Mangrove cultivation

Mangroves are considered one of the most important environmental features that characterize the marine environment in the Sultanate because they are an important natural resource in preserving the ecological balance and nursery areas for many commercial value fish and other marine organisms in addition to being areas with beautiful landscapes, and there is a great benefit for mangrove forests. As it is a key factor in mitigating carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere, as mangrove forests absorb and store more CO2 in the soil than any rainforest. One type of these trees, known as Avicennia marina, prevails in the Sultanate of Oman, which has been able to adapt to the Omani environment. Hot weather and fresh water scarcity. This species is distributed in several coastal areas, extending from the Al Batinah region in the north, through the Governorate of Muscat, the Eastern Region, Mahout Island, and the Dhofar Governorate in the south, as the total area covered by mangroves in the Sultanate is about (1030 hectares).
In view of the age and importance of these trees to the marine environment and the risks and constant threats to which they are exposed, and in order to preserve these trees, the Ministry, in cooperation with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), implemented a project of cultivation and preservation of mangroves and the rehabilitation of the lagoons that began in 2001.
The dangers threatening mangroves in the Sultanate:
* The excessive use and exploitation of trees in some regions of the Sultanate, with no awareness of the importance of these trees.
* The use of mangroves in some areas for grazing, as they are considered attractive areas for livestock to enrich them with food resources.
* The impact of natural life in the mangrove environment due to the use of some areas of mangroves as public parks and allowing the public to enter and approach them and not to maintain them, in addition to dumping waste and trying to hunt some types of marine animals that live in the mangrove environment.

Project to cultivate one million mangrove seedlings: -
- Work on the project began in April 2000, through the assignment of a cultivation expert by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and after preparing the work plan, in July 2000 the first permanent nursery for mangroves was established in the Qurum Natural Park Reserve in Muscat, as it is the richest area with these trees in addition to its location. As a magnet for tourists and beach goers.
- After preparing the nursery, the process of collecting seeds from the reserve and planting them took place during the month of August 2000.
- After 6 months of planting the seeds in the nursery, (17,250) thousand seedlings were transferred to be replanted in Khor Al-Sawadi in the Al-Batinah region as a first step for the project in March 2001. Although the land of Al-Sawadi appears to be barren and there are no mangroves in it before the process of replanting. The trees grew quickly, and it was planned that the Al-Sawadi site would be expanded every year.
- In November 2001 AD, the Ministry was established in Al Qurum Park Reserve in Muscat, a new permanent nursery (watered by tides) and the implementation of the project began in July 2003 with a production capacity of (22,500) thousand seedlings per year.
- After the success of the cultivation process in Al-Sawadi region, the second stage of cultivation was implemented in the state of Tire in November 2001 by cultivating (16,500) thousand seedlings.
- In May 2002, a new nursery was established in Sur Al-Batah Incense (irrigated with ebb and flow) and it operates at the same production capacity as the Crimean nursery.
- In July 2002, the last nursery was established in the Dhofar Governorate, the great Crimean incense (watered by pump). All these nurseries are currently operating at the same production capacity and it is expected to produce about (48,000) thousand trees annually.

Cultivated areas: -
The authority sought to implement a long-term plan to rehabilitate and preserve mangroves in the various regions of the Sultanate, and many practical steps were taken to implement this, especially with regard to cultivating mangroves, where some lagoons were rehabilitated and the existing areas increased in addition to cultivating new groves in the various governorates of the Sultanate. Seedlings Cultured 700 thousand seedlings by the end of 2020, represented in 32 sites along the coast of the Sultanate.
The current status of the mangrove cultivation project in the cultivated sites:
The specialists at the authority , and through the environmental follow-up programs established, follow up the lagoons that have been cultivated with mangroves on an ongoing basis to ensure that the trees grow in their natural condition and are not exposed to any negative effects that may lead to the deterioration of the cultivated plants, and through the follow-up programs the expansion of cultivation is studied. By noting the environmental susceptibility of the cultivated seedlings to the growth of those seedlings and not to be subjected to degradation.
Education and awareness programs: -
Specialists at the authority  organize cultivation campaigns for school students, fishermen, and Omani women's associations in all governorates of the Sultanate in order to raise awareness and familiarize them closely with mangroves and the importance of preserving them