Muscat: Specialists of the Environment Authority (EA) discovered and documented a rare species of trees in Oman and in the Arab world. It was found in several areas in the Wilayat of Al Mazyounah, Dhofar Governorate.
This tree was spotted earlier in 2020. A specialized team from the EA conducted a research on the tree. It is a flowering tree that attracts bees. It is a pasture tree that plays a major role in the ecosystem in the region.
Ali Salim Akaak, Wildlife Specialist at the EA, affirmed that flora and fauna in the Sultanate always dazzles us with new, unique, unregistered and unclassified plants in the region. EA, in cooperation with the departments concerned, is exerting efforts to preserve, define, document and protect this unique eco-diversity.
He added that steps are underway to enhance cooperation between the EA team and the team of the Oman Botanic Garden of the Diwan of Royal Court. Samples of the newly-discovered tree were taken for the purpose of research and study and as an attempt to cultivate them, which showed a great success.
He further said that the team, in cooperation with the Oman Botanic Garden's team, contacted botanists in the region from Saudi Arabia and Yemen who confirmed that the tree was not previously registered in the GCC states.
Akaak also added that communication was established with Professor Tony Miller, an expert on plants in the Royal Edinburgh Gardens in the United Kingdom who is interested in documenting wild plants in the Arab countries. He affirmed that it is a new species of trees in the Arab world. It was earlier registered in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
He pointed out that EA specialists are in contact with international organizations to register this tree. A research is being conducted to study the tree to be classified officially as the first tree of its type in the Arab world. --ONA
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