Coral Reefs of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Analysis of Management Approaches in Light of International Best Practices and a Changing Climate

Abstract

The coasts and islands that flank Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s largest emirate, host the country's most significant coastal and marine habitats including coral reefs. These reefs, although subject to a variety of pressures from urban and industrial encroachment and climate change, exhibit the highest thresholds for coral bleaching and mortality in the world. By reviewing and benchmarking global, regional and local coral reef conservation efforts, this study highlights the ecological importance and economic uniqueness of the UAE corals in light of the changing climate. The analysis provides a set of recommendations for coral reef management that includes an adapted institutional framework bringing together stakeholders, scientists, and managers. These recommendations are provided to guide coral reef conservation efforts regionally and in jurisdictions with comparable environmental challenges.

Coral reef conservation in Bali in light of international best practice, a literature review

“…As previously highlighted, coral bleaching is generally regarded as the greatest global threat to coral reefs (Boström-Einarsson et al 2020). Therefore, effective coral reef conservation should include a global mitigation of climate change through aggressive and large reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (Ben-Romdhane et al 2020). The 2015 Paris Agreement is the most recent international treaty to address climate change, and includes an agreement, signed by 196 countries, which aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees compared to pre-industrial levels (Schurer et al 2018).…”

“…So far, this review has highlighted some of the main tools used to restore and conserve Bali's coral reefs. Ben-Romdhane et al (2020) discussed international best practices in terms of the effective management of coral reefs, using examples like Australia (GBR), Belize, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. When comparing marine conservation between these 'best practice' example nations and Bali, it is clear that Bali has demonstrated some level of effective coral reef management.…”

COP26 Visions for a Net Zero Future – Regional Profile for the Arabian Peninsula

“…The impact is seen in algal blooms and "red tides", coral bleaching, and eutrophication which are increasing in frequency and severity 85,101,281 . Coral reefs are the most vulnerable, and even relatively robust ecosystems such as mangroves are not immune, suffering from dwarfism caused by high salinity 281,282,284 . Decline in these resources will have myriad implications and directly impact industry sectors such as fisheries, tourism, and desalination and water availability 91,286-288 .…”

“…(3.d.i Current/future solutions) Awareness of the need to protect and regenerate the natural environment is rising across the region, and various policy initiatives are underway, including changing agricultural practices, promoting nature-based solutions, establishing marine protection reserves and nature reserves, reintroducing indigenous wildlife 290 , and various regeneration activities both inland and in coastal areas 4,91,284 . With regards specifically to the net-zero transition, the natural environment of wetlands and mangroves and seagrass serve as natural carbon sinks for sequestering and cycling atmospheric carbon, referred to as "blue carbon" 4,[137][138][139] .…”

Heritage Reconstruction Planning, Sustainability Dimensions, and the Case of the Khaz’al Diwan in Kuwait

“…Until the oil era, the use of coral stones in vernacular architecture, usually mixed with sea stones, and bound together with mud mortar derived from seashell stone was widely practiced in the Gulf region [33]. However, in Kuwait [34], and elsewhere in the Gulf region [35], the coral stone resources (coral reefs and sea-beds) are now protected under environmental laws and the protection of coastal environments is considered among sustainable development goals.…”