Friday, March 29, 2024 | Ramadan 18, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Cut pollution not Trees

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It’s just the beginning of summer and the country has already begun to feel the pinch of scorching heat. Open parking, middle of the road where one would run for the slightest sight of a shade, small, narrow residential bylanes literally boiled by air conditioners from either side, etc are all triggering thoughts of a greener and healthier environment packed with trees all over.


How many of us are aware that trees give off oxygen that we need to breathe and they reduce the amount of storm water runoff, which reduces erosion and pollution in our waterways and even reduce the effects of flooding?


ecological balance


How many of us know that most of the species of wildlife that maintain the equilibrium among the creatures depend on trees for habitats? Did we know that trees provide food, protection and homes for many birds and mammals?


Thanks to the Muscat Municipality’s efforts, trees and plants are saved from the rising mercury, whether in the plains or along the rugged mountains, and they are kept hale and hearty throughout the


summer.


But, a decline in the number of trees will result in more carbon emissions and less purified oxygen.


educating people


A recent UN report suggests that our environment is getting hotter by 1 degree Celsius and it has already touched 45 degrees Celsius as we face a scorching summer.


It sheds further light on the fact that the global temperatures have gone up since 1880 while Arctic ice is decreasing, and sea levels rising. The Environment Society of Oman (ESO), along with other NGOs and good Samaritans, is educating and generating awareness on environmental issues and urging people to plant a sapling for tomorrow.


As part of the ‘Let’s Plant One’ campaign held at the Salalah Applied Science College under the auspices of Shaikh Salim bin Ufait al Shanfari, Head of Dhofar Municipality, some time ago it celebrated the successful planting of some 6,000 native trees in the Dhofar Governorate. It was sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Conservation and Environmental Grants and Port of Salalah.


Deforestation is the greatest threat to the survival of so many species, including human beings, and


protecting and restoring our natural habitat is absolutely crucial.


“For every tree cut, we must plant at least 2 trees and we must plant at least 5 trees per head in every monsoon, and care for them just as we do to our own children,” says Rabyab Sidhiq, an environmentalist.


Benefits of having more trees


Trees reduce the urban heat island effect through evaporative cooling and reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches parking lots and buildings.


This is especially true in areas with large impervious surfaces, such as parking lots of stores and


industrial complexes.


Trees improve our air quality by filtering harmful dust and pollutants such as ozone, carbon monoxide,


and sulfur dioxide from the air we breathe.


Trees reduce the amount of storm water runoff, which reduces erosion and pollution in our waterways and may reduce the effects of flooding.


Many species of wildlife depend on trees for habitat. Trees provide food, protection and homes for many


birds and mammals.


KABEER YOUSUF


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