The National Initiative to Plant 10 Million Trees

Preserving the environment is everyone’s responsibility, and it is the duty of every individual to preserve the biodiversity that exists in the Omani environment, as the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (formerly) and the Environment Agency (currently) worked to launch the “Ashajar Initiative” in order to combat desertification and reduce Land degradation and the preservation of wild plants through their multiplication and expansion of green spaces. Everyone knows the environmental, economic and cultural importance of wild plants as they are a great source of food and pharmaceutical industries, in addition to that they support the lives of many living creatures and maintain the balance of ecosystems.

The idea of ​​this initiative came as a continuation of the efforts made by the authority to raise awareness and educate the community to preserve wild plants, combat desertification and participate in increasing the green area in the Sultanate. Through this initiative, the authority also sought to unify efforts and expand partnership between government institutions and the private sector to preserve the natural environment and achieve development. It was launched on January 31, 2016 through private social networking sites, and in continuation of the successes achieved by the Shajar Initiative, and in the framework of cooperation between the Environment Agency and the private sector represented by the Petroleum Development Oman, the national initiative to plant 10 million trees came. It was inaugurated on the Omani Environment Day, January 8, 2020.

Initiative Objectives:
1) Improving and restoring biodiversity and protecting endangered species.
2) Securing fresh air and scenic views and increasing the percentage of green spaces in the various governorates of the Sultanate.
3) Contribute to lowering the temperature and absorbing carbon dioxide to reduce climate change and pollution.
4) Increasing and improving the vegetation cover in the pastoral and degraded natural areas and reducing the phenomenon of desertification in order to reach a sustainable environment and natural resources.
5) Encouraging the practice of healthy patterns among the population and improving indicators of quality of life in general
6) Creating investment opportunities for the local community and the private sector by benefiting economically and medically from some species.
7) Raising environmental awareness of the importance of Omani plants.
8) Participation and encouragement of community initiatives in activating the initiative.
9) Strengthening partnerships between various sectors with regard to preserving the vegetation cover in the Sultanate and promoting environmental sustainability.

Target trees
The Sultanate is characterized by a unique diversity of unique ecosystems, for example, the mountain environment, the desert environment, the coastal environment and the valley environment, which is reflected in the rich diversity of vegetation cover. More than 1,400 plant species have been recorded in the Sultanate. The initiative targets wild trees such as, but not limited to, Ghaf (Prosopis cineraria), Samar (Acacia tortilis), Sidr (Ziziphus spina-christi), Acacia gerrardii, Sarh (Maerua crassifolia), Juniperus excelsa, Bot (Sideroxylon muscatenceseania) and Marina), Shua (Moringa peregrina), frankincense (Boswellia sacra), Tayyiq (focus sycomorus) and other Omani wild trees. The cultivation of mangroves has also been added in the selected gorges for this
Target sites
The initiative aims to spread the green patch on all areas of the Sultanate, including the areas affected by desertification, in addition to the sites of partners, government agencies, individuals, public places, parks, roads and mosques.
Participants so far
Ministry of Agricultural Wealth, Fisheries and Water Resources
- The Ministry of Education
Ministry of Higher Education, Innovation and Scientific Research
Ministry of Heritage and Tourism
- Ministry of Defense
- Oman Petroleum Development Company
- Okiyo company
- Valley Amman
- Namaa Holding Company
The Oman Liquefied Natural Gas Company Development Corporation
Oman Sidr Association
- cities
Cabinets City
- Public Services Authority