Mangrove Forests: The Survivors
Where are Mangroves found in the UAE?
Mangroves are grown in several places in the UAE. They grow in substantial and intertidal zones where the the coastline is connected and has enough sea water for the plants to preserve and precipatate salt compunds. UAE has a wide coastline zone and hectares of Mangrove forest to support the environmental aspect of ecosystems. The Mangrove forest supply a rich and safe habitat for different animal species to breed like fish species, turtles and sea snakes. In existence of Mangroves 75% of adolescent fish species breed in shallow waters in the world. As well as the forests are habitats for the bird communities as they provide the necessities.
There is two major sites of Mangal communities in the UAE. Firstly, near the gulf of Oman, it is aprroximately 40km away and its called Khor Kalba it is surrounded by the Arabian Gulf and lies between Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quaim Therefore its is a costal lagoon. The second location is Abu Dhabi and this city has several islands that have hectares of Mangroves, also there is a sanctuary in Abu Dhabi known as Eastern Mangrove Lagoon National Park which consists these islands.
Abu Dhabi:
Mangroves are grown in Abu dhabi due to the fact that it is near the Arabian Gulf which means that it has a lot of salt water which Mangroves mostly adapt to. Therefore this area has a lot of small shrubs as the heat around this area is a lot and the climate temperature is usally from 35 degree celcius onwards which allows the process of evaporation to occur. The acess to saline water reduces erosions, trapping the sediment in the coastal zones and allowing organisms to habituate in these areas. Espically, these areas grow specific types of shrubs that adapt to the intertaidal zone as they are saltmarsh species. This helps protect the coast of Abu Dhabi
Khor Kalba:
Khor Kalba is one of the oldest Mangrove forests in the UAE. This region is one of the only existing ones due to UAE's plantation programme to support the life in this Mangrove and because of such a act this place is know for a wide range of bird species and other organisms. This a region near the Gulf of Oman where it is the opening to another sea bed therefore the intake of salt or saline water will be more which will make the mangroves adapt to the shallow and intertidal zones. It also protects the coastline and reduces erosian as it is an intertidal zone which traps the sediment and lowers the energy.
Where were Mangroves found in UAE?
Through the years some Mangroves is the UAE, have been disappeared and found by new environmentalist of UAE as they want to preserve the Mangroves as it serves as a protection of coast. There is one specific Mangrove discovered by some Scientist. This Mangrove is called Al Qurm where Red Mangroves were found as they were essential and important as there are not many Rhizophora Mangle around the world.
This specific mangle was found at Al Qurm, therefore the scientist have implanted the idea of protecting such a prestigious place filled precious species of mangle that provide safe and vital breeding grounds. Scientist want to restore the importance and value of this place. There is a specific type of plant its called "Avicennia marina – occur in patches along the coast, occupying an area of about 3,000 hectares." - according to Gulf News.
The Rhizophora mangle has adapted to the intertidal zone with shallow water and saline passge from the sea. This will make the future plantation adapt faster as the mangrove is meant to protect all flora and fauna around it as well as control specific factors. These specific mangroves need higher temperature to survive as they can't handle anything below 16 degree celcius, therefore UAE is a suitable and sustainable enviroment for such mangal communities to grow.
