Ongoing awareness campaigns to grow as many plants as possible have resulted in the formation of volunteer groups to take care of the arduous task of tree plantation to save the environment.
This is common to see people engaged in plantations here and there in several parts of the Sultanate of Oman.
Convinced by the challenge of looming afforestation, the members of the civil society are calling upon people to 'save the environment by planting trees.'
Most of the planting campaigns that volunteers carry out focus on local trees, the most important being Sidr, Ghaf, Shereesh, Talh, Sarh, Alalan, Albut, Qurum and Frankincense trees. These trees do not require much water to grow. They can tolerate dry weather for a long time.
The number of volunteers is increasing, and so is the plantation drive. Expansion of green spaces, especially in areas affected by climate change during the past ten years, is the volunteers' priority.
There are areas badly affected by climate change in torrential rains and floods that swept thousands of trees.
The government authorities also continue their strategies to support the efforts. The Environment Authority announced the launch of the "Ashgar Initiative" aimed at combating desertification, reducing land degradation and preserving wild plants by replanting them.
There is a national initiative to plant 10 million trees, which aims to improve biodiversity and protect threatened species. It will help lower temperature and absorb carbon dioxide to reduce the effects of climate change and pollution.
According to the latest official statistics, more than 1,400 plant species have been registered in the Sultanate of Oman.
Due to awareness, many house owners have started planting local trees to help save the environment.
TEXT & PHOTOS BY YAHYA AL SALMANI
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