The Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project

Determining the current extent The extent of Blue Carbon ecosystems in Abu Dhabi were determined based on: • EAD ecosystem layers derived from several datasets compiled in 2000 and subsequently updated and enhanced through stakeholder workshops conducted in 2012 – 2013; • Field verifications undertaken during the Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project covering 20 sampling areas and a total of 155 ground-truthing sites. The Extent of Blue Carbon Ecosystems In total, the extent of mangroves (51 sites), salt marshes (25 sites), algal mats (10 sites), seagrass beds (34 sites) and coastal sabkha (18 sites) was recorded to provide an indication of the accuracy of the extent of these mapped ecosystems. The subsequent accuracy assessment undertaken concluded that coastal sabkha (83% accurate), seagrasses (77% accurate to approximately 3.5 metres depth) and mangroves (71% accurate) were mapped with

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