Proposal Paper- The Impact of Urbanization on Coastal Ecosystems in the UAE

 

 

 

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Contents

  1. Abstract 4
  2. Introduction. 4

2.a. Problem Statement 5

2.b. Significance of the Study. 5

2.c. Scope. 5

  1. Conceptual Framework. 6

3.a Key stressors include. 6

  1. Types of Variables. 6
  2. Main Rationale, Topical Questions, and Forecasting Statement 7

General Objective. 7

Specific Objectives. 7

Research Questions. 7

Hypothesis. 7

  1. Literature Review.. 7
  2. Methods. 8

Study Design. 8

Settings. 8

Population. 8

Data Collection Techniques. 8

  1. Data Collection Procedure. 9
  2. Site Selection: 9
  3. Field Surveys. 9
  4. Water Sampling. 10
  5. Satellite Analysis. 10
  6. Timetable. 10
  7. Annex. 11
  8. References. 12

 

 

 

 

1. Abstract

In this paper, urban development of the Abu Dhabi city in the UAE is considered by analyzing the consequences faced by mangrove coasts such as the reduced species richness and deterioration of water quality. Mangroves are complex and productive ecosystems that act as habitats for many organisms, influence water quality of coastal areas, and perform functions related to coastal defense. Conversely, threats to wetlands are eminent due to constant urbanization, reclamation of land, industrialization and infrastructural development.

The research seeks to assess the degree of environmental imapact by comparing the spatial distribution of the urbanized areas and that of the mangrove forests. Surveys will be conducted in the field to determine levels of species densities, water samples will be taken and tested to determine levels of pollution, and aerial photographs or images from orbiting satellites will be used to determine changes in land use. These methods will ensure the development of an all-round approach to explaining the impact of urbanization on ecological balance.

These studies will establish major fields for remedial activity and also proffer workable proposals on how to include conservation effects in city design. Thus, this research should help promote a sustainable environmental management in the context of the UAE by achieving the dual goal of development and protection of mangroves for generations to come.

2. Introduction

Urbanization is often the process of altering natural landscapes worldwide and presents harsh effects on coastal regions. In the UAE, aspects such as fast and continuous development of urban environment, population increase and industrialization represents the key indicators of economic growth. Although, these developments have brought about prosperity, a lot of pressure has been exerted to mangrove forests, which play additional roles such as supporting coastal ecological systems, stemming coastlines erosion and enhancing water quality through removal of pollution. Among these ecosystems, Mangroves in Abu Dhabi are severely threatened by projects that involve land reclamation, Pollution and alteration in the natural flow of water.

This study aims to examine the effects of urbanization on mangrove forests in Abu Dhabi by investigating two key areas: loss of bio-diversity and water quality (Subraelu et al., 2022). In addressing these facets, the study will advance knowledge about the complex ecological impacts of such urban endeavours and provide suggestions on how sound, environment-friendly approaches to management can be achieved.

2.a. Problem Statement

Urbanization poses a threat to mangroves in Abu Dhabi, yet very few surveys have analyzed the quantitative effects (Köstem, 2021). Such education is lacking, and this has a negative impact on the formulation of the right conservation measures. The proposed study aims at assessing ecological impacts of urbanization on mangrove vegetation and come up with constructive mitigation measures.

2.b. Significance of the Study

Mangrove ecosystems support a large number of marine and terrestrial species, play an essential role in the balance of carbon in the atmosphere, and also purify coastal water from impurities (Hamzah et al., 2020). They are important for sustaining biological diversity and for regulating the impact of climate change.

However, the understanding and assessment of the effects of urbanization on the mangroves in UAE are still not well documented (Alshaer, 2021). This knowledge deficit is filled by this study through presenting an outcome of how urban development influences mangrove species richness and water quality (Fouad et al., 2023). In so doing, the research will help to fill the existing gap in the study of ecological problems associated with urbanization. In addition, the implications of this study are of key importance for policy making. They will help policymakers in the formulation of policies that will address the use of mangrove in sustainable urban development (Mateos-Molina et al., 2023). Such balance between development and the protection of the environment may become critical for the UAE’s sustainable development in the future, as urbanization progresses rapidly in the region.

2.c. Scope

This research will center on mangrove ecosystems in Abu Dhabi and try to analyze variations in the biodiversity and water quality between areas with increased urban impact and untouched areas. This is because by integrating factual data collected directly from the field, laboratory analysis and geo-referencing maps, the research hopes to give a thorough insight of how the process of urbanization impacts these ecosystems.

