More trees, less heat for Bahrain: Experts

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com   

As Bahrain grapples with the punishing summer heat, environmental experts are calling on the government to take bold action to increase the country’s tree cover and greenery.

Speaking to The Daily Tribune, Mr. Kai Miethig, an environmentalist, emphasised the vital importance of restoring natural habitats for animals and insects.

“More natural areas, natural growing plants, bushes, and weeds will restore natural habitats for all kinds of animals and insects, which are highly important for a balanced ecosystem,” he said.

Miethig urged the government to take a firm stance against cutting down mature, established trees, which he says play a crucial role in providing shade, lowering temperatures, and absorbing carbon emissions from Bahrain’s dense traffic.

Trees “Stop cutting down grown trees, which have grown for decades, would be the first step as trees in public areas, along roads and walkways, and provide shade and cooler resting areas as well as absorb CO2 emissions from the heavy and dense traffic in Bahrain causing one of the worst air qualities in the world,” Miethig explained.

Drawing on successful models from other countries, he suggested that Bahrain could implement regulations to incentivise and protect greenery.

“In several countries, cutting down trees of certain sizes, diameter, height, and age are not allowed and heavily fined.

For instance in Kuwait, if you build a house, trees must be planted as part of the building premises.” Looking to the future, Mr. Kai advocated for the establishment of “pocket/Miawaki forests” - dense, self-sustaining urban forests that require minimal maintenance after initial planting.

“Nature knows what is best for the environment and humans, preserving fertile soil, natural gardens and areas rather than concreted parks, or asphalting or building on it is key,” he said.

With Bahrain’s extreme heat posing a growing threat, environmental experts believe that bold, innovative greening initiatives could be a game-changer for the country’s climate resilience and quality of life.

Increased tree cover and greenery can provide much-needed shade, lower urban temperatures, and help absorb harmful emissions, offering a natural solution to combat the devastating effects of climate change.