Govt to speed up nature reserve tourism projects

MUSCAT: The Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs represented by the Directorate-General of Nature Conservation seeks to preserve natural resources through laying down laws and regulations pertaining to the management of conservation of nature reserves, according to Sulaiman al Akhzami, Director-General of Nature Conservation at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs. In the Sultanate of Oman, nature reserves are established by Royal Decrees as protected areas managed by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, Al Akhzami said in an interview. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs has laid down plans and programmes that are suitable for nature tourism. The ministry currently focuses on several nature reserves including the As Saleel Nature Park in South Al Sharqiyah Governorate through implementing and developing a plan for nature tourism. Besides, the ministry will speed up the implementation of touristic plans in Qurm Nature Reserve in Muscat Governorate, Al Jabel Al Akhdhar Sanctuary for Natural Sceneries, the Wetlands Nature Reserve in Al Wusta Governorate and the Turtles Reserve in South Al Sharqiyah Governorate. The ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism has laid down regulations for investing in nature reserves in a way that preserves biodiversity while working to achieve the goal for which these reserves were set up, Al Akhzami said. Asked about the most prominent challenges facing nature reserves in the Sultanate, Al Akhzami said: “Nature reserves face a number of challenges such as the increasing population and economic activities which affect the wildlife and the safety of natural habitats. Lack of finance restrains infrastructure development which, in turn, affects the management and protection of natural resources.”