Tuesday 21 / April / 2026
Muscat: The inaugural workshop for the ‘Plant Oman 2050’ initiative project commenced today in Muscat. The workshop aims to expand organized afforestation, enhance environmental sustainability, support food security, and contribute to achieving net-zero carbon emissions targets.
The opening of the workshop was held under the patronage of Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al Bakri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources for Agriculture.
It seeks to enhance the environment and biodiversity by restoring degraded natural habitats, combating desertification, increasing vegetation cover through the planting of wild and native trees, and improving the efficiency of ecosystems across various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.
The two-day workshop aims to support food security by expanding the cultivation of fruit-bearing trees, enhancing local food production, and generating sustainable economic value from agricultural resources.
Additionally, it seeks to contribute to climate action by increasing carbon absorption and expanding blue carbon and green carbon projects, in line with national directions toward climate sustainability.
During the workshop, a cooperation agreement was inked between the Environment Authority and Oman Agricultural Development Company to implement a research and development project on tissue culture protocols for the propagation of wild trees and mangroves.
This contributes to the preservation of plant genetic resources, supports the sustainability of vegetation cover, and enhances national initiatives related to biodiversity and climate action.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the Environment Authority by Saud Salim Al Araimi, Director General of Vegetation Cover Development, and on behalf of Oman Agricultural Development Company by Ali Said Al Araimi, CEO of the company.
The first day of the workshop featured three main sessions. The first session, titled “International Expertise and Partnerships in Sustainable Agriculture,” included a working paper on the experiences of the African Great Green Wall Agency in combating desertification, a paper on the expertise of the Arab Institute in the field of rangelands and forests, a paper titled “Investment in the Agricultural Sector,” and a paper on the roles of the World Health Organisation in food security.
The second session, titled “National Policies, Water Resources, and Land,” included a paper on “The Pivotal Role of the Land and Urban Planning Sector in Establishing Policies for the Plant Oman Project,” a paper on the cultivation of fruit-bearing trees, a paper on “Water Resources in the Sultanate of Oman,” a paper on “Reclaimed Water as an Economic and Environmental Alternative,” as well as a paper on environmental management, sustainable agriculture, water management, and water quotas.
The third session, titled “Modern Technologies and Innovation in the Agricultural Sector,” included a paper on “Re-engineering the Structural Composition of Omani Soil to Enhance Water Security and Soil Health,” a paper on “Tree Planting in Arid Areas Using Smart Water Box Technologies,” a paper on the importance of plant resources in supporting food security and environmental sustainability, and a paper on “The Importance of Plant Material Banks and National Efforts to Activate Them.”
The workshop will also address agricultural economics, investment and financing, climate finance opportunities, and carbon markets, alongside a review of the role of biodiversity and agricultural research in supporting environmental sustainability.
The workshop highlights international expertise and partnerships, as well as modern technologies in the agricultural sector. -ONA
