Bahrain joins global nations in celebrating the World Environment Day
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Bahrain yesterday marked World Environment Day by pledging its allegiance to the United Nations in the battle to reverse the climate crisis. “The day observed worldwide on June 5 provides us an opportunity to re-affirm commitment to protecting the environment,” said HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HM the King’s Personal Representative and President of the Supreme Council for Environment. He added: “It also an opportunity to pledge to exert utmost efforts to restore and preserve the ecosystem to the fullest.”
Bahrain, he said, is paying utmost attention to protecting the ecosystem and supporting international efforts to preserve biodiversity. “Marine reserves set up by the Kingdom had helped it achieve 21% of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, which calls for the establishment of conservation plans for species threatened with extinction,” he stressed.
The Tubli Bay, the Mashtan Island, the Hawar Islands, the Dawhat Arad, the Northern Hayrat, and the Hayr Bulthamah are the six reserves in the Kingdom. Bahrain also has one wildlife sanctuary in the form of Al Areen.
There are about 323 species of wild birds in the Kingdom, of which 40 are Bahrain specific or 12.4% of the total number of registered species. The Supreme Council for Environment, he said, had implemented several strategic initiatives and projects to protect and preserve the ecosystem here, which includes the various laws to protect endangered species.
“Bahrain is looking forward to enhancing its cooperation with the UN Environment Programme’s Regional Office for West Asia in its studies and projects to confront the environmental crisis,” added Shaikh Khalifa.
The focus is on “addressing high rates of animal and plant extinction, and continued rise in global temperatures, especially in light of the Coronavirus pandemic.” Bahrain’s celebration of the world event, HH Shaikh Abdulla said, is in line with the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
“The initiatives and projects implemented by the SCE enjoy the support of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and are consistent with the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030,” he added. The theme of World Environment Day this year is “Reimagine. Recreate. Restore”. The United Nations launched the day in the early 70s. This year, the United Nations wants each nation to pledge for reversing the mindless practices that are polluting our cities, coasts and forests.
Natural Reserves in the Kingdom:
Al Areen
Al Areen Wildlife Park, established in 1976, covers an area of 5.4 km 2. It is the first project of its kind in the region and aims to preserve endangered rare Arab animal species.
Arad Bay
Arad Bay is one of the most prominent coastal mangrove reserves in Bahrain. The mangrove trees enhance the cohesion of the soil and provide a haven for small fish. Millions of small and micro-organisms that are important for the marine environment live in the sands of this protected marine sanctuary.
Hawar Islands
The Hawar Islands Reserve is approximately 26 kilometres southeast of Ras El Bar, the island of Bahrain. They include six major islands, in addition to more than 30 small ones, with a total area of about 51.4 square kilometres.
The maximum length of the largest island, Hawar, is about 17 kilometres, and its width is 3 kilometres, while its maximum height is 19 meters.
Tubli Bay
Tubli Bay is a nature reserve as per Cabinet Resolution No (1341) issued on April 16, 1995. The reclamation and construction were regulated in the sanctuary covering a total area of 13.5 km 2. Tubli Bay was declared a protected reserve within the sites included in the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (RAMSAR) of 1997.
Mashtan Island
The Mashtan Island and the areas surrounding it are crucial for the biodiversity of Bahrain. There are many rare marine plants in it, of which identified seven different kinds. The island also homes many marine creatures that have direct economic returns.
Hayr Bulthama
The Hayr Bulthama Reserve is located 70 km north of Muharraq and covers an area of 7.8 km2. With an average depth of 12 meters, Hayr Bulthama is not as deep as neighbouring areas. However, it is relatively deeper when compared to overall Bahrain’s territorial waters, where the maximum depth reaches 69 meters. The weather at the Hayr Bulthama is better than the rest of the coasts of Bahrain, with temperatures less than 3 to 5 degrees Celsius.
Related Posts