GIVE A GHAF

United Arab Emirates

Progress report
2015-2016
SUMMARY
Regenerating ecosystems and raising
environmental awareness

TYPE
Ecosystem regeneration

LOCAL PARTNER
Goumbook organisation

PARTICIPANTS
Volunteers, students, AccorHotels partners

MAIN THEMES
- Preserving ecosystems by planting native Ghaf trees
- Depolluting soils and air near waste treatment areas
- Enhancing environmental awareness and culture

STATUS JUNE 2016

3,330 Ghaf trees

OBJECTIVES
Plantation of 4,500 Ghaf trees in 2016

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PROGRESS
REPORT
2015-2016
P R O J E C T D E S I G N

A C T I V I T I E S &
M O N I T O R I N G

N E X T S T E P S

P I C T U R E S
L O C AT I O N
Starting with Dubai, the project ambitions to
cover all the Emirates

The project aims to afforest denuded

areas across the United Arab
Emirates.

During the first plantation wave, Ghaf

trees were planted in Dubai only :
Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
(DDCR), Dubai Investment Park, four
different landfills and a hotel
compound.

The second wave took place in

Sharjah (Girl Guides Camp), Ras Al
Khaimah (Marjan Island), Abu Dhabi
and Dubai Emirates.

The project aims to find new sites for

forthcoming plantations.

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SPECIFIC CONTEXT
Despite key role in national culture, native
Ghaf trees are being replaced by exotic species

ENVIRONMENTAL
− In a region with extreme weather conditions,
native flora and fauna play an important role in
balancing ecosystems
− Ghaf tree is one of the few native trees naturally
adapted to grow in the harsh desert
− Key role in providing habitat for a large variety of
species: birds, small reptiles and grazers are
present in great numbers within afforested areas
− Yet, it is being replaced by exotic species (planted
for beautification purposes), which are very water-
consuming

Ghaf trees are magnets of biodiversity in an otherwise barren environment

SOCIETAL
− Great potential for raising environmental awareness, in a country where environmental protection and conservation
is not a priority
− Educating the public about the native Ghaf trees and their values encourages the plantation of indigenous trees
rather than exotic species

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PROJECT OBJECTIVES
Reintroduce Ghaf trees to enhance national
environmental awareness and action

− Regenerate native ecosystems by planting Ghaf trees to

replace exotic and non-native species
ECOSYSTEMS
− Depollution of nearby landfills and other degraded areas

− Ghaf extensive roots system contribute to fixing dunes,

URBAN AREAS preventing sand propagation on roads and in built-up areas
− Potential of reducing noise

− Raise awareness on environmental issues

AWARENESS − Preserve the Ghaf’s aesthetical and cultural significance
and encourage its conservation

The project is unique in its kind, with no other comparable initiative taking place in the UAE

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L O C A L PA R T N E R
Goumbook organisation aims to spread the
green wave throughout the Emirates

− Not-for-profit organization aiming at raising

awareness on sustainability and green
living.

− The Give a Ghaf planting program started

in 2010 and joined AccorHotels’ Plant for
the Planet program in 2014. Through the
partnership, the Give a Ghaf project moved
from seedling propagation to tree
plantation.

− 3 highly motivated volunteers dedicated to

Give a Ghaf project : the team has created
valuable connections with two
environmental engineers with extensive
work experience in Nature Reserves,
Conservation Area management, and
Landscaping, enhancing the team’s
knowledge on planting and maintenance
techniques.

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SEEDLING PRODUCTION
Goumbook organisation has developed
expertise in Ghaf seedling production

Before planting trees, Give a Ghaf team was

involved in seedling propagation, undertaking
experiments and sharing knowledge with
experienced third parties (conservation
managers, local inhabitants etc.).

Starting with a 10% survival rate, the team

now achieves over 50% in nursery.

KEY LEARNINGS

− Seeds grow best when placed in sand

without fertilizers or enrichment.

− Seed from wild Ghafs produce better

seedlings compared to « domesticated » Al Barari tree nursery has been hosting Goumbook seedlings since 2010
Ghafs subjected to irrigation

− Wild Ghaf seeds are sourced from nature reserves, and the surplus seeds are stocked in the fridge until plantation
− Filtering Ghaf seeds is necessary prior to sowing in order to sort out the best seeds. This is done by decantation in
water : viable seeds will sink while bad or rotten seeds will tend to float.

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P L A N TAT I O N M O D E L S
Three different models: line, grid, landscape

Ghaf plantations follow three different models: line

(fencing), grid and landscape.

