Although, mangroves have been acknowledged as effective coastal bio-shields and conservation of the same has been taken up as a collective global agenda[1], a more collaborative and intensive effort should be put in place for conservation of these unique habitats. Similar to the collective efforts at the global level, collective efforts at the local and regional level should be initiated and fostered for conservation and sustainable management of mangrove habitats. In this context a discussion note was prepared to initiate a dialogue with individuals and organizations in India, especially on the eastern Indian coast to initiate the “Eastern Indian Mangrove Alliance for Conservation (EIMAC)”, to collectively identify the issues and opportunities and initiate a collaborative effort for conservation of mangrove habitats, sustainable economic development of the coastal communities and climate change mitigation and adaptation on the eastern Indian coast. The following sections of the discussion note provides an overview of the mangrove habitats of the eastern Indian coast, biodiversity, socio-economic conditions of the artisanal fishermen, and the threats of climate change. It was intended that this discussion note would provide the background and help to open the window for further discussion and initiate collaborative and collective action.
[1] Outlook Business Team, 2022. COP27 identifies mangroves as important solution to climate change. Outlook, retrieved online: https://www.outlookindia.com/business/cop27-identifies-mangroves-as-important-solution-to-climate-change-news-235946
The new Saudi Green Initiative that was started last year, is going to make a huge effort in replanting mangroves, plus 10 billion other trees total--maybe the biggest effort in the world so far? Many YouTube videos plus initiative got expanded at COP27 to include 24 nations including India and Pakistan to now plant 50 billion trees all together. YouTube video of first meeting at COP27, screen shot attached.
Craig Carlton Dremann thank you very much for your valuable response and sharing of valuable information. I really appreciate it!! I find your information very useful. Thank you!
Under the Saudi Green Initiative, it has pledged to plant 100 million mangrove trees, contributing towards the nation's ambitious 10 billion trees target. More recently, the Red Sea Development Company has been working to establish its own forests as part of the Red Sea Project. Story at https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/sgi/mangroves-plant-co2-saudi-green-initiative-b2240161.html
In 2002 I helped start that Saudi Green Initiative, with my proposal at https://www.ecoseeds.com/cool.html suggesting they set aside land to replant native plants. In August 2010 the Saudi government adopted my proposal, and set aside 200 million acres that was expanded to 200 million hectares. Then last year, started planting trees at the rate of one million per week.
Since India is a member of the "Middle East Green Initiative" you should check with your government, to see if mangroves are included in their share of the 50 billion trees they will be planting with the 24 other countries? Picture of the India Minister of the Environment who spoke at the COP27 meeting.
Craig Carlton Dremann I'm honored to hear from such a renowned person like you and get the opportunity to learn about your amazing work and contribution to make this world a better place. I'm extremely pleased to learn about your contribution to the "Saudi Green Initiative" and how you planted the seeds to such an amazing initiative at scale. It's really an honor to hear from you and I eagerly look forward to your guidance and support to the EIMAC forward. Thank you very much!
Make contact with your Minister of the Environment, and see what the plans are, to plant the two billion trees in India for their part in the Middle East Green Initiative, and like Saudi Arabia -- how many tens of millions of those will be mangroves. If you get a reply, post it here.
Craig Carlton Dremann Thank you very much for your kind suggestion. I'm happy to share with you that we have organized the first meeting of EIMAC a couple of days ago and received a very positive response from the participants. I would like share the link to the recording of the event and hope to hear your comments and suggestions. Please click the link to the EIMAC Meeting: https://youtu.be/3HzRWswLdTk
Very impressive gathering, and anyone interested in mangrove restoration should get involved. However, a very substantial economic underpinning for this project needs to get started right away.
The Saudis for their ten billion tree-planting for their "Saudi Green Initiative", are focusing on mangroves because they sequester a lot of carbon. India could also go in that directions--the oil, gas and coal companies who supply fossil fuels to India, add a small fee to each liter of gasoline and ton of coal, and cubic meter of methane to pay for planting the mangroves to offset the carbon contained in those fuels that are being sold.
In that way the People of India could buy fossil fuels that are already carbon neutral, and the mangrove planting would have plenty of funds to plant hundreds of millions to billions of trees in the future
Eastern Indian Mangrove Alliance for Conservation (EIMAC)
EIMAC: A New Beginning for Building the “Mangrove Agenda” of the Region
The First Online Meeting of the Eastern Indian Mangrove Alliance for Conservation (EIMAC)
Along with the mangroves, as India as a member of the "Middle East Initiative", a lot of deserts are going to need to be replanted from western India to Pakistan, Arabia and central Africa, to keep the monsoon moisture moving across and producing even rainfall instead of droughts and floods.
What is happening now, is when the moisture goes over forests and native cover, then rain clouds can form. Then when it goes over barren deserts, two things can happen--the cloud stall and create floods or pass over the deserts and disappear because the hotter barren soil changes the dew point, so precipitation cannot occur. Image above of the areas that need to have native plant cover, to insulate the soil surface to keep the rainfall moving at an even track.
Craig Carlton Dremann Thank you very much for your kind information, I find it very useful to take things forward with EIMACC. Thank you!
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