Dubai Golf participates in mangrove and turtle projects
It is part of an attempt to stop the downward spiral: In June, representatives from Dubai Golf’s golf courses met in Jebel Ali Nature Park to plant mangroves. Together with representatives of the nature conservation organization Emirates Marine Environmental Group, the importance of mangroves for the UAE was discussed, as the native plant is increasingly being pushed out of the picture by the construction boom in the region and can often only be seen in reserves such as Jebel Ali.
“The planting of these mangrove plants is essential to the flourishing of all ecosystems in Dubai, as they absorb four times more carbon dioxide than a terrestrial plant. They are also the ideal plant to restore coastal habitats,” explained Morea Tomasi, Head of Marine Conservation Projects at EMEG. “The planting of the mangroves is just the beginning, small steps in the right direction can lead to huge changes to ensure a greener approach to the future of Dubai. It is very important for us to continue working with organisations such as Dubai Golf, to create a greater platform and raise awareness of the need to futureproof our coastlines.” In addition to mangrove conservation, EMEG also runs a hawksbill turtle sanctuary, which the Dubai Golf representatives also learned about.
https://golfsustainable.com/en/this-is-how-turtle-protection-works-in-golf-resorts/In fact, the UAE is planning to plant 100 million mangroves along the coastline. However, according to current scientific knowledge, this will not stop the decline of the mangroves. According to a recent report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which contains a Red List for ecosystems, the area of regions with mangroves has decreased by a net 14 percent since 1996 alone. The report goes on to analyze: “There have been improvements due to reforestation efforts. However, if the current downward trend continues, we must assume an overall decline of 45 percent over the next 50 years.”
Ultimately, the preservation of natural landscapes and the attractiveness of the Dubai region is also important for its golf course operators, as Chris May, CEO of Dubai Golf, said: “It’s a constant learning curve for all of us. I’m proud that representatives from all our golf clubs in Dubai were present at this event to plant crucial Mangrove plants and demonstrate how important conservation is for future development.”
