13-Apr-2025
The Bahrain Mangroves Initiative
Bahrain’s Mangroves Initiative advances climate resilience and biodiversity conservation through large-scale mangrove restoration, supporting carbon neutrality and the protection of the Kingdom’s coastal ecosystems.
Bahrain has increasingly positioned nature-based solutions at the center of its environmental and climate agenda, with mangrove restoration emerging as a flagship national initiative. Mangroves are among the world’s most effective natural ecosystems for absorbing carbon dioxide, protecting coastlines, preserving marine biodiversity, and maintaining ecological balance.
Building on its mangrove strategy set in 2022, the Kingdom officially launched the ‘Bahrain Mangroves Initiative’ in December 2024 under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Led by the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture and supported by the Supreme Council for Environment, the initiative aims to plant 1.6 million mangrove seedlings by 2035 and reflects Bahrain’s broader commitment to biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
It also aligns with the implementation of the National Action Plan, “Blueprint Bahrain,” developed to support the Kingdom’s pathway towards net-zero emissions while strengthening environmental protection and climate resilience.
Implementation accelerated significantly through volunteer planting campaigns and partnerships with private-sector entities supporting mangrove cultivation and ecosystem restoration. A notable example is the collaboration with Alba, which provided financial support for the Ras Sanad Mangrove Nursery Project to expand seedling production and strengthen national restoration efforts. Alba also established its own mangrove nursery to contribute seedlings for planting initiatives across the Kingdom.
By May 2026, Bahrain had surpassed its mangrove planting milestone ahead of the 2035 deadline, reaching 2.23 million planted seedlings and achieving 139 percent of the target, marking a significant milestone in the Kingdom’s efforts to strengthen biodiversity and climate resilience.