Abu Dhabi: The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, have partnered with Dendra, an international environmental technology company. The partnership will leverage advanced seeding drones and AI technologies to assess and restore terrestrial and coastal ecosystems across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
A set of innovative solutions, based on data and advanced artificial intelligence technology, will be deployed by the partnership in the areas of preserving environmental habitats and local species in addition to restoring the ecological balance in the wild habitats in Abu Dhabi and mangrove areas.
This partnership will support EAD’s initiatives in assessing the condition of terrestrial and coastal habitats and increasing environmental information about them.
Dendra will provide the expertise and foundational infrastructure to scale and harmonize restoration activities benefiting desert and coastal areas, while ADQ will model an impactful approach to biodiversity risk mitigation by enabling the preservation of natural ecosystems as an integral part of a healthy, resilient economy.
Mr. Ahmed Al Hashmi, Executive Director of Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at EAD said that, “In partnership with ADQ and Dendra we are embarking on a significant mission to achieve a deeper understanding of the natural vegetation habitats of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and their interactions with human influences. These influences range from the challenges posed by overgrazing to the vital role played by the Government through establishment and responsible management of protected areas.”
“This partnership seeks to build a comprehensive information foundation, enabling us to secure and protect our critical and fragile natural habitats with data that balances preservation and establishes effective management practices. Based on this data we will be using drone technology to rehabilitate habitats for the greater goal of conserving our native terrestrial and marine ecosystems,” Mr. Al Hashmi added.
The first arid restoration trial is already underway in the Al Dhafra Region, utilizing drones to carry out aerial seeding on desert land. Dendra’s method, with its advanced approach to relying on drones, has overcome the obstacles associated with traditional seed dispersal methods. It also achieved an acceleration of the rate of cultivation, increasing the rate of planting while providing the ability to access remote areas.