*** Launch of ‘Buthoor Al Bahrain’ Initiative Marks a Green Revolution! Youth and Expatriates are welcome to the National Campaign | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Launch of ‘Buthoor Al Bahrain’ Initiative Marks a Green Revolution! Youth and Expatriates are welcome to the National Campaign

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Email: ashen@newsofbahrain.com

In an inspiring move towards a greener future, the Kingdom of Bahrain has officially launched the ‘Buthoor Al Bahrain’ initiative, a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Ministry of Municipalities and Agriculture, UN-Habitat, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), among other partners. This ambitious campaign was unveiled yesterday at the Gulf Convention Center, coinciding with World Urban October and in alignment with World Habitat Day on October 7th.

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The initiative aims to raise awareness about the critical importance of tree planting and the vital role of vegetation in environmental protection and the development of sustainable urban communities. With a national afforestation target of doubling the number of trees in Bahrain by 2035, the Kingdom is setting its sights on a remarkable goal of planting 3.6 million trees.

A Call to Action for All

‘Buthoor Al Bahrain’ extends its reach to the entire community, including expatriates, inviting them to join the national initiative under the guidance of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Eng. Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “This initiative opens a window to encourage the community to engage with the national plan. Over 350,000 trees have been planted in the past two years, paving the way to double the number of trees in the Kingdom by 2035.”

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While reducing carbon emissions is one of the benefits of this initiative, the overarching objective is to improve the quality of life through a healthier ecosystem, providing much-needed cooling and shade in urban areas. Fernanda Maria Lonardoni, Head of Country Programme at UN-Habitat, described the initiative as “a very ambitious target for the Kingdom of Bahrain to grow more than 100,000 plants a year.” She confidently added, “Bahrain will achieve the expected results by 2035, and by 2050, it will be a completely different island. The Kingdom will be much greener than it is now.”

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Inspiring the Next Generation

During the event, Khaled El Mekwad, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bahrain, emphasized the importance of involving Bahraini youth in this national campaign. He urged young people to take an active role, stating, “To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the Kingdom, youth contribution is crucial. I invite youngsters to join the national campaign—this is your future.”National Initiative for Agricultural Development(NIDA) hopes that this initiative will provide an additional platform for raising awareness. Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa, Secretary General,NIDA said “Seed by Seed, towards sustainable communities, enhances efforts to spread the culture of afforestation in society.”

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Join the Movement 

Those eager to participate in the ‘Buthoor Al Bahrain’ initiative can find all the information needed, including the locations of distribution vans, at www.buthooralbahrain.com. After registering on the platform, participants will receive notifications about the nearest locations to collect their plants. Once the trees are planted, individuals can even pin their locations on an online map, fostering a sense of community and environmental stewardship.

With ‘Buthoor Al Bahrain,’ the Kingdom of Bahrain is not just planting trees; it is cultivating a brighter, greener future for generations to come.