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Mangroves in Egypt and the Middle East: current status, threats, and opportunities
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Researchers reviewed the state of mangrove forests across Egypt and the Middle East, where only two species survive the harsh conditions, and found that pollution, climate change, and habitat destruction are major threats — with microplastics and heavy metals increasingly entering mangrove ecosystems via seawater. Rehabilitation efforts across the region have planted millions of trees, but stronger protections and policy frameworks are needed to preserve these critical carbon-storing coastal ecosystems.
Abstract Mangrove forests are among the Nature Based Solutions (NBS) that help in mitigating climate change effects as they sequester carbon dioxide gas four times greater than normal forests. They stabilize coastlines, reduce coastal flooding, and provide nurseries to wildlife. Only two mangrove species exist in the Middle East: Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata , due to their high tolerance to the region’s harsh and dry environmental conditions. This paper presents a comprehensive review on the current mangrove status in these countries, threats facing them, and rehabilitation initiatives taken to increase mangrove plantations in the Middle East. The review showed that Middle Eastern mangroves are dwarves, grow in dispatched form, have limited access to freshwater inflow, and are dominated by Avicennia marina specie. The largest and smallest mangrove cover were 20,400 ha and 80 ha found in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain respectively. Uncontrolled camel grazing, oil spills, habitat destruction, irresponsible tourism, and solid waste accumulation are from the major threats facing mangrove ecosystems. Climate change impacts through increased seawater salinity and temperature, microplastics, and heavy metals introduction to seawater threaten mangroves health. Various mangrove rehabilitation initiatives have taken place in Oman, Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt as they have planted 1.5 million, 140 thousand, 1 million, 4.3 million, and 0.3 million mangrove trees respectively. This research presents some regulatory framework and policies needed for mangrove plantations rehabilitation for the mitigation of Green House Gases (GHG) and improve the livelihood of the indigenous people living along the coastal areas of the world.
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Accumulation of microplastics in mangrove ecosystem: source, properties, and impacts for conservation
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This review of studies from Asia, the Americas, and beyond found that mangrove forests—vital coastal ecosystems that trap carbon and protect shorelines—are accumulating tiny plastic particles from clothing fibers, fishing gear, and packaging waste. These microplastics are showing up in fish, crabs, and shellfish that people eat, raising concerns about how much plastic ends up on our dinner plates, while also potentially weakening the mangroves' ability to fight climate change. The findings suggest we need better tracking and stronger protections for these ecosystems, since plastic pollution may be harming both environmental health
Microplastic pollution in mangrove forests of safwa, western arabian gulf: Distribution, sources, and ecological impact
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Researchers characterized microplastic pollution in the mangrove forests of Safwa on the Western Arabian Gulf coast, analyzing sediment samples from 15 locations to document distribution patterns, identify likely sources, and assess ecological risks to this carbon-sequestering coastal habitat.
Assessing microplastic contamination levels in ghana's mangrove wetlands
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Researchers assessed microplastic contamination levels in mangrove wetlands in Ghana, examining how mangrove tree morphology facilitates plastic accumulation and what concentrations and polymer types are present in these coastal ecosystems. The study addressed threats to mangrove ecological services including water quality improvement, carbon sequestration, and coastline protection posed by plastic pollution.
Microplastics pollution in mangrove ecosystems: A critical review of current knowledge and future directions
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This review synthesizes available research on microplastic pollution in mangrove ecosystems, which act as buffers between land and sea and accumulate plastics from both marine and terrestrial sources. The authors identify key gaps in knowledge and call for more research on how microplastics affect these ecologically critical habitats.
Impact of elevated environmental pollutants on carbon storage in mangrove wetlands: A comprehensive review
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Researchers synthesized global studies on pollutant impacts in mangrove wetlands — which store about 10% of coastal ocean carbon — finding that microplastics reduce carbon stocks by 1-12% by impairing photosynthesis and destabilizing sediments, while heavy metals and oil spills compound the damage to these critical climate carbon sinks.
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