THE second phase of the national afforestation campaign, Forever Green, continued yesterday with a ceremony at the National Charter Monument in Sakhir.
More than 25,000 trees and shrubs, including 10,000 mangroves and 10,000 ghaf, will be planted at more than 40 sites across the kingdom as part of this phase.
National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD) secretary-general Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa said the monument was chosen for the campaign as it ‘is a location that unifies us all’.
The event included a ceremony where saplings planted at the venue were watered for the first time. It was attended by dignitaries from Bahrain and the UAE.
The campaign is being held under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty King Hamad and Supreme Council for Women president, and NIAD Advisory Council chairperson.
The drive is supported by the Royal Humanitarian Foundation and implemented in co-operation with the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry and the Supreme Council for Environment.
The UAE Embassy, the UAE Climate Change and Environment Ministry, and the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi also played a major role by donating seeds.
“The UAE Embassy was among the first to reach out to us to participate in the campaign,” said Shaikha Maram.
“They reached out to the authorities in their country who sent us the donations.”
An estimated 15,000 ghaf seeds and 250,000 mangrove seeds were donated by the UAE.
“It will help us achieve our environmental goals,” said Shaikha Maram.
“This is the first time since the campaign kicked off that we have received a donation of this size, so we are very thankful to the UAE.”
Last month, a total of 3,383 trees and shrubs were planted along the National Charter Highway. The aim of the campaign is to support the state’s strategies through co-ordination with the public and private sectors to implement afforestation projects and expand green areas in the country.
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