Thus, the research will provide recommendations on how to avoid the loss of mangrove forests as such areas continue to be developed. This is especially critical for UAE; still, the had balance between, economic development on one hand and environmental conservation on the other is one of the key challenges where the UAE stands as a key player.

3. Conceptual Framework

Using the conceptual framework, the hypothesis of this study proposes that the independent variable of the level of urban development affects the levels of disruption to the mangrove ecosystem and water quality, or dependent variables. When development increases, mangroves are subjected to different pressures that lead into decline in their ecological status.

3.a Key stressors include

Shelter Construction and Land Reclamation: Urban development, which includes land reclamation and coastal construction, challenges the stability of mangrove ecosystems as it reduces the area actually occupied by mangroves and physically divides the ecosystems (Subraelu et al., 2022).

Water Pollution: Dangerous chemicals, discharged by industries, raw sewage from residential areas, and drainage water also contribute to the rise in pollutants in water bodies (Al-Sayed, & Gado, 2023). Some of these pollutants include heavy metals, nitrates, and phosphates, which have a negative impact on the growth of mangrove vegetation and animal life, thus causing a lowered species density.

Hydrological Modifications: Construction works like the construction of dams, roads, drainage systems among others hinders the natural drainage and the relatively inflow into the mangrove areas (Al-Awadhi et al., 2022). Such alterations in the hydrology regime can affect the tidal regime, salinity and sedimentation thereby exerting additional pressure on the mangrove habitat.

The study is based on the premise that the higher the intensity of urbanization, the lower the rate of ecosystem health. For instance, as the urban environments expand, there is pollution, habitat loss, and fragmentation, and these adversely affect the mangrove ecosystem in terms of reduced species diversity and deteriorated water quality (Elessawy, 2021). These questions will inform the research and aid in the assessment of the niche ecological effects of urbanization.

4. Types of Variables

  • Independent Variable: Land use (percentage of agriculture land and built-up area)
  • Dependent Variables:

Biodiversity: Species diversity and distribution in mangroves.

Water quality: Physical variables such as temperature, PH, dissolved solids, and TDS and chemical like salts, chlorine, algae etc. and heavy metals.

5. Main Rationale, Topical Questions, and Forecasting Statement

General Objective

In order to evaluate the effect of urbanization on the biological richness and aquatic environment of coastal mangrove forests in Abu Dhabi.

Specific Objectives

  1. To compare the bod differences between urbanised and untouched mangrove sites.
  2. In order to determine quality indicators in the water of affected mangrove forests, the following indicators will be used.
  3. To establish key sources of pressures in the well-developed coastal environments.

Research Questions

  1. How does urbanization impact the mangrove species richness in Abu Dhabi?
  2. How does the process of urbanization affect the quality of water in the mangrove areas?
  3. What are we doing that is putting ecosystems at risk?

Hypothesis

This study explores the impact of urbanization on the genetic diversity of Mangrove forests in Abu Dhabi, and established that the mangrove forests closer to the urbanization projects are likely to be impacted by the urbanization in many ways including; reduction on water quality of the Mangrove region (Afzal et al., 2022).

6. Literature Review

Coastal environmental degradation is generally attributed to the process of urbanization in most parts of the world (Husseinet al., 2020). Studies done out on the arid regions have shown that urbanization impacts greatly on the mangrove ecosystems in that it diminishes the area coverage dramatically (Laino et al., 2024). The major issues affecting mangroves include pollution of water which is through discharge from urban and industrial, siltation, and changes in the hydrological regime due to development of structures (Mateos-Molina et al., 2022). These factors pose a great danger to the stability as well as the ecological balance of mangrove forest.

In the UAE, concerns for the management of mangroves have gradually emerged, with concepts like reforestation and rehabilitation being put into consideration to prevent the reduction or loss of these crucial habitats (Elmahdy et al., 2020). Yet, little evidence is available in evaluating how urbanization per se directly influences mangroves, special in Abu Dhabi (Bejarano et al., 2023). This study seeks to narrow this gap through integrating surveys on species richness, water quality, and geographical information system mapping to give a clear picture of the impact of urbanization. The studies will be useful to develop effective conservation management plans for these strategic habitats.

Key references

  • Literature on the topic such as – Globalization and urbanization: An emerging trend mangrove swamps of southeast Asia and the gulf countries (Hamzah et al., 2020).
  • Analyses of mangrove ecosystems at the regional scale across the Arabian Peninsula (Subraelu et al., 2021).
  • Primary: Reports on coastal development and coastal and marine environments by UAE (AlYammahi, 2022).

