EPA keen to support Jahra nature reserve
KUWAIT: Minister of Public Works Hussam Al-Roumi affirmed yesterday Kuwait Environment Public Authority’s (EPA) keenness to preserve environment in the country and back Jahra nature reserve, which currently sees a unique wildlife due to efforts by wildlife protection institutions. Roumi, also Minister of State for Municipal Affairs, made his remarks on sidelines of his field visit to Jahra nature reserve to implement the second phase of EPA’s project to plant grey mangrove (Avicennia marina).
The reserve thrives on local and migratory birds and other creatures, which show EPA’s keenness to preserve such diversity and protect it from extinction, he noted. Currently, there are future schemes to increase production of animals and grey mangrove inside the reserve, Roumi said, disclosing intention to transfer such plans to other environments in Kuwait such as Bubiyan Island.
Meanwhile, EPA’s Director General Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah stated the goal behind planting grey mangrove is to increase biological diversification inside the reserve’s coastal environment. Such a step is one of EPA’s projects aimed to enrich the environment and increase arable lands in all around Kuwait, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ahmad said, adding there are also plans to increase the number of nature reserves and biological diversity in the country. Planting grey mangrove would significantly contribute in enriching the coastal environment, increasing wildlife creatures, and fish habitats in Kuwait, said the senior official.
Jahra nature reserve is one of EPA’s main reserves and an environmental tourist attraction, Sheikh Abdullah AlAhmad noted, adding EPA has allowed school students and research bodies to visit the reserve and conduct studies in it. He also said the reserve would soon be open to the public during the winter season to enable citizens and residents enjoy the natural sections inside it, adding the place contains five different environmental areas; freshwater, coastal, marine, sea, and desert. On pollution incidents in Doha and Fintas areas, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ahmad mentioned that EPA is closely following the situations there and currently awaiting latest laboratory results of the samples taken from Doha and Fintas beaches, urging citizens and residents to inform the Authority about any environmental accident in order to allow EPA teams to intervene swiftly and contain the hazard.
Furthermore, Sheikh Abdullah said that an agreement was made with relevant bodies, including Kuwait Municipality, to use new locations for spring camps that are not too far from residential areas to reduce camping in remote and border areas. Speaking during the visit, Sheikh Abdullah said the EPA urged Kuwait Municipality to provide enough garbage containers near the camps during the camping season which starts on November 15 and ends on March 15. — KUNA