Wednesday 22 / April / 2026
Muscat: The Environment Authority(EA), is implementing a package of high-quality environmental projects aimed at protecting and preserving the unique plant diversity that characterizes the Dhofar Governorate through the establishment of specialized gardens and tree parks.
These gardens and tree parks play a vital role in preserving endangered local plant species of historical and economic value, in addition to enhancing the diversity and sustainability of vegetation cover in the governorate's various districts.
Ali bin Salem Bait Saeed, Director General of the Environment Directorate in Dhofar Governorate, stated that the Environment Authority has completed four garden and tree park projects in the governorate. These include planting 5,500 frankincense trees in the Mudam area of Salalah, 260 pandanus trees in the Khadrafi area of Dhalkut, the establishment of a garden of 67 arib trees in the Sha'at area of Rakhyut, and a baobab garden in the Damar area of Mirbat, which includes 169 baobab trees.
He explained that the Directorate will work during 2026 to conduct tissue culture experiments on Arabian myrrh trees in cooperation with specialized scientific centers. This will be implemented through the Myrrh Tree Garden in the Madhi district of Thumrait, and work will also begin on the Henna Tree Garden project in the Al-Damir area of Mirbat, to preserve this plant species, which has environmental, cultural, and economic value.
As part of efforts to combat desertification and preserve the plant heritage of Dhofar Governorate, the Director General of Environment in Dhofar Governorate pointed to plans to establish protected areas for wild species in their natural habitats, such as the Sidr tree in Sadah. The individual protection project for 100 rare and ancient Sidr trees is nearing completion to ensure their sustainability. Additionally, a small nursery is being established to collect, document, and provide cuttings and seeds of endangered species, as classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), for propagation purposes.
The Director General pointed out that environmental initiatives also include the Desert Shadows Park project in the Shisr district of Thumrait, covering an area of 250,000 square meters. This project aims to plant approximately 21,000 trees to protect vegetation and combat desertification by improving ecosystems and building partnerships that contribute to mobilizing resources to support environmental sustainability.
On another front, studies are ongoing for the "Plant Memory of Dhofar" project, in cooperation with the Oman Tourism Investment Company (Omran). This project is expected to become a specialized center for collecting, documenting, and cultivating rare Dhofari plants, and to establish a scientific, research, and tourism infrastructure that will contribute to preserving the governorate's rich plant heritage and create added value for the region.
