Muscat – Environment Authority (EA) marked World Wetlands Day on Wednesday with an event at Qurum Nature Reserve in Muscat held under the theme ‘Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future’.

The event focused on raising environmental awareness, promoting community engagement and underlining the importance of wetlands in achieving sustainable development goals.

EA highlighted the environmental and economic importance of wetlands, stressing their role in maintaining ecological balance, supporting biodiversity, and providing essential resources and services for human well-being. Wetlands also serve as critical natural systems, offering freshwater, aiding water purification, supporting agriculture, and acting as natural carbon sinks to combat climate change.

An exhibition accompanied the event, showcasing the diversity of Oman’s wetlands through interactive displays. These included information on natural resources derived from wetlands, key environmental elements and EA’s conservation projects. Several public and private organisations participated, presenting their initiatives aimed at wetland protection.

In 2023, EA implemented several projects to bolster wetland conservation, including planting 4mn mangrove seeds in coastal governorates and an additional 54,000 mangrove seedlings to strengthen coastal ecosystems. A comprehensive study was also carried out to monitor changes in wetlands across 59 sites in the sultanate.

The ongoing Oman Blue Carbon Project aims to enhance carbon sequestration capabilities of wetlands. The authority is also conducting bird and wildlife surveys in wetlands to support biodiversity conservation.

Oman’s wetlands remain a cornerstone for environmental and economic sustainability, providing crucial support for agriculture and local communities, while contributing significantly to global efforts in climate change mitigation and ecological preservation.