Muscat: The Environment Authority (EA) has launched a new campaign to plant two million mangrove seeds in the governorates of North al Batinah, Al Sharqiyah South, and Al Wusta, aimed at preserving the ecosystems in coastal wetlands.
As part of the national initiative to plant 10 million trees, the campaign will be conducted in two phases. Badr bin Saif al Busaidi, in charge of managing the work of the Wetlands Management Department at the Environment Agency, said "The first stage of seed collection came from the Qurum Natural Reserve in the Governorate of Muscat, which were transported to the target sites and kept in air-conditioned places at a temperature of 23 to 26-degree Celsisus to avoid damage."
Seeds were planted at four sites spread over a total area of about 90 hectares or 900,000 sqm in 17 days.
He explained that the benefits of mangroves lie in mitigating the effects of climate change through their ability to sequester and absorb greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, and also contribute to improving the protection of the shores from storms and floods, and to enhancing fish stocks.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