7. Methods

Study Design

This research therefore involves a comparative observational study of mangrove ecosystems within both urbanized and pristine areas of Abu Dhabi for assessment of the biodiversity and water quality (Karmakar, & Raoof, 2020). Its aim is to evaluate the extent that urbanization has affected mangrove forests through the comparison of areas that have been developed with those that have been left natural (Ben-Romdhane et al., 2020).

Settings

The study will be done on mangrove areas close to and within major cities like Saadiyat Island and mangrove areas that are not influenced by this level of development (Al-Ruzouq et al., 2024). These areas help in creating a clear background against which the impacts of urban development on species and water are assessed.

Population

  • Flora: The specific habitat features that will be of interest for the study will include the mangrove species prevailing in the area as well as the other vegetation species (Sajwani et al., 2023).
  • Fauna: The mammals, birds, reptiles and other animals that live in the mangrove forests will be counted to determine the effects of urbanization on wildlife (Forti et al., 2024).
  • Water Samples: Physico-chemical analysis of water collected from areas of high human activity and areas of low human interference will also be done (Afzal et al., 2022).

Data Collection Techniques

  1. Biodiversity Surveys: During the field surveys there will be recording of species richness, abundance and distribution of the mangroves and other vegetation as well as distribution of the animals in the areas covered (Al Dogom et al., 2023). These surveys will assist in putting a number on biological diversity and to determine if any species may have been lost due to urbanization.
  2. Water Quality Testing: Samples will also be taken from water to determine some characteristic features of water including the salinity, pH, turbidity and concentrations of some pollutants like nitrate, phosphate, heavy metal ions (Almheiri et al., 2023). This data is going to be used to assess the impacts of urban runoff and other anthropogenic activities on the quality of waters in mangrove habitats.
  3. Remote Sensing: Cohort data collection and analysis techniques such as remote sensing and GIS will be applied for time series analysis for detection of mangrove areas that have been converted for urban uses (Alam, & Azalie, 2023). This should assist in putting into perspective the degree to which habitats have been changed or degraded and thus complement the field survey data collected.

Through the application of these approaches, the study will provide an assessment of the ecological effects of urbanization on mangrove areas in Abu Dhabi.

8. Data Collection Procedure

  1. Site Selection:

The first strategy of data collection will be to identify the relevant study sites. Mangrove coastal areas that are already urbanized will be chosen with regard to the closeness of urbanization such as Saadiyat Island that shows signs of development. Erection sites of fresh mangroves which are not much affected by urban development will equally be identified in the distant or more reserved regions. By selecting sites of this kind, both the difference in the overall counts and water quality will be assessed regarding urbanization.

  1. Field Surveys

After the sites have been identified, then, ground surveys will have to be conducted to check on the level of biodiversity. All surveys will be conducted according to clearly defined guidelines to maintain the validity and accuracy of obtained data. That will entail data collection on the mangrove species (both plant and animal), species density, and distribution at the various locations (Aldogom et al., 2021). Some notes will be also taken about the overall mangrove trees’ condition, that might show signs of stress such as changed color of leaves or signs of disease. In the experiment, measurements will be taken on-site while photographic records shall be taken with the intention of analyzing them later.

  1. Water Sampling

Each site will have water sample collected from both the intertidal and subtidal zones to increase the chances of detecting the species of interest. The samples will be tested as to their physical and chemical characteristics that include; the pH, salinity, turbidity, DO and concentration of nitrate, phosphate, heavy metals amongst others. These parameters will indicate water quality and will assist in determining the effects of pollution due to urbanization on the mangroves.

  1. Satellite Analysis

Remote sensing data and Geographic Information System will be employed in comparing the land-use changes in the study areas over time. Thus, tendencies in the growth of urban areas, including the processes of reclamation and infrastructural construction, which will be visible in the historical and modern satellite images. This analysis will also entail estimating the loss of mangrove area and also exploring the ways in which urbanization has threatened or divided these important environments.

By means of these procedures, the study will obtain extensive information on the state of mangrove forests’ health and on the impact of urbanization on the environment.

 

9. Timetable

Task Duration
Literature Review 2 weeks
Site Selection 1 week
Field Data Collection 4 weeks
Data Analysis 3 weeks
Report Writing 3 weeks

Total project duration: 13 weeks (3 months).

 

  1. Budget
Item Cost (AED)
Field Equipment 5,000
Laboratory Testing 10,000
Transportation 3,000
Data Analysis Software 2,000
Miscellaneous 2,000
Total 22,000

 

11. Annex

  • Checklist of specialties for identification of species:
  • Sampling and analysis procedures for water.
  • Geographic location of the study areas using satellite information.

 

 

12. References

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