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Conserving a

UNIQUE HABITAT
A new Qatar Foundation program is working to increase public awareness of Qatars mangrove forest habitats through data-sharing of species sightings.

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the world begins to recognize the importance of mangrove forests in reducing the effects of climate change, a new pilot project based in Qatar is increasing awareness while promoting their conservation.
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secondary school students search for wildlife at Al dhakira mangroves near Al Khor with a scientist from conservation International.

times as much CO2 absorbed by mangrove forests as by rain forests

apping the Mangroves, a project led by Qatar Foundation International (QFI), a US-based member of Qatar Foundation, engages with environmentally aware individuals to collect and disseminate information about the worlds mangrove forests, which are under threat from industrialization and development in many parts of the world. The project is being run in partnership with Conservation International (CI), a non-profit organization that works to protect natural environments all over the world through scientific research and field work. Launched at the Al Dhakira mangroves near Al Khor, the project encourages visitors to gather data on wildlife species spotted at the site. They can then feed this information into the online resource at mappingthemangroves.qfi.org via their smartphone or tablet. The data is then processed using Ushadidi, an open source mapping platform that enables people anywhere in

Mangroves play numerous fundamental yet often unrecognized and under-appreciated roles in the maintenance of the planet
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the world to upload GPS-tagged information from a mobile device, giving very precise location details through the use of a downloadable app. Reports can also be logged by traditional email, through the website portal. At the launch event, students, teachers and experts spent a day recording their findings at Al Dhakira. Chris Dubia, Education Technology Adviser, QFI, said: The aim of the day was to show a proof of concept and to collect user feedback from the overall experience. Our goal now is to apply the user feedback to develop a more robust standardized tool that could be used by classrooms and scientists alike. Anyone can upload information to site, and it is hoped that the system will be developed to encompass all mangrove forests around the world, raising public knowledge about how vital the areas are to the Earths ecology. Mangroves play numerous fundamental yet often unrecognized and under-appreciated roles in the maintenance of the planet, Dr Leah Karrer of CI explained. Located at the interface of land and sea, mangroves are natural filters, trapping harmful sediments and filtering pollutants. They dissipate storm damage and erosion and they serve as nursery grounds for fisheries, which are important for food security.

Mangrove
forest facts:

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Provide a habitat for crabs, molluscs, wading and migratory birds, iguanas, geckos and turtles

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Found in 118 countries worldwide

Specialized for growing in high salinity environments a filtration mechanism within the root of the plant allows it to exclude 90-97 percent of the sodium from sea water

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Favor tropical and subtropical regions - majority of worlds mangrove forests found between 5 N and 5 S latitude

Mangroves are natural filters, trapping harmful sediments and filtering pollutants. They sequester up to five times as much carbon as temperate woodland and rainforests and therefore play a key role in climate mitigation

Members of the public are being encouraged to send in data collected from Al dhakira via the dedicated app.

Most importantly, they also store carbon - in students omar saif, left, and Ahmad Al fateh of Al wakra secondary Independent school, log data with dr leah Karrer, fact they sequester up to five times as much carbon head of conservation Internationals Marine science program. as temperate woodland and rainforests and therefore play a key role in climate mitigation. This fact impressed Ahmad Mohammed Hiasat, a student at Qatar Leadership Academy and QFI alumni, who took part in the Mapping the Mangroves launch day. Its the most important discovery I have made during the Mapping the Mangroves project, he said. Mangroves are the worlds best ecosystem for storing carbon and so contribute to reducing climate change. Another interesting discovery I made was spotting a very rare species of crab, with amazing colors, added Hiasat, who got involved with the event through YALLAH, a student-focused online forum for the alumni of QFIs programs. There was a post published asking for scientists around the world with a freely available volunteers and as I have been to the Al Dhakira collection of online materials dedicated to preserving mangroves several times with my family and our worlds mangroves. friends, I was keen to participate in the project. It These sentiments were echoed by Hiasat, who said: is such a relaxing, beautiful and peaceful place, Raising awareness of the mangroves contribution which is why I wanted to get involved. The towards reducing global warming and how rapidly project fulfills my interest in the the forests are vanishing will help to encourage environment and represents a unique more people to get involved. opportunity to help the breathtaking I have already spoken to many people about up to ecosystems of the mangroves. the project and they are now keen to help. I QFI anticipates that the program am also planning to put up posters around my will quickly gather momentum school. I feel that it is my duty to tell others over the next few months as more about the project and encourage them to data is collected. participate in such a wonderful experience. species of mangrove Dubia added: After the proof of At time of writing the Mapping the found worldwide concept stage is passed, QFI and its Mangroves project at Al Dhakira had partnering organizations will work already logged the geographical data of together with educators, students and recorded sightings of crabs, molluscs, fish, scientists to formulate educational wading and migratory birds. The site is also curricula from the data collected. The projects known to support iguanas, geckos ultimate goal is to provide students, educators and and hawksbill turtles.

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