ROOTS OF GREEN OMAN
THE SULTANATE OF OMAN produced around 374,000 tonnes of dates by the end of 2021, marking an increase of 2.2 per cent over 2020 when the net recorded production was 366,383 tonnes. According to signsdirect.com, wild ancestor species of the date palm were discovered in remote and isolated mountainous locations in the Sultanate of Oman.
There are about 300 cultivated varieties of dates in the country. This traditional crop is now benefiting from modern technology. For example, Wakan Tech has introduced Artificial intelligence (AI) and specially designed drones with tanks and nozzles to optimise liquid pollen to each palm tree.
There is another tree that was on the top of the list centuries ago. Frankincense tree, one of the most ancient trees, can be seen in Wadi Dawkah in Dhofar. In 1998, the frankincense tree was categorised as ‘Near Threatened’ on the IUCN Red List. This year, the Environment Society of Oman was awarded a special grant by the British Embassy in Muscat to support two conservation projects; Population Assessment of Frankincense in Oman, and Fishing Net Collection and Recycling on Masirah Island.
A field team consisting of ESO, Wageningen University and Research, Fair Source Botanicals LLC and Mendel University in Brno conducted a three-month survey of the frankincense tree.
According to Suaad al Harthi, Executive Director of ESO, the survey enabled the team to map the distribution of frankincense trees in Dhofar and saw the establishment of permanent study sites to evaluate the long-term population ecology.
The focus is also on assessing the various threats the tree faces and engaging “with local stakeholders to build local capacity to survey and protect the trees in the future.”
Now there is another unique tree to Dhofar, and that is the baobab tree seen in the sites such as
Wadi Hanna, east of Salalah, Dhalkout. They are mysterious in their own way as they are mainly found in the African continent. Today the sites are popular with tourists and measures are taken to preserve them - a drive that has seen protection for many more endogenous species by the Environment Authority of Oman.
But one of the first initiatives that were taken to protect trees was for the mangroves, which resulted in creating the Qurum Nature Reserve by virtue of a Royal Decree in 1975. Today it not only supports marine life but is a haven for migratory birds. Yet another fascinating reality is that coconut trees thrive naturally only in Salalah compared to the whole of the GCC countries, making it a special agricultural produce of Oman. Not to forget are the wild olives over the Jabal Al Akhdhar and the potential of growing olive trees up there.
According to the Environment Authority, there are 44,398 planted trees, and the available trees are 49,830. There are 16 nurseries supporting the initiative. Many individuals have also joined the drive by collecting seeds and providing saplings of native trees of the Sultanate of Oman.
“The idea of this initiative came as a continuation of the efforts to raise awareness and educate the community to preserve wild plants, combat desertification and participate in increasing the green area in the Sultanate of Oman,” said a source in the Environment Authority on the national initiative to plant 10 million trees.
It was launched on January 8, 2020, in coordination with Petroleum Development Oman and in partnership with various sectors such as government, private sectors and civil society. Desertification is a challenge many countries are trying to tackle as it leads to land degradation and loss of plant wealth, eventually impacting a country’s biodiversity.
This year on Omani Tree Day, the initiative took further momentum as the day was celebrated by planting and distributing hundreds of native tree saplings and seeds. Many saplings were planted in various regions of Oman, and even the schools participated in the campaign.
The year has also seen an agreement signed between the Environment Authority and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning to increase tree planting and greenery around the residential neighbourhoods. Yet another location the initiative is reaching out to is the industrial zones.
Today planting a tree is an option and an opportunity each individual can explore in the country.
NOW THERE IS ANOTHER UNIQUE TREE TO DHOFAR, AND THAT IS THE BAOBAB TREE SEEN IN THE SITES SUCH AS WADI HANNA, EAST OF SALALAH, DHALKOUT. THEY ARE MYSTERIOUS IN THEIR OWN WAY AS THEY ARE MAINLY FOUND IN THE AFRICAN CONTINENT
THE GOVERNMENT IS SPEARHEADING A DRIVE TO PLANT 10 MILLION TREES ACROSS THE NATION TO PRESERVE WILD PLANTS, COMBAT DESERTIFICATION AND PARTICIPATE IN INCREASING THE GREEN AREA