MBZ Fund, Mubadala start dugong conservation

The Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund and Mubadala are launching a major new initiative to conserve the dugong and its seagrass habitats in the UAE and four other countries.

The initiative is part of a two-year partnership that will also see the launch of a UAE Conservation Leaders programme supporting early career conservationists in the UAE.

Jointly, the Fund and Mubadala are also extending support for two international conservation initiatives across Asia.

A total of $3 million over two years will be provided to all the projects supported by the partnership.

“This initiative underscores our unwavering commitment to nurturing homegrown talent and fostering impactful partnerships that protect our planet,” said Homaid Al Shimmari, Deputy Group CEO at Mubadala. “By empowering young conservationists and investing in the protection of vital species such as the dugong, we are not only preserving biodiversity but also reinforcing the UAE’s position as a global leader in environmental stewardship.”

Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Executive Managing Director of the Fund, said that the new dugong conservation initiative will support one of the UAE’s flagship species not just locally, but also in Indonesia, Malaysia, Timor-Leste, and Thailand.

“Beyond species survival, this initiative highlights the role of seagrass as a vital carbon sink and promotes a transformative approach to marine and land resource management,” said Al Mubarak, adding that it will build on the success of the GEF Dugong & Seagrass Conservation Project, which the Fund led from 2015 to 2019.

Indonesia, Malaysia and Timor-Leste were already among the participants in the GEF Dugong & Seagrass Conservation Project.

Al Mubarak said that adding them to the new dugong and seagrass conservation project will further strengthen conservation ties between the UAE and partners while improving livelihoods, biodiversity protection and promoting co-existence for the participating local coastal communities. In the UAE, the partnership is seeking to build local conservation expertise and capacity by creating funding opportunities for UAE-based grassroot conservation projects.

“We are open to supporting a diverse set of applicants: students, experienced individuals seeking to provide opportunities for hands-on conservation right here in the UAE,” said Al Mubarak.