The East African nation will host the next world climate conference in November. It’s leading by example by launching a new mangrove reforestation project.
Remember when the UK hosted COP26 just weeks after being exposed for shipping over half of its plastic waste to be burned overseas? That was awkward.
This public knowledge combined with its poor event planning saw Britain come under much scrutiny for not leading by example as the host of the world’s largest (and most historically important) meeting for environmental justice and climate change.
As it turns out, the host of COP27 is starting off on a much better foot. Egypt wants to ‘show attendees that [their nation] prioritises environmental and climate projects’ by launching several exciting initiatives ahead of their turn to host in November.
One of the biggest projects has been labelled a ‘mangrove revolution.’ You might already know this, but we love a bit of positive news (and I love a good mangrove), so of course we had to cover it here at Thred. Let’s get into it, shall we?
Maybe you don’t yet know much about mangroves or why they’re important, and that’s okay.
They’re a rare finding, growing in shallow salt water and making up just 1 percent of the planet’s forests. Despite this, they’re capable of absorbing more CO2 than rainforests do.
In 2020, researchers discovered that just one acre of mangrove trees will absorb up to three or four times the amount of carbon absorbed by the forests we’d find on land.
Rooted in the ocean, they provide a thriving ecosystem for land and marine animals alike – think turtles, crabs, lizards, birds, fish, and baby sharks.
Mangroves are important to human life in other ways, too. Their strong roots stabilise soil, while their branches act as storm defences, and help protect coastal regions from other effects of climate change, such as beach erosion and rising sea levels.
What is Egypt’s project all about?
These special trees once grew in natural abundance in 28 areas along Egypt’s Red Sea’s coasts. In recent decades though, human intervention has caused the country’s mangrove forests to slowly disappear.
A growing tourism industry saw the construction of many new villages along mangrove-dotted shorelines, and oil spills from shipping lines saw Egypt’s mangrove populations dwindle to a mere 500 metres at each site.
But the situation is getting dire as the effects of global climate change become more evident. According to a 2021 report the rate of rising sea levels in the Red Sea has nearly doubled in recent years, posing a threat to seaside communities.
It’s no wonder that the government’s Academy of Scientific Research and Technology invested 4 million Egyptian pounds (around £200,000) into its mangrove restoration project, which began in 2020.
With ten people working to plant and nurture the mangroves at each site, the project aims to ‘increase mangroves spread to 60 acres in each location’.
Not only will a healthy and thriving mangrove population boost marine life along coasts – which is already being witnessed at several sites – but it will also increase Egypt’s rate of carbon sequestration.
Great projects almost always come with great challenges, though.
Acquiring permits for such projects has so far been difficult, with only three sites (Safaga, Hamara, and Al-Qala’n) seeing mangroves being planted. Organisers say that they ‘are being held back by restrictive bureaucracy’ that grants approvals sparingly.
Since the project started, 50,000 mangrove trees have been planted each year – significantly less than the 300,000 organisers had hoped for. Experts say that with faster permit approval rates, it would only take 5 years for farmers to plant trees at all 28 prospective sites.
Despite organisers in Egypt feeling let down by the current speed of the ‘mangrove revolution’, their achievements so far are worth being proud of. Already, Egypt will have something to show for itself at COP27 – and that’s a huge improvement compared to last year!
I’m Jessica (She/Her). Originally from Bermuda, I moved to London to get a Master’s degree in Media & Communications and now write for Thred to spread the word about positive social change, specifically ocean health and marine conservation. You can also find me dipping my toes into other subjects like pop culture, health, wellness, style, and beauty. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for changes to the way we speak about the climate crisis. He says the current language used to describe the issue does little to create a public sense of urgency or incite changes in behaviour.
Gen Z knows all too well how quickly family and friends tune out once the phrase ‘climate change’ is mentioned in conversation.
While most of us are seriously concerned about our climate's...
Plantd is a burgeoning startup using grass fibres to create building materials instead of wood. Could this become a popular alternative in the future?
The drive for constant economic growth comes at a cost to natural resources, particularly wood.
The volume of wood used for lumber in a single year would circle the Earth’s equator 880 times if stacked in a straight line, or stretch between the Earth and the...
Billed as a key solution to the climate crisis, recycling could be releasing huge quantities of microplastics itself, according to a new study.
The vast majority of our plastic waste winds up in landfill, bonfires, and in our natural environment, but how efficiently is the 9% that is recycled dealt with?
A new study conducted by an international team of scientists claims that recycling plants inadvertently create staggering amounts...
A Ukrainian startup has successfully developed a 100% biodegradable and extremely lightweight packaging alternative made from mycelium roots that fully decomposes in just a month.
If you’re familiar with my writing, by now I’m sure you’re well aware of my deep-rooted obsession with all things mycelium.
This is pretty understandable, given the amount of recent findings proving that there’s very little these fantastic fungi can’t do.
From communicating with ‘words’ (as though they...
2
energy
0 comments
