Making Oman green
Citizen from Ibri launches initiative to distribute wild plant saplings
Acitizen has launched an initiative called ‘ Green Environment’ to increase green areas in the sultanate and spread awareness on the importance of wild trees.
Mohammed Saeed al Hinai, 42, from the wilayat of Ibri, who launched the initiative, says he has made it a mission to contribute tirelessly in making Oman green by providing thousands of wild plant saplings, which he grows in his own nursery.
Hinai said, “I started distributing wild plant saplings in 2018. I created a small nursery at home and till now I have successfully grown 3,000 saplings.”
The initiative also aims to encourage community members to plant wild trees.
“I distributed wild trees and seeds to some government and private agencies and schools in Dhofar, Dhahirah, Batinah, Dakhliyah and Sharqiyah governorates.”
In order to encourage school students to plant wild indigenous trees, Hinai said he conducted several workshops for some schools in Muscat, South Batinah and Dhahirah.
“I hope to continue planting and distributing seedlings in all the wilayats of the sultanate to make Oman’s environment green,” he said, adding that preserving biological diversity and protecting wildlife is everyone’s responsibility and an obligation of every individual, whether a citizen or a resident of the sultanate.
“My initiative aims to cultivate seedlings of the local tree varieties, such as Sidr, Ghaf and Samar, which are among the plants that can be grown in the arid climate of the sultanate.”
Recognising Hinai’s efforts, the Environment Authority (EA) and some schools honoured him recently.
He said he collects seeds of wild plants from different regions of the sultanate, from the valleys, plains and mountains.
I started distributing wild plant saplings in 2018. I created a small nursery at home and till now I have successfully grown 3,000 saplings
MOHAMMED SAEED AL HINAI
“I’ve made a small area in my house into a nursery and also established a seed bank.”
Talking about the challenges, Hinai said that life is all about overcoming odds.
“I have faced many challenges, such as lack of financial support, and finding enough water for irrigation of plants.”
Talking about his plans for the future he said, “I am seeking to obtain a plot of land to establish a special reserve for wild plants to be a knowledge source for students of schools and universities. I also plant to establish the largest nursery for the cultivation of wild plants in Oman. I hope all members of the community will cooperate in planting wild trees to make Oman’s environment green.”