Post by : Bianca
Haleem
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has announced TAQA, the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, as the Official Partner of the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative (ADMI) under a two-year agreement.
As part of this partnership, TAQA will serve as the Lead and Exclusive Sponsor for two key environmental programs. The first program is the Mangrove Biodiversity Automated Monitoring project, which introduces the Mangrove Nature Tracking Assistant (MANTA) – a first-of-its-kind tool in the Arabian Gulf. MANTA uses artificial intelligence, advanced ecological monitoring, and community-driven science to track biodiversity in natural and restored mangrove habitats.
This innovative system will monitor key species such as fish and crabs, which indicate the health of mangrove ecosystems, and provide real-time data to support conservation and habitat restoration efforts.
TAQA also sponsored the 2025 Marine Turtle Festival, an annual event organized by EAD to release rescued sea turtles back into their natural habitats. The festival highlights marine conservation efforts and showcases the work of EAD and its partners.
Maitha Mohamed Al Hameli, Director of Marine Biodiversity Division at EAD, said, “This partnership strengthens our ability to protect mangroves using technology and research. Collaborations like this help improve scientific understanding, enable citizen science, and create long-term conservation impact.”
Noel Aoun, Group Chief Strategy Officer at TAQA, added, “We are proud to support ADMI and promote sustainability through science, technology, and community engagement.”
Launched in 2022 during a visit by Prince William, the Prince of Wales, the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative aims to make Abu Dhabi a global hub for mangrove conservation, research, and innovation. The initiative unites local and international projects, encourages public-private partnerships, and currently involves 8 international and 15 local partners.
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