Almost 40,000 trees and shrubs planted as part of the Forever Green initiative

Manama, July 11 (BNA): The National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD) has completed the third phase of its national afforestation campaign (Forever Green), planting over 40,000 trees and shrubs in an area of 14,243 square meters and 7,463 linear meters. The campaign, in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture and the Supreme Council for the Environment (