Drive to plant more trees in summer

Muscat Municipality has embarked upon an afforestation drive to plant more native trees in public areas like walkways, roadsides, gardens and parks to spread shade and reduce irrigation water during the sweltering months of summer.

This initiative is based on the concept that native shrubs have the ability to withstand drought, high temperatures and require fewer water resulting in lesser irrigation activities on a daily basis.

"We have embarked upon an initiative to plant more local saplings and trees in public areas," said Khalid al Khanbashi, spokesperson at Muscat Municipality.

"The first one being an afforestation drive to offer more areas of tree shade for people and secondly, to plant trees that saves."

Additionally, a part of the landscaping works also involves removing harmful and invasive trees that threaten the surroundings draw more water resources. As for sustainability purposes, tree waste are recycled and used in the manufacture of organic fertilisers to be used for plants in the public areas. In this way, this process of preserving the environment and ensuring its sustainability is integrated, as well as making the city healthy, clean and free of pollutants.

The trees that grow in the arid climate include gray mangrove, small Acacia trees called Simr and shrubs such as Tamarix and Sidr which is also known as Christ's thorn. Simr is one of the most common trees in Oman and they are found on the coastal regions, foothills and plains. S

Al Shu’a trees are one of the trees that can withstand the arid climate and are considered to be one of the perennial wild plants that grow in the wadis and the foothills of the mountains. These trees that adorn the mountains and valleys of the Sultanate of Oman, especially in the northern governorate, blossom between March and April especially in the dry season.

Other trees that are being planted include chaste tree, a flowering shrub that thrives in subtropical regions, common bean, desert rose and umbrella thorn acacia