Fri. Mar 29th, 2024
COP27 SummitImage Credits: REUTERS/ Sayed Sheasha

India joined the Mangrove Alliance for Climate on Monday, which was launched on the side-lines of the United Nations (UN) climate summit COP27 in Egypt, along with Australia, Japan, Spain, and Sri Lanka, who have joined the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) as partners.

Mangrove ecosystem conservation and restoration around the world is the goal of the alliance launched by the U.A.E. and Indonesia.

Indonesia and the UAE intend to establish an international mangrove research center as part of the MAC. This center will specialize in studying, protecting, and restoring mangrove systems and carbon sequestration.

Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav said: “India has committed in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) – to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.”

“India has demonstrated expertise in mangrove restoration activities for nearly five decades and restored different types of mangrove ecosystems both on its east and west coasts.”

What is the Mangrove Alliance for Climate?

It’s an initiative by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Indonesia, which includes countries like India, Japan, Spain, etc. as partners. The Alliance seeks to educate and raise awareness about mangroves and their critical role in mitigating global warming as a solution to combat rapid climate change.

Minister of Climate Change and Environment of UAE, Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri mentioned while launching the alliance, her country intends to plant three million mangrove trees in the coming two months while pledging to plant 100 million mangroves by 2030. (The Indian Express)

How critical are mangroves?

In terms of productivity and ecological significance, mangrove ecosystems are among the most productive in the world.

Furthermore, they can serve as a climate change mitigation and adaptation co-benefit since they are capable of storing carbon to four times the level of other cultivated ecosystems.

As Mongabay reported, the recent report by Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA) praises the sharp decline in overall mangrove loss and lauds advances in mangrove restoration tools.

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