The most common models were line and grid and

were overall well respected even though the spacing
was sometimes below optimal distance (4 meters).
Closer attention is now paid to the spacing with
spacing recommendations included in the short
briefing to outside planters.
Ghaf plantation from the 2015 plantation wave
following the grid model
The landscape model was applied in the desert
reserve. This model follows natural patterns of wild
Ghaf forests (by GPS tracking individual trees) and
reproduce the spacing between trees in the plantation
area. From an ecological point of view the model is
optimal, but it is labour, time and skill intensive.

In summary, plantation quality varied between sites

but was overall of a good standard.

Ghaf plantation in the Dubai Desert Conservation reserve,

reproducing a natural growth pattern

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I R R I G AT I O N S Y S T E M S
Irrigation is essential to reduce mortality risks

Ghaf trees require constant irrigation in the first

years after plantation until the roots reach the
ground water.
→ Assuring a reliable irrigation system, together
with regular check-ups are thus essential.

The water used for irrigation comes from either

treated sewage water or is directly drawn from the
ground. In some area, such as in the desert
reserve, the wells drawing the ground water are
solar-powered to reduce environmental impacts.

The installation of irrigation system can be water

intensive. Water consumption is however minimal Irrigation system implemented in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve.
Ground water can be as deep as 40 meters below surface.
compared to the water requirements of many exotic
species.

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PROGRESS
REPORT
2015-2016
P R O J E C T D E S I G N

AC T I V I T I E S &
M O N I T O R I N G

N E X T S T E P S

P I C T U R E S

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2 0 1 4 / 2 0 1 5 P L A N TAT I O N S
Eight plantation events in Dubai

Date Location # trees

August 2014 Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) 1000

February 2015 Warsan Landfill 100

May 2015 Jebel Ali Landfill 200

May 2015 Sofitel The Palm Hotel 5

Sept. – October 2015 Dubai Investment Park 500

October 2015 Al Qusais Landfill 400

December 2015 Tadweer landfill 300

On private sites (DDCR, Dubai Investment Park), plantations were carried

out by skilled and professional teams employed by the receiving party.

On municipal landfills, trees were mainly planted by volunteer helpers and

AccorHotels staff. Give a Ghaf provided additional training before
delivering the plants. Planting event at Warsan landfill (Feb 2015)

After one negative experience at one plantation site, where plastic pots and bags were discarded on the road site,
Give a Ghaf now commits to write a reminder email prior to delivery to insist on the proper disposal of plastics and
avoid environmental pollution.

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S I M R A N V E D V YA S A P P O I N T E D Y O U T H
A M B A S S A D O R O F T H E C A M PA I G N

Simran Vedvyas is the founder and

chairperson of SynergY, a youth advocacy
group that aims at educating and supporting
citizens, especially students, to take action for
health, the environment, education and
welfare.

At 17 years old only, she was nominated as the

Young Achiever of the Emirates Woman
Woman Of The Year Awards 2015 and has
attended more than 60 conferences throughout
the world.

Simran took part in all the landfill plantation

events in 2015, as part of a campaign aiming
at planting 1,000 Ghaf trees in Dubai “The Ghaf, also known as the ‘tree of the dunes’ and a solution to desertification, is
facing extinction due to rapid urbanization and SynergY is trying to reverse this process
Municipality with Goumbook and AccorHotels. by conservation and planting.” Simran Vedvyas

Her many honours and awards brought significant media attention on these events and helped shed light on the
importance of Ghaf trees to ecosystem balance and depollution.

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2 0 1 4 / 2 0 1 5 P L A N TAT I O N S
Encouraging mortality rates given extreme
conditions

# PLANNED TREES 2000

# PLANTED TREES 2500

2,28 ha
TOTAL PLANTED AREA / LINES
1267 meters

1 species : Prosopis cineraria

# SPECIES PLANTED AND MAIN USAGE
Beautification, depollution, ecosystem regeneration, cultural impacts

MORTALITY RATE
37%
(Monitoring 1)

Given the extreme conditions, a mortality rate of 37% is acceptable, especially for a first wave.

In particular in nature reserves, grazers such as oryx and gazelles can increase the mortality rates of seedlings.
However in areas where grazers are present, the seedlings were fitted with a protective cage.
In plantations where the highest mortality has been noticed, rates were explained by manipulation and technical
purposes, i.e. trees planted by children, as part of an educational event.

Mortality can therefore be alleviated in future similar planting events.

Regarding living trees, the Ghaf has been declared the national tree of the UAE and as such is under the protection
from the government. It is now illegal to cut down a Ghaf tree. Trees planted as part of the project are therefore
guaranteed to be left standing in the long-term.

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2 0 1 6 P L A N TAT I O N S
Four plantations events in three new Emirates

Date Location # trees

March 2016 Girl Guides Camp, Sharjah 130

March 2016 Marjan Hotel, Ras Al Khaimah 70

May 2016 Telal Reserve, Al Ain 300

June 2016 DDCR, Dubai 325

STATUS JUNE 2016

825 trees – the remaining of the 4,500 trees will be planted in
the cooler months between September and December.

