Indonesia and UAE Collaborate on Mangrove Research Center in Bali
Bali, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are partnering to establish an international mangrove research center in Bali, underscoring their commitment to nature-based solutions to combat climate change. This collaboration aims to leverage the unique role of mangroves in protecting coastal communities and sequestering carbon emissions.
Indonesia, which hosts approximately 23% of the world’s mangrove ecosystems, recognizes the critical importance of these environments. Mangroves are vital for shielding coastal areas from rising sea levels and for their capacity to capture substantial amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
At the COP27 UN climate summit in Egypt in 2022, Indonesia and the UAE launched the Mangrove Alliance for Climate, an initiative dedicated to promoting nature-based strategies to address climate challenges. This alliance has since expanded to include countries such as Australia and India.
The initiative’s latest milestone is the establishment of the international mangrove research center in Bali, following a groundbreaking ceremony over the weekend. The UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al-Dahak, emphasized the significance of this endeavor. “This institution represents one of the UAE’s most important contributions in its partnership with Indonesia to promote nature-based solutions to address impacts of climate change in the two countries and in the world,” she stated.
Dr. Al-Dahak, alongside Suhail Mohamed Al-Mazrouei, a special envoy of the UAE president, and Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesia’s coordinating minister of maritime affairs and investment, attended the ceremony.
“The UAE is aware that losing more mangrove trees will worsen the impacts of climate change … this research center will work to create solutions,” Dr. Al-Dahak added, highlighting the urgent need to address the global decline of mangrove forests.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment detailed the center’s mission to conduct research, conservation, and educational activities focused on mangroves. The center will utilize biotechnology and innovative artificial intelligence applications to restore and maintain mangrove ecosystems.
“I’m proudly announcing that the International Mangrove Research Center will be built in a strategic location in Bali, which has already shown its success in preserving mangrove ecosystems and will garner international attention,” Minister Pandjaitan announced.
Indonesia has prominently featured mangrove planting in international events it has hosted, including the Group of 20 Meeting in 2022 and the ongoing 10th World Water Forum, which continues until May 25. The research center will be situated within the Ngurah Rai Forest Park, Bali’s largest mangrove conservation area, spanning approximately 1,300 hectares.
