Workshop held to fight Parthenium in Dhofar
As part of its efforts to eradicate the invasive species Parthenium in Dhofar, the Environment Authority, in cooperation with its partners from government agencies and the private sector, held a workshop on the authority’s office premises on Sunday.
The Parthenium plant is harmful to nature, causes soil erosion and has the ability to grow in large areas.
Dr Ahmed bin Mohsin al Ghassani, chairman of Dhofar Municipality, said that the field team has made great efforts in the past to eliminate the plant. “Official efforts joined together with community efforts in most regions of Dhofar to eradicate and remove it from various residential and pastoral areas, in an attempt to protect Dhofar’s environment from harmful invasive plant species, and to reduce impact of this plant on the environment,” he said.
Dr Ali al Subhi from Sultan Qaboos University gave a presentation on the preparation of a map of the spread of the plant in Dhofar governorate.
H E Sayyid Mohammed bin Sultan al Busaidi, Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar, recently issued Ministerial Decision No 189/2020 to form a joint working group to deal with the Parthenium plant in the governorate.
The team undertakes research study on the invasive species, the mechanism of dealing with it, and will coordinate with the private sector to ensure the integration of community efforts.
The team, headed by Dr Ghassani, includes a number of officials and experts.