The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve as well as Dubai

Investment Park have both agreed to plant large quantities of
Ghaf trees (1,000 to 2,000 individuals).

Ghaf plantation regularly take place within the DDCR.

Next plantation is expected to scale-up the number of trees
planted.

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I R R I G AT I O N S Y S T E M S
Trial of innovative water-efficient technology

In 2016 several innovative methods have been introduced

to reduce water consumption and the need for irrigation
altogether: cocooning and a device called ‘Groasis
Waterboxx’.

Designed by Pieter Hoff, the Groasis waterboxx is a 20-

inch by 10-inch box that serves as an incubator to help
trees survive through the initial part of their growing cycle.

The impact of such methods on tree survival rates needs

to be closely followed up and if proven successful
encouraged across the whole project.

The device captures rainwater and condensation to help

plants grow without additional irrigation in arid regions.

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STORIES
A few months after plantation, Ghaf trees had
promoted the establishment of a whole green
ecosystem

In 2015, the project planted 1,000 Ghaf trees in

landfills owned by the Dubai municipality.

The Ghaf seedlings attracted birds carrying

seeds in their intestines and the irrigation system
promoted their germination.

At the time of the visit only a few month after

plantation, a miniature forest of Ghafs and other
plants had sprouted out of the soil where there
was only wasteland and compacted sand before.

At this early stage the other plants are not

harmful to the Ghaf seedlings. On the contrary,
the vegetation is beneficial to the seedlings by
retaining moisture and by providing additional The Ghaf plantation has transformed the barren wasteland of the landfill into a
green landscape
protection. Once grown, the Ghaf trees will
contribute to the depollution of the area.

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PROGRESS
REPORT
2015-2016
P R O J E C T D E S I G N

A C T I V I T I E S &
M O N I T O R I N G

N E X T S T E P S

P I C T U R E S
ACHIEVEMENTS & AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT

The dissipation of environmental knowledge to the public is a valuable attribute

ASSIMILATION of the project. During plantation events, participants gain a new understanding
of the native ecosystem whilst assimilating the project’s long-term benefits.

The integration of direct beneficiaries could be drastically increased if Ghaf

INTEGRATION trees were planted on agricultural lands. The city of Al Ain is well-known for its
agricultural practices and represents an option for forthcoming plantations.

The DDCR is conducting independent research on the effects of grazers on

desert vegetation. Results of such studies could have interesting implications
RESEARCH for future plantations. Additional support from university and scientific institution
are recommended to strengthen the knowledge and broaden the reach in terms
of knowledge creation and dissemination.

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PERSPECTIVES

An interesting perspective for 2016 and 2017 planting waves is the potential
to plant Ghaf trees with farmers in Al Ain, known for its agricultural practices
TARGET
with large scale farms dominating the landscape.
AGRICULTURAL → Ideal setting for reintroducing the Ghaf tree on farms.
LANDS → Farmers are usually wealthy, nonetheless reintroducing the Ghaf tree on
farms will have cultural and environmental benefits.

Several meetings have taken place between the organizers of the World
Expo and Give a Ghaf team. The progress of this venture is waiting for the
EXPO 2020 DUBAI definite urbanization plan – the areas for landscaping are not yet defined.
→ High visibility opportunity.

The manager of the current nursery is very favourable towards the project
but the place for Give a Ghaf seedlings is not guaranteed in the long-term,
SEEDLING
as they need more space to grow their own seedlings.
PRODUCTION → Directly planting seeds into the sand will be explored as an alternative
solution due to satisfying tests.

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PROGRESS
REPORT
2015-2016
P R O J E C T D E S I G N

A C T I V I T I E S &
M O N I T O R I N G

N E X T S T E P S

P I C T U R E S
Al Barari tree nursery, currently providing space for Give a Ghaf seedling production.

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Direct seed planting experiment: first tests show encouraging germination results and will be
conducted again to assess its relevance for the project.
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Plantation event in Warsan landfill (2015) with volunteer helpers and AccorHotels staff.
The Warsan landfill plantation event enabled to plant 100 of the 1,000 Ghaf trees planted with Simran Vedvyas
within the Plant for the Planet program.
AccorHotels organised in May 2015 a special event to plant 5 Ghaf trees in Sofitel The Palm’s garden.

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The Ghaf plantation has transformed the barren wasteland of the landfill into a green landscape.

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Birds and other animals have been spotted in greater numbers in afforested areas.
Until Ghaf trees are grown enough, they are surrounded by a protective cage.
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Ghaf plantation in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, reproducing a natural growth pattern.

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