المملكة: The Saudi Green Initiative discusses the importance of mangrove forests in the Kingdom

Under the title “Blue Carbon: The Role of Coastal and Marine Environments in Carbon Sequestration,” the session on the second day of the Saudi Green Initiative Dialogues discussed the pivotal role and important environmental benefits provided by coastal and marine habitats, including mangrove forests.
Dr. Nathalie Helmy, head of the Environmental Economics Department at the Scientific Center de Monaco and researcher at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and Rana Al-Yamani, project manager at the Saudi Green Initiative, discussed the best mechanisms available to evaluate the benefits of coastal and marine environments.

Saudi Green Initiative

Dr. Helmy pointed out the importance of marine and coastal habitats as effective carbon absorption sinks, as they can absorb up to 10 times the amount of carbon compared to forests.
She stressed that these types of habitats provide many benefits to humans, including providing natural resources, protection from coastal erosion, and water purification, in addition to their cultural value represented in education and eco-tourism.

Blue carbon concept

Helmy stated that the concept of blue carbon is usually linked to carbon absorption only, but the matter is not limited to that only, but includes a wide range of environmental benefits provided by blue carbon systems.
She continued: “If decision makers, including investors, realize the true value of these vital habitats, they will inevitably be keen to protect them because they know the magnitude of the gains that nature will provide them in return.”
Helmy highlighted her cooperation with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), as she talked about assessing the natural environments of mangrove forests in the Kingdom, “with the aim of understanding mangrove forests, their role in absorbing carbon, and the other environmental benefits they provide.”

Environmental systems in Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is committed to protecting and rehabilitating these vital ecosystems, and the Green Saudi Initiative’s goal of protecting 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030 is clear evidence of this commitment.
The Kingdom has succeeded in protecting 6,700 square kilometers of marine areas along the Red Sea coast, and aims to plant 350 million mangrove trees by 2030 AD.

Afforestation efforts in Saudi Arabia

To date, ongoing afforestation efforts have resulted in the planting of more than 37 million mangrove trees on the eastern and western coasts of the Kingdom.
The Green Saudi Initiative dialogues are held daily at 3:00 pm in the Saudi Green Initiative pavilion, as tomorrow’s session addresses the importance of preserving wildlife.
It includes important discussions about the ongoing efforts made by the Kingdom to resettle fungal organisms in royal natural reserves.