Drones equipped to seed an area exceeding 100 football fields daily will play a crucial role in enhancing the greenery of Abu Dhabi. These seeding drones possess the capability to transport 53 different species simultaneously. They are equipped to document the precise planting locations for each seed bag and monitor the progress of ecological restoration.
Abu Dhabi authorities have recently forged a partnership with the global environmental technology firm, Dendra, to leverage seeding drones for the assessment and restoration of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems. The initiative emphasizes the deployment of data and artificial intelligence solutions to safeguard environmental habitats, protect local species, and restore ecological equilibrium in wild and mangrove regions.
The inaugural trial for arid restoration is currently underway in Al Dhafra, employing drones for aerial seeding in the desert. Dendra's innovative method has successfully overcome challenges associated with conventional seed dispersal techniques, expediting cultivation and planting rates and facilitating access to remote areas. Notably, it enables the reintroduction of native species to arid ecosystems without relying on irrigation, strategically selecting areas with the highest annual rainfall.
Anas Jawdat Albarguthi, the Chief Operating Officer at the investment and holding company ADQ, expressed that Abu Dhabi is establishing an "R&D-powered supply chain" to reintroduce native plant species to its deserts and mangroves.
The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) will supervise the analysis phase of the trial to determine the feasibility of future large-scale rehabilitation projects. The EAD's environmentalists conducted an extensive field survey spanning 10,000 hectares.
Ahmed Al Hashmi, the Executive Director of the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at EAD, outlined plans to map Abu Dhabi's natural vegetation habitats and their interactions with human influences. He highlighted the use of drone technology in rehabilitating habitats to conserve native terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
Dr. Susan Graham, CEO at Dendra, emphasized how their technology addresses the unique challenges of conserving, rehabilitating, and restoring ecosystems, citing Abu Dhabi's expansive and challenging landscapes covering hundreds of thousands of hectares and a coastline of 600km.
Earlier in the year, ADQ and EAD announced the deployment of artificial 3D-printed terracotta-based reef tiles off Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Archireef, a Hong Kong-based climate technology company. This initiative aims to support coral restoration in the Arabian Gulf.