ESO installs new signage in Damaniyat Islands Nature Reserve

THE Environment Society of Oman (ESO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Climatic Affairs, last week installed new signage to increase public awareness of the biodiversity and environmental stewardship within the Damaniyat Islands Nature Reserve (DINR).

A team of 17 people from CarillionAlawi installed a total of ve signs on four different islands within Oman’s only marine protected area. Two signs were installed on Jabal Kabeer and one each on Qismah, Kharaba, and Joon Islands.

The bilingual Arabic-English signage has taken several months of planning and development and has involved three other partners. Oman Sail funded the project and under ESO’s supervision Saif Design designed and printed the artwork and CarillionAlawi installed the signs. ESO made sure to use local material for the installation of signs, with bags lled with local sand rather than utilising concrete and other potentially polluting material.

Attending the installation last week, Ma a Sarrouf, Projects Manager at the Environment Society of Oman com- mented: “This signage is tremendously important in advancing the preservation of the Damaniyat Islands Nature Reserve, a treasured part of Oman’s natural heritage. The islands are a popular destination for Omanis, expatriate residents and tourists. We felt it was important to increase public awareness of the Damaniyat Islands biodiversity within this unique habitat, as well as educate the visitor’s responsibility to help preserve the environment in and around these beautiful islands.”

With special permits issued by the Ministry of Environment and Climatic affairs, members of the public regularly visit and step ashore to enjoy the Damaniyat Islands Nature Reserve. This signage will directly spread public awareness of the biodiversity of the Damaniyat Islands Nature Reserve, as well as raise the importance of practicing good environmental stewardship and the signi cance of protecting this unique habitat.