Al Thakira, Qatar (CNN) — On the northeastern fringe of the huge Qatari desert, rocky and beige flatlands give solution to a big stretch of wealthy vegetation and snaking waterways. Alongside the tidal estuary, pencil-like roots poke out of the muddy floor to offer oxygen to the dense shrubs as numerous crabs zip out and in of protruding burrows.
Al Thakira’s mangrove reserves are among the many Gulf’s nation’s most treasured pure websites — and one of the vital widespread locations for city residents trying to unwind from metropolis life, in addition to for vacationers in search of a inexperienced respite.
These protected forests are dwelling to Avicennia Marina, often known as the grey or white mangrove tree that has grow to be the dominant species within the area.
Discovered on the boundary between the Qatari land and sea, the mangrove thickets present a precious nursery habitat for a lot of sorts of coastal and offshore fish and crustaceans and a sanctuary for flamingos, herons and different seasonal fowl life.
“Mangroves are one of the vital vital ecosystems on this area,” Mehsin Alyafei, a marine setting professor at Qatar College and a distinguished environmentalist, tells CNN.
He explains that mangroves operate as a pure protection system towards rising sea ranges and coastal erosion, assist biodiversity and assist preserve excessive fishing inventory ranges by nurturing marine life.
“We simply discovered greater than 30 fish species on this mangrove,” Alyafei says. “There are a number of sorts of crabs, multiple species of shrimp, squid — all the things is coming to feed on this space.”
Go kayaking
Kayaks or stand-up paddleboards are an effective way to discover the mangroves.
Courtesy Dimitris Sideridis
Positioned simply north of town of Al Khor and a few 60 kilometers from the bustling capital of Doha, the mangroves space could be simply accessed by automotive — simply take into account that the journey requires a few kilometers of off-road driving.
As soon as there, the easiest way to discover the plush surroundings (when there’s a excessive tide) is to go kayaking or stand-up paddling.
There are a number of tour operators and journey firms to select from and e book prematurely.
All of them present instructors, tools and life jackets at a typical value of QR240 ($65) per tour, with kids between the ages of 5 and 11 charged half the value.
Purple Island
Purple Island is one other place to discover Qatar’s mangroves.
Courtesy Dimitris Sideridis
One other favourite choice is to go to the close by mangroves of Jazirat Bin Ghannam, popularly often known as Purple Island.
Historically a spot of transit that was additionally utilized by pearl divers and fishermen as early as 2,000 BCE, Purple Island took its identify from the red-purple dye produced centuries in the past from the shells of an area mollusc.
In response to Qatar Museums, excavations have discovered a shell heap with the stays of practically three million particular person crushed shells of the ocean snail Thais savignyi, together with giant ceramic vats that had been possible used to macerate the crushed molluscs.
That includes a protracted, picket walkway that connects the island with a seaside and a number of other small hills with limestone cliffs, this family-friendly spot is good for quiet strolls throughout low tide, sea life-spotting and bird-watching (in the course of the Qatari winter). It is usually accessible by automotive, however be mindful you’ll must deliver your personal provides as there aren’t any amenities obtainable on the island.
Storing carbon
Scientists say the mangroves supply biodiversity advantages, similar to storing carbon.
Courtesy Dimitris Sideridis
The world has through the years been the main target of a number of volunteer clean-up operations aimed toward eradicating strong waste similar to plastic and glass and elevating consciousness concerning the significance of the mangrove ecosystems, particularly in a area the place the extraordinarily harsh desert circumstances restrict vegetation progress.
Scientists have lengthy pointed to the mangroves’ biodiversity advantages, together with their capability to behave as filtration techniques to enhance water high quality by absorbing pollution, in addition to taking part in a significant function within the combat towards local weather change on account of their excessive sequestration charges for carbon dioxide.
“Per unit space, mangroves retailer carbon three to 4 instances larger than any terrestrial ecosystem,” Daniel Murdiyarso, principal scientist on the Heart for Worldwide Forestry Analysis (CIFOR), tells CNN. “Due to this fact, protecting mangroves intact and restoring degraded ones are key for climate-change mitigation.”
Mangroves ‘deserve safety’
Qatar has undertaken conservation work to guard its ecosystems.
Courtesy Dimitris Sideridis
Globally, mangroves cowl a floor of fewer than 15 million hectares — or practically the identical measurement as Greece — in additional than 120 tropical and sub-tropical international locations, in accordance with UNESCO. The physique warns that these ecosystems are disappearing three to 5 instances quicker than total forest losses worldwide.
The United Nations company estimates that some international locations have misplaced greater than 40% of their mangroves between 1980 and 2005, in lots of circumstances on account of coastal developments, altered land use and expansive business aquaculture.
Mangroves have additionally come below extreme stress in Qatar, the place Al Thakira is at present the final such ecosystem of word.
“We’ve misplaced many of the coral reef within the area, we’ve misplaced many of the seagrass; I hope we will shield the remaining mangroves,” Alyafei says, hailing the nation’s conservation efforts, together with replanting works, to guard its ecosystems — and with that, its future generations.
Murdiyarso echoed the decision.
“Tiny strips of Qatar’s mangroves (…) imply quite a bit within the context of huge desert of Qatar,” he says.
“They deserve safety, particularly from metropolis enlargement. Have a look at the water birds; they received’t come if mangroves are eliminated, because the ecosystem companies will probably be destroyed.”
