Saudi mangroves store blue carbon and protect coasts as scientists study their resilience

Saudi Arabia's mangrove forests along the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf are proving resilient despite high salinity, extreme heat, and nutrient-poor waters. Researchers at KAUST and other institutions highlight that these ecosystems store significant amounts of blue carbon in their roots and sediments, often more per hectare than many rainforests. They also provide nursery habitat for fish and marine life, stabilize shorelines, and reduce erosion. Scientists caution that restoration success depends on more than just planting seedlings. Survival rates, root development, tidal hydrology, and natural recruitment matter most. The main threats include coastal development, camel grazing on seedlings, and disruption of tidal flow. Saudi Arabia has incorporated mangrove restoration into national conservation programs, recognizing them as strategic ecosystems for climate and biodiversity goals.