Beverage importer and distributor MMI has vowed to plant 2,000 mangrove trees across the UAE.
The initiative is in partnership with B-corp certified wine suppliers Concha y Toro Gran Reserva wine. Customers who purchase two bottles of the vintage at the MMI’s retail stores automatically adopt a sapling.
Mangroves act as a natural ‘green lung’ along the coastlines of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah capturing harmful emissions, while also providing habit for wildlife and recreation grounds for people.
The dominant species in the Arabian Gulf region is the gray mangrove (Avicennia marina), and all mangroves are photosynthetic organisms that can convert sunlight into energy.
This in turn is used to transform carbon, from carbon dioxide gas produced from burning fossil fuels, into organic carbon that feeds the plants themselves and the entire ecosystem they exist in.
So, they also fight climate change – with global mangrove forests sequestering as much as 22.8 million tons of carbon each year.
Positioned between the open water and shorelines, mangroves provide habitats for many species including oysters, phytoplankton, sponges, crabs and other organisms.
The relationship is circular, with mangroves depending upon the organisms they support in turn to support them.
Estimates of mangrove coverage in the UAE vary, with the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, which uses high-resolution satellites to map the emirate’s mangroves, putting their area at about 155 square kilometres.
There are several key threats to mangroves, including urban expansion, limited fresh water resources and pollution and physical damage from humans.
Last year it was announced that a total of 10 million mangrove seedlings are to be planted in water along the coastline of Abu Dhabi by 2030 in a ‘living defence against the impact of climate change’ by organisers. The project is a joint environmental programme by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Dubai-based technology firm Distant Imagery.
MMI Cork Collection
MMI is also running its Cork Collection Project urging consumers to return their wine corks to retail stores.
It has partnered with Sea Change wines to upcycle returned corks into flooring, shoes, and textiles, with the aim of promoting a more circular economy and reducing waste.
Mike Glen, Managing Director of MMI Group said: ‘As the biggest importer and distributor in the Middle East, MMI is committed to leading the way towards a more sustainable future.
‘Through strategic partnerships, and initiatives like the Cork Collection Project and Mangrove Tree Planting, we aim to make a positive impact on the environment while continuing to provide exceptional products to our customers.’
