Ministry plants mangroves in Al-Thakhira Reserve

Mangroves ready to be planted

The Environmental Protection Reserves and Wildlife Department of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change organised an awareness-raising event to collect seeds and plant 300 mangroves in Al-Thakhira Reserve. The ministry carried out this event in conjunction with the flowering and shedding season of mangroves, and in cooperation with a number of civil society organizations, where the participating experts provided explanations about mangroves and the method of planting them, as well as the method of collecting seeds correctly. The mangroves perform important environmental functions, including protecting coastal areas from the effects of wind, waves and water currents, conserving biodiversity, protecting coral reefs, seagrass habitats, and shipping lanes, providing suitable breeding grounds for marine organisms, providing nutrients for a variety of fish and shellfish, including commercial species, in addition to their prominent role in absorbing blue carbon and releasing oxygen. Mangroves are spread along the northeastern coast of the State, and the Department of Wildlife Development plans to cultivate and protect them as part of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change's plan to expand their cultivation.