(MENAFN- The Peninsula) QNA
DOHA: Over the past few years, those in charge of the environmental sector in the country have succeeded in doubling the areas of mangroves, from 9 kilometers three years ago to 14 kilometers in its cultivation areas at the country's shores along the Gulf, with a 55 percent increase rate in its area. Environmental officials are making intensive efforts to preserve and develop mangrove forests and develop their areas.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has cultivated mangroves in four areas on the northern and eastern coasts after it was limited to Al Khor and Al Thakhira areas. There are now different sites where mangroves are grown in large areas estimated at thousands of hectares, where mangroves have succeeded in each of Al Ruwais and Umm Al Houl, Fuwairit, and Ras Matbakh.
Qatar has succeeded in preserving the environment remarkably. In 2014, more than 23 percent of the country's land area was designated as nature reserves. In total, there are 12 wild environmental nature reserves, namely, Al Ariq, Al Thakhira, Khor Al Adeed, Riffa, Umm Al Amad, Umm Qarn, Al Sani', Al Reem, Al Shahaniya, Al Mashabiya, Al Wasail, and Wadi Sultana. The area of marine reserves is 720 square kilometers, including Khor Al Adeed and Al Thakhira.
Khor Al Adaid Reserve comes on top of the wilderness reserves in terms of area, with an area of 1,293 square kilometers, or 47 percent of the total wildlife reserves. It is also considered the largest marine protected area, with an area of 540 square kilometers, or 75 percent of the total marine reserves.
The rate of extinction of coastal mangrove forests in the world ranges from 3 to 5 times faster than the losses of forests around the world, and therefore the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in Qatar is keen to protect, preserve and work on its development because these forests are an essential element in addressing climate change and its extinction may lead to significant social and economic impacts.
Among the most prominent areas in which mangroves grow densely are Al Khor and Al Thakhira. The trees extend over an area of more than 7 square kilometers within its waters, and the height of those trees reaches 4 meters. The mangrove or mangrove forests of Al Thakhira are spread over a vast area thriving with natural plants in the middle of the surrounding desert from every side.
According to Law No. 6 of 2006, the Al Thakhira area, where there are mangrove forests, was considered a nature reserve. This area, which is about 64 km from Doha, is characterized by the presence of evergreen mangrove forests in summer and winter that grow on seawater. The mangroves can breathe when inundated with highly saline seawater and grow in that water, turning it into fresh water and feeding on it.
Mangrove forests represent rare and amazing natural sites rich in wildlife that separate the land from the sea and they produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide and toxic gases, and this helps greatly in reducing global warming.
The importance of mangrove plants, whose seedlings are from 44 to 60 centimeters in length, is that they work to stabilize the soil, preserve beaches from erosion, as well as improve the conditions for the development of fisheries, as mangroves are considered a fortress for the reproduction of many fish, some of which are of economic importance in Qatar, like Badah.
The bacteria work on decomposing the mangrove leaves that fall into primary organic compounds that different types of marine organisms benefit from in their diet. Thus, the mangrove environment is considered suitable habitat for many types of marine organisms, such as fish, shrimp, algae, crustaceans, fungi, worms, and others.
Mangroves have many benefits, as their strong stems are used in construction operations, or as fuel for cooking and heating, and in many wood industries, such as making sailing boats because their stems are characterized by their durability, strength and salt tolerance.
Mangroves have a great ability to grow in salt water, as they filter the salty water through glands in the roots, and then remove the excess water from their leaves.
Mangroves reduce carbon dioxide by 8 times as much as rainforests, reduce soil erosion on beaches, and 66 percent reduce storm surge intensity.
Coastal mangrove trees constitute distinctive ecosystems and provide a wide range of ecosystem goods. Coastal mangrove forests are rare despite their presence in 123 regions in the world, including Qatar, as they represent approximately 1 percent of tropical forests around the world, and no more than 0.4 percent of the totality of forests in general, bearing in mind that the management and restoration of coastal mangrove ecosystems can be achieved with minimal costs to ensure food security for many coastal communities.
These trees form a natural barrier that reduces erosion, softens waves (and tsunami floods) and reduces sea level rise in storms.
The soils of mangrove forests are largely rich in carbon sinks, which sequester large amounts of carbon over thousands of years, and mangroves can reduce the damage caused by natural disasters and thus increase resistance against climate change and its effects. Mangrove forests represent rare and amazing natural sites full of wildlife and marine life. They also produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide and toxic gases, and this helps greatly in reducing global warming.
Mangrove ecosystems are highly efficient carbon sinks that sequester huge amounts of carbon within the soil, leaves and branches. One hectare of mangroves can store 3,754 tons of carbon.
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