involving ‘citizen scientist’ as a conservation tool.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:  Amna Al Mansoori is an Emirati, from Abu Dhabi. She has a background in Environmental studies and graduated first in her Masters program (Ms degree on Environment Dynamics of Territories and Societies, Dissertation research on monitoring mangroves in the UAE) from the Department of Geography and Environment, at the Paris-Sorbonne University. Amna is currently working as an Assistant Scientist for Marine Habitats at the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi, assessing and monitoring the marine environment to develop conservation management plans and policies for Abu Dhabi Emirate, mainly focusing on critical habitats such as coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds.  She is currently looking to pursue her PhD in marine habitats ecology and biodiversity conservation.