Sunday 02 / February / 2025
Muscat: Represented by the Environment Authority, the Sultanate of Oman on Sunday marked the World Wetlands Day, which falls on 2 February every year.
This year’s theme, “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future”, underscores the vital role of wetlands in maintaining ecological balance and supporting biodiversity.
The celebration also highlights wetlands’ great importance in providing natural resources and environmental services that benefit human beings and human wellbeing.
World Wetlands Day provides an opportunity to raise environmental awareness, with special emphasis on wetlands’ significance in preserving life on planet Earth.
An official from the Environment Authority said that wetlands in the Sultanate of Oman represent an important source of fresh water, contributing to its purification and storage, which contributes to supporting agricultural, environmental, social and economic activities.
He added that these areas play a fundamental role in mitigating the effects of climate change, by acting as natural carbon sinks, in addition to being a pillar for preserving biodiversity, regulating water quality and purifying it from pollutants.
He pointed out that the Environment Authority has implemented many initiatives and projects in the past year to protect wetlands, including a project to plant 4 million mangrove seeds in several coastal governorates, and to plant 54,000 mangrove seedlings.
It also implemented a project to study changes in coastal and inland wetlands, which targeted 59 sites, and a project to survey birds and life on wetlands, in addition to starting the implementation of the Oman Blue Carbon Project - Phase One.
He pointed out that the Authority is working to enhance regional and international efforts to preserve and protect wetlands, while adhering to the highest international and local standards, in addition to the existence of regional cooperation represented in the transfer of expertise and providing sister countries with mangrove seeds.
He pointed out that Oman officially joined the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 2013, reflecting its commitment to preserving this unique ecosystem and contributing to international cooperation to protect it.
The Environment Authority organises many events and clean-up campaigns to encourage member of the community to help protect wetlands, share sustainable development efforts and preserve the natural heritage.
