BAHRAIN’S ongoing efforts to increase green cover by planting trees and saplings are bearing fruit, images posted on social media by the National Space Science Agency (NSSA) show.
The high-resolution ‘before and after’ images of Al Farooq Junction in Manama show a 40 per cent increase in green coverage between 2019 and 2023.
The area was monitored as part of the ‘Forever Green’ initiative launched by the National Initiative for Agricultural Development in October 2021.
“This initiative aims to boost Bahrain’s green coverage and highlight its commitment to agriculture and biological diversity,” said the NSSA on the occasion of International Day for Biological Diversity which was marked yesterday.
“Together, we strive to enhance Bahrain’s natural beauty, reduce climate change impacts and promote sustainable development.”
This year, the day was observed under the theme ‘Be Part of the Plan’.
This is a call to action to encourage governments, indigenous people and local communities, non-governmental organisations, legislators, businesses and individuals to highlight the ways in which they are supporting the implementation of the Biodiversity Plan.
Thousands of trees and shrubs are being planted across Bahrain as part of the ‘Forever Green’ campaign.
The second phase of the campaign (October 2022 to June last year) resulted in the planting of 50,814 trees and shrubs on an area of 13,589 square metres and 10,288 linear metres.
The second phase witnessed the completion of 57 afforestation projects in public parks, walkways, public transport stations, health centres, schools, parking lots, waterfronts and public streets in various governorates.
The total cost of the second phase amounted to BD177,686 provided by the private sector and various institutions, and 11 local agricultural companies benefited from the implementation of these projects.
The GDN reported last year that Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak said Bahrain is on track with its plans to double the amount of trees in the kingdom from 1.8 million to 3.6m trees by 2035.
The green initiatives aim to expand the green areas and achieve environmental balance as part of Bahrain’s continuous efforts to reduce carbon emissions by 50pc by 2035, and reach zero neutrality in 2060.
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