Abu Dhabi: One million mangrove seeds are sown by drones to make Abu Dhabi greener. A drone will do the seeding job within hours which would take hundreds of humans months. The goal is to combat global warming through environmental protection.
In the first phase of the drone mangrove plantation project, mangrove seeds were sown using drones at various locations in the Aldafra region. After preparing a 3D map of the area, the land was scanned by drone and the planting method was devised. The germinated seeds are then spread from the sky by drones. The Environment Agency stated that this would save human labour, time and cost.
The drone can fly at a speed of 288 km per hour and sow seeds. Sow on the ground at a height of ten meters. When shot by a drone, covered in a spherical shape in a special mixture, it falls 1 cm deep into the ground. Lying there, it will sprout and become a plant. Their growth will be monitored through the drone itself. The drone will fly to plant and seed plants not only on the coasts but also in the rugged areas.
The UAE has also launched a nationwide plan to plant 10 crore trees by 2030. The aim is to make Abu Dhabi a global hub for mangrove conservation, research and innovation. The first mangrove plantation was started in the UAE in the 1970s under the guidance of the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
It was then extended to the Abu Dhabi Islands. The Environment Agency said that while the world’s mangroves are decreasing due to natural and human challenges, they are increasing in the UAE, especially in Abu Dhabi, and this shows the importance the country attaches to environmental protection.