On Egypt's Red Sea coast, fish swim among thousands of newly planted mangroves, part of a programme to boost biodiversity, protect coastlines and fight climate change and its effects.
After decades of destruction during which the mangroves were cleared, all that remained were fragmented patches totalling about 500 hectares, the size of only a few hundred football pitches.
Sayed Khalifa, the head of Egypt's agriculture syndicate who is leading efforts to replant the mangroves, calls the unique plants a treasure because of their ability to grow in salt water where they face no problems of drought.
"It's an entire ecosystem," Mr Khalifa said, knee-deep in the water. "When you plant mangroves, marine life, crustaceans and birds all flock in."
Between the tentacle-like roots of months-old saplings, small fish and tiny crab larvae dart through the shallows — making the trees key nurseries of marine life.
Mr Khalifa's team are growing tens of thousands of seedlings in a nursery, which are then used to rehabilitate six key areas on the Red Sea and Sinai coast, with the aim of replanting about 210 hectares.
But he dreams of extending the mangroves as far as possible, pointing past a yacht marina about six kilometres to the south.
The government-backed programme, costing about $50,000 a year, was launched five years ago.
Mangroves have a powerful impact in combating climate change.
The resilient trees "punch above their weight", absorbing five times more carbon than forests on land, according to the UN Environment Programme (Unep).
The stands of trees also help to filter out water pollution and act as a natural barrier against rising seas and extreme weather, shielding coastal communities from destructive storms.
Unep calculates that protecting mangroves is 1,000 times cheaper than building seawalls over the same distance.
Despite their value, mangroves have been annihilated worldwide at rapid speed.
More than a third of mangroves globally have been lost, researchers estimate, with losses up to 80 per cent on some Indian Ocean coastlines.
Mangrove expert Niko Howai, from Britain's University of Reading, said in the past many governments had not appreciated "the importance of mangroves", eyeing instead lucrative "opportunities to earn revenue" including through coastal development.
In Egypt's case, "mass tourism activities and resorts that cause pollution", as well as boat activity and oil drilling wreaked havoc on mangroves, said Kamal Shaltout, a botany professor at Egypt's Tanta University.
Mr Shaltout said mangrove restoration efforts "will go to waste" if these threats are not addressed.
"The problem is that the mangroves we have are so limited in number that any damage causes total disruption," he said.
There is little reliable information to indicate how much has been lost, but Mr Shaltout said "there are areas that have been completely destroyed", particularly around the major resort town of Hurghada.
Red Sea destinations account for 65 per cent of Egypt's tourism industry.
The problem is that the mangroves we have are so limited in number that any damage causes total disruption
Kamal Shaltout,
botany professor at Tanta University
The scale of damage, according to a 2018 study by Mr Shaltout and other researchers, "probably far exceeds what could be replaced by any replanting programme for years to come".
Efforts to link up replanted areas will be potentially blocked by barriers of marinas, resorts and coastal settlements.
"Mangroves are hardy, but they are also sensitive, especially as saplings," Mr Howai said.
"Intermingling mangrove reforestation with existing development projects is not impossible, but it is going to be more challenging."
To be successful, Mr Shaltout said that tourist operators must be involved, including by making resorts responsible for replanting areas themselves.
"It could even come with certain tax benefits, to tell them that just like they have turned a profit, they should also play a role in protecting nature," the botanist said.
Abu Dhabi's Jubail Mangrove Park - in pictures
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Brief scoreline:
Tottenham 1
Son 78'
Manchester City 0
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Everton%20Fixtures
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WRESTLING HIGHLIGHTS
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
The biog
Favourite book: You Are the Placebo – Making your mind matter, by Dr Joe Dispenza
Hobby: Running and watching Welsh rugby
Travel destination: Cyprus in the summer
Life goals: To be an aspirational and passionate University educator, enjoy life, be healthy and be the best dad possible.
The%20specs
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
RESULT
Bayern Munich 3 Chelsea 2
Bayern: Rafinha (6'), Muller (12', 27')
Chelsea: Alonso (45' 3), Batshuayi (85')
Scoreline:
Manchester City 1
Jesus 4'
Brighton 0
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
