A testing phase for introducing hydro-seeding technology in Bahrain has been given the green light by the government, following a proposal submitted by the Northern Municipal Council to support the kingdom’s national afforestation and landscape beautification drive.
In official written comments presented yesterday, Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry Municipal Affairs Under-Secretary Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa welcomed initiatives presented by municipal councils that contribute to strengthening national greening and beautification plans, praising ongoing efforts to expand green areas and increase vegetation cover across Bahrain.
He confirmed that the proposal to use hydro-seeding – a modern planting technique that involves spraying a mixture of water, seeds, fertilisers, organic fibres and natural binding agents onto soil – will be implemented initially on a trial basis to assess its effectiveness. Results from the pilot phase will be evaluated in preparation for the possible nationwide adoption of the technique in line with Bahrain’s National Greening Plan.
“We are very much interested in this technique and believe it could be highly successful,” said Shaikh Mohammed. “This will depend on available options for hydro-seeding that will be fully tested.”
The initiative, titled ‘Using Hydro-Seeding Technology for Beautification and Reforestation of Open and Eroded Areas’, was submitted by Northern Governorate constituency 11 councillor Abdulla Ibrahim Al Thawadi, who represents southern Hamad Town and Dar Kulaib. It was unanimously approved by the Northern Municipal Council in November.
“This technology allows us to green large, barren spaces quickly and efficiently,” said Mr Al Thawadi, who also chairs the council’s information and public relations committee.
“Hydro-seeding has proven successful worldwide in combating soil erosion and restoring degraded lands. By adopting it locally, we can accelerate our efforts to expand green spaces, protect the environment and enhance Bahrain’s urban landscape.”
Hydro-seeding is widely used internationally to create lawns, stabilise soil and prevent erosion on slopes, highways and embankments. Compared to traditional planting or laying pre-grown turf, it is faster, less labour-intensive and more cost-effective. When suitable seed mixtures are selected, the technique is also well suited to arid and semi-arid climates such as Bahrain’s.
Among the key benefits highlighted in the proposal are preventing soil erosion, maintaining soil moisture, restoring vegetation cover in degraded or exposed areas, achieving dense and sustainable plant growth, and enabling rapid coverage of large sites within a short period. It also reduces overall costs compared to conventional grass planting and turf installation, while improving the visual appeal of public spaces and supporting genuine environmental sustainability.
“By integrating innovative technologies like hydro-seeding into our greening efforts, we can transform open lands into thriving ecosystems,” Mr Al Thawadi said. “This proposal is not just about beautification, it’s about creating a sustainable future for our cities and our environment.”
The councillor added that the move reflects the council’s broader commitment to adopting modern environmental management practices and supporting Bahrain’s long-term vision for a greener and more sustainable urban landscape.
The hydro-seeding system is currently under experimentation in neighbouring Saudi Arabia and The UAE, with positive early results reported in large-scale landscaping and land restoration projects.
Northern Municipality director-general Mohammed Al Sehli believes the upcoming pilot phase, which will most likely be started in the Northern Governorate, will provide valuable data on the technology’s suitability for wider use across the kingdom.
Bahrain has a National Afforestation Plan, which aims to double Bahrain’s tree count from 1.8 million to 3.6m by 2035. The plan has contributed to the expansion of green areas, improving quality of life, and supporting Bahrain’s commitments to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak said last week that the kingdom is well on track to achieving its goal, with 2.4m trees already planted, representing 67 per cent of the overall target.
He also highlighted the role of the Bahrain Mangroves project, which has played a major part in raising environmental awareness of mangrove trees and their vital role in protecting coastlines and enhancing biodiversity.
The initiative, led by Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, aims to quadruple the number of mangrove trees in Bahrain by 2035.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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