UAE uses drones to plant 100 million mangroves by 2030 along Abu Dhabi coastline for carbon capture and climate resilience

The United Arab Emirates is deploying drones to drop mangrove seeds over tidal mudflats in Abu Dhabi as part of a plan to plant 100 million mangroves by 2030. Each drone can carry up to 6,000 seeds per flight and shoot them into the mud, aiming to create a green wall along the coast. The project is run by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi under the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative and ties into the UAE's climate commitments from COP26. Mangroves are known for their ability to sequester carbon at rates higher than many terrestrial forests, while also protecting shorelines from erosion and heat. If successful, this approach could serve as a model for large-scale coastal restoration in other regions. However, questions remain about seedling survival rates in tidal environments and whether the 2030 target is realistic given the scale of the effort.