Abu Dhabi Delegation Visits Jamaica Bay As Part Of United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week Events
Abu Dhabi Environment Agency Delegation connects with Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge West Pond Living Shoreline to share best practices for nature-based solutions
QUEENS, NEW YORK, September 26, 2023 As part of Climate Week NYC, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy (JBRPC) had the honor of hosting Maitha Al Hameli and colleagues from Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) for a tour of the West Pond Living Shoreline at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, part of Gateway National Recreation Area. The purpose of the visit was to share ideas and best practices for public-private partnerships and nature-based solutions, including talking about the important role living shorelines can play in protecting coastlines, communities, and biodiversity in estuarine and marine environments.
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi is the prime custodian for climate action alignment and coordination in Abu Dhabi and has been leading collaborative efforts with stakeholders to drive science-based, data-backed innovative solutions to a variety of climate issues. During the delegation’s visit to Jamaica Bay, Hameli highlighted the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi’s innovative use of drone technology to effectively and efficiently plant mangroves, which are integral to the marine ecosystem and mitigate the effects of climate change.
“The opportunity to speak and participate during key side events at the UN General Assembly and Climate Week as well as meet leading field experts was critical for global collaboration to take action on key Sustainable Development Goals. When we can have these important conversations, all groups are better equipped to lay the foundations for cooperation and solving our global climate crisis,” said Ms. Maitha Al Hameli, Section Head, Marine Biodiversity Assessment and Conservation at the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi.
"City-to-city and people-to-people exchanges are critical building blocks of climate action. It was our incredible honor to welcome Ms. Maitha Al Hameli and the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi team to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge at Gateway National Recreation Area to showcase the West Pond Living Shoreline project that aims to protect vulnerable coastline and critical wetland habitat," said Terri Carta, Executive Director of Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy. "We are also eager to learn from experts like Al Hameli, whose experience with climate change adaptation and nature-based solutions can help us increase our impact and offer hope for the future – here in New York City and around the world."
In partnership with the National Park Service, JBRPC built the West Pond Living Shoreline in November 2021 to restore the vulnerable edge between the Bay and the freshwater West Pond after it breached during Superstorm Sandy, as well as protect the Loop Trail and provide much needed habitat. The success of nature-based solutions such as the West Pond Living Shoreline rely on stakeholder knowledge and partnerships. Critical input and support for the project came from the community who have long-championed the need for nature-based solutions to restore the Bay.
Healthy wetland ecosystems, like the marsh islands and fringe marsh wetlands found in Jamaica Bay, have the ability to absorb storm surges, buffer against erosion and capture more atmospheric carbon than forest ecosystems of the same size. Wetlands also provide vital habitat, recreational and educational opportunities, and coastal protection for waterfront communities.
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy are implementing climate change projects within their specific environs centered on nature-based solutions that hold immense potential for effective and sustainable ways to combat climate change and ensure thriving coastal communities.
