Mangrove Ecosystem Restoration Solution (MERS)

Project Objectives

Mangrove Plantation and Restoration

MERS aims to restore degraded mangrove areas along Egypt’s Red Sea coast by planting 50,000 mangrove seedlings, enhancing coastal protection, biodiversity and climate mitigation.

Mangroves are among the most carbon-rich ecosystems on Earth. A single mangrove tree typically sequesters 10 to 20 kg of CO2 per year, depending on species, age and environmental conditions (Donato et al., 2011; Alongi, 2014). Over several decades, this contributes to a substantial accumulation of carbon in both biomass and soils.

At the ecosystem scale, one hectare of mangrove forest stores an average of 3,000 to 7,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, with 70% to 90% of this carbon retained in the soil (Kauffman et al., 2017; IPCC 2013 Wetlands Supplement). This makes mangrove soils some of the most carbon-dense natural habitats, holding three to 10 times more blue carbon than many terrestrial forests (Donato et al., 2011; UNEP, 2014).

These long-lived soil carbon stocks can persist for centuries to millennia, positioning mangroves as a critical nature-based solution for climate mitigation and coastal resilience.

As of January 2026, MERS has restored approximately five hectares and planted 42,200 seedlings.

AUC Plantation

In line with American University in Cairo (AUC) and MERS Project commitment to environmental preservation and carbon emission reduction, the university planted 10,000 mangrove seedlings to offset the carbon footprint generated by the air travel of its delegation to COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh.

Economic Empowerment & Mangrove-based Enterprises

MERS works to ensure mangrove forest protection and scalability by developing ecosystem-based, commercially viable small businesses. These are established with local communities to enhance their livelihood and economic resilience. 

 Upcoming initiatives include:

• Ecotourism ventures
• Mangrove-based products and value chains
• Capacity development to ensure sustainable, conservation-driven business models

These initiatives strengthen local economic resilience and reinforce long-term conservation incentives.

Community Awareness and Participation

MERS supports the active involvement of the community through public engagement in awareness sessions, training, and hands-on learning experiences. Some past activities included:

Capacity-building of Organizational Development for Berenice NGO - June 2023

MERS supported the formal establishment of the Berenice NGO, building its members the capacity to effectively mobilize its community's stewardship of reforestation.

Hamata School Awareness Session - October 2023

As restoration activities took place, a greenhouse was built to help students in Hamata learn about mangroves and environmental stewardship.

Beach Clean-ups - October 2023; November 2024

Youth, local community members, and HSBC volunteers participated in site clean-ups to prepare restoration zones, actively working on and learning about mangrove forests.

Cairo Water Week -  October 2023, 2024 and 2025

For three consecutive years, the project participated in Cairo Water Week to raise awareness about the importance of mangroves, not only as plants but also for their broader benefits recognized by researchers and specialists, policymakers and vested members of the private sector.

World Mangrove Day Webinar MERS - Dayma - El Gouna Town Management - July 2025

A collaborative webinar with Dayma and El Gouna Town Management highlighting restoration impacts and community engagement.

Red Sea Youth Change Makers Bootcamp for Entrepreneurs - August 2025

A five-day bootcamp on the Red Sea coast brought together 50 university students and fresh graduates to develop 27 innovative initiatives addressing environmental, water, and climate challenges. The top three initiatives were granted support to continue developing and scaling their solutions.

Mangrove “Guardians of the Coast” Prototype - October 2025

MERS developed an interactive model demonstrating how mangroves protect marine life and coastal communities.

Green Enterprises “Training - February 2026” 

Hamata residents were equipped with key business concepts and conservation-linked value chains to support their mangrove-based interventions.

Climate Smart Agri-Hub

A core pillar of MERS is advancing scientific research on mangrove ecosystems. To date, the Climate-Smart Agri-Hub has produced:

• Four published research papers
• Three scientific experiments on mangrove resilience, blue carbon potential, hydrology and optimal restoration conditions

Read our publications here:

1. Assessment of sediment physiochemical properties, microbial and predicted functional diversity in mangrove eco-restoration sites of Hamata, Mangrove Bay, and Saffaga along the Egyptian Red Sea coast
2. Spatiotemporal distribution of mangrove along the Egyptian Red Sea coast and analysis of hydrological impact on growth patterns
3. Mangroves in Egypt and the Middle East: current status, threats, and opportunities
4. Impact of Salinity Gradients on Seed Germination, Establishment, and Growth of Two Dominant Mangrove Species Along the Red Sea Coastline

GIS Platform

MERS launched Egypt’s first mangrove-focused GIS platform, providing data on:

• CO₂ sequestration
• Mangrove distribution and health
• Biodiversity indicators
• Restoration site monitoring

The platform features Story Maps, decision-support dashboards, and downloadable datasets for researchers, policymakers, conservation groups, and tourism operators.

Designed to evolve into a regional Nature-based Solutions hub, the GIS platform advances Egypt’s understanding of blue carbon and supports smarter, data-driven coastal conservation strategies.

Learn more: Explore the Story Map