An Introductory Insight into Mangroves in the UAE – By Eleanor Vander Byl

About the talk

Mangroves are a key coastal habitat that have been forgotten in many cases, leaving them to fall to the wayside. However, the past few years have seen some recognition and revival of Mangroves in the UAE. Mangroves are an important tool in the fight against climate change, as they are blue carbon ecosystems, storing great amounts of carbon in comparison to other forested habitats.

Many countries, including the UAE, have begun to recognize the role mangroves play in regard to climate change, by supporting large afforestation projects. Aside from the contributions to climate change mangroves are a stunning and unique ecosystem hosting a large variety of wildlife. They play an important role in supporting the fish stocks of the Gulf. This presentation provides a summary of the information gathered through research and observations at the Jubail Mangrove Park over the last few years, to bring the wonder of mangroves to people and stress the importance of their conservation.

About the Speaker

Eleanor Vander Byl is the Education Coordinator for Quest for Adventure, an Education and Adventure company in the UAE that has been based in the Ajman Mangroves for 7 years. Eleanor grew up in the UAE before undertaking her Bachelors in Geology and a Masters in Oceanography in the UK before returning to the UAE to join Quest.  Quest has been running programs across The Emirates, notably at Jubail Mangrove Park, Abu Dhabi, and Al Zorah nature reserve in Ajman. Al Zorah, where the company is based, is a RAMSAR site spanning 195 hectares that has been established in 2016. Eleanor has been working with Quest since 2020 creating the educational and scientific content across the sites with a focus on Jubail’s Mangroves, collecting information and observations over time.