The Coastal Ecosystem Mapping and Media Viability Project

9.

Pre Fieldwork

Project Planning In close collaboration with the project partners the test sites were selected before going out to the field. The pilot sites were selected to be as close as possible to previous site locations that were used in fieldwork under the Northern Emirates Blue Carbon Exploration project (Figure 2 previously undertaken by AGEDI and its Partners (Relevance of Blue Carbon). These were chosen also for the purpose of comparability and viability of the project. Our criteria for choosing the site were as follows: • They had the most above ground carbon storage of all the sites previously tested (Figure 2), • They were easy to navigate through (higher canopies and breaks in canopies) • Regular breaks in canopies (For Ground Control Points) • There were permissions provided by the municipalities to fly the drones

Figure 2. Total Plant Carbon - Note: Vertical bars represent one standard error. Total carbon pools found in the mangrove trees (aboveground and belowground, Mg/ha) of sampled mangroves of the Northern and Eastern Emirates, UAE. The total carbon pools are broken down by Total aboveground carbon (TAGC) and total belowground carbon (TBGC). TAGC – From National Blue Carbon Decision-Maker Summary – AGEDI 2015.

The Coastal Ecosystem Mapping and Media Viability Project

Page 14 of 44