MORE than 1,000 people in Bahrain have signed an online petition calling for a halt to the destruction of the historic Buhair Valley, a 45-million-year-old natural landmark located in East Riffa.
Titled ‘Save Wadi Al Buhair’, the change.org petition initially aimed to collect 100 signatures but since its launch it has been garnering numerous shares on social media and dozens of impassioned comments.
“Wadi Al Buhair was one of the most significant and beautiful gems in Bahrain,” said the petition launched by Bahraini geologist Nadine Al Araifi.
“It has slowly become a waste site/dumping ground and now instead of preserving the area and trying to restore it, it is being bulldozed for a new mall and other developments.
“Our geological heritage and a whole ecosystem of plants, bird species and invertebrates are at risk,” she told the GDN.
“Although developments have already begun, it may not be too late to preserve what is left.”
Ms Al Araifi’s plea is part of a rising wave of concern, both among the local community and experts alike, triggered by the quickening pace of development projects in the valley.
In a statement marking World Environment Day, the Environment Friends Society (EFS) criticised the development work and urged authorities to take immediate action.
“An urgent decision needs to be taken regarding the reckless way this irreplaceable geological landmark has been treated,” it said.
“The Buhair Valley’s valuable geological properties will be lost forever if the destruction is not stopped now.
“In fact, parts of the valley have already been destroyed.”
Bahraini hydro-geologist (study of groundwater) Dr Mubarak Al Noaimi explained the valley’s importance, known in Arabic as Wadi Al Buhair – ‘wadi’ meaning valley and ‘buhair’ meaning ‘little sea’.
“Buhair Valley has many examples of geological phenomena completely unique to Bahrain,” the retired Bahrain University geology professor told the GDN.
“It contains 45-million-year-old fossils that cannot be found anywhere else!” he emphasised.
“The rock formations belong to the middle Eocene epoch, between 40 to 48 million years ago.
“The fossils are the shells left behind by single-celled organisms known as foraminifera, which would bore holes into the limestone and leave behind empty spaces after they decompose.”
Meanwhile, the ongoing project to level Buhair Valley is well underway.
The GDN toured the site and found that about two-thirds of the valley has already been levelled including a large unique formation known as ‘mesa’ which was completely demolished last month.
Southern Municipal Council services and public utilities committee chairman and area councillor Abdulla Abdullatif said assurances have been given that work is currently being halted, pending a decision by the authorities.
“The remaining cliffs will be kept 100 per cent,” he said.
“Because many houses have been built on the cliffside, the rocks cannot be disturbed. Only the bottom parts are being trimmed and levelled.”
In the past few weeks concerned citizens and residents have organised many tours of the terrain, inviting photographers, architects and environment lovers.
More than 50 people took part in ‘Wading through Wadi Al Buhair’ last month, a walk through the valley organised by the creator of the MapBH project which tracks changes in Bahrain’s terrain and shoreline.
MapBH founder Ahmed Almutawa launched the “SaveWadiAlBuhair” hashtag.
He also posted an open letter on his site mapbh.org, which aims to document reclamation, deforestation, urbanisation and habitat destruction in Bahrain.
zainab@gdn.com.bh
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