Muscat – Environment Authority (EA) has announced the planting of over 16mn wild seeds, marking a significant milestone in its national initiative to plant 10mn indigenous trees.
The announcement was made on the occasion of World Environment Day observed on June 5, underscoring Oman’s commitment to environmental conservation.
Speaking to Muscat Daily, an EA official stressed on the global significance of World Environment Day in raising awareness and fostering collective action for environmental preservation.
This year, Oman aligns with the international community’s focus on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience under the slogan ‘Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration.’
Under the UN Environment Programme, Saudi Arabia is host of the 2024 World Environment Day global celebrations.
In an effort to combat desertification and land degradation, EA has spearheaded various initiatives, including the national drive launched in 2020 to plant 10mn wild trees nationwide in ten years.
Towards this end, the authority has planted more than 16mn wild seeds and over 900,000 mangroves. Additionally, 373,000 wild saplings have been distributed for plantation across different governorates.
The 10mn wild trees plantation initiative includes ghaf, al samar and sidr for which nurseries are being set up.
To facilitate tree planting, the authority has initiated the construction of Green Belt fences in Dhofar. Forty-five fences are currently being installed. Additionally, awareness campaigns targeting diverse community groups have been launched to advocate farming and the preservation of green spaces.
Emphasising EA’s commitment to strategic planning, the national plan to combat desertification undergoes updates every ten years, with the 2018-2030 plan currently in progress. Efforts are underway to develop a national plan to combat drought in collaboration with the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development.
Day of action against illegal fishing
Represented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, the sultanate marked International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing on June 5.
The ministry affirmed its commitment to marine conservation by participating in the global celebration.
Oman was the first country in the Near East and North Africa region to join the Agreement on Port State Measures, which is the first binding international agreement to specifically target illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The ministry has implemented a series of robust legislations and policies designed to safeguard marine resources, ensuring their sustainability and proper management. These measures are part of a broader strategy to treat fisheries as renewable resources that must be preserved for future generations.
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