Muscat: In a groundbreaking initiative known as the Oman Blue Carbon project, the Environment Authority and MSA Green Projects Company have teamed up to plant 100 million mangrove trees across the Sultanate of Oman. This ambitious project aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 14 million tonnes and promises to enhance the natural environment while generating an estimated economic benefit of around $150 million.
As part of the National Zero Carbon Strategy 2050, this project targets planting 100 million mangrove trees in the Al Wusta Governorate, specifically in Shanna, Al Najda, Film, and Dharf Hitam.
The event happened under the auspices of Dr Saud bin Hamoud al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, and was attended by Dr Abdullah bin Ali al Amari, Environment Authority Chairman and the CEO of MSA Green Projects.
The project encompasses a vast 20,000-hectare area, with each mangrove tree projected to absorb 12.3 kilograms of carbon dioxide annually. The investment phase spans a 27-year timeline, with carbon proceeds allocated as follows: The Authority will receive 30 per cent of the carbon returns in the initial decade, 70 per cent in the subsequent six years, and 90 per cent in the final nine years.
The project will create many direct and indirect job opportunities and positively contribute to the local economy. Community engagement is also anticipated, with approximately 5% of the profits being channelled back into the community.
The government of Oman has had a long-standing interest in mangrove trees that thrive along the coast and in high-salinity waters due to their unique biological characteristics and diverse environmental advantages. These include their remarkable ability to absorb substantial amounts of carbon dioxide, surpassing even tropical forests in this regard, thereby contributing to mitigating global warming.
The Qurum Natural Reserve in Muscat is declared a protected natural area through the Royal Decree (35/1975).
The Environment Authority has been diligently working to ensure the sustainability of mangrove trees and their natural marine habitats. The Authority has planted nearly 797,760 seedlings at 32 locations throughout Oman, utilising modern techniques for sowing one million seeds and manually planting an additional 1,500,000. They have also undertaken the task of cleaning water channels and conducting awareness and environmental education campaigns to underscore the significance of these plantations.
Oman is home to a single species of mangrove tree, Avicennia Marina, which adapts to the Omani environment characterised by hot weather and limited freshwater resources.
These trees can be found along the coastline from the northern Al Batinah Governorate to the southern Dhofar Governorate. Currently, the collective area covered by mangrove trees in Oman is approximately 1,000 hectares. Archaeological findings in the Qurum Natural Reserve in Muscat have unveiled the presence of mangrove trees, used by fishermen for over four millennia.
These trees are also distributed in Bandar Al Khairan and Qurayat in Muscat, Khor Al Qurm Al Kabir and Khor Al Qurm Al Saghir in Dhofar, as well as in Shinas and Liwa in Al Batinah, Khor Sur and Grama in the Al Sharqiyah South Governorate, and Mahout.
The project encompasses a vast 20,000-hectare area, with each mangrove tree projected to absorb 12.3 kilograms of carbon dioxide annually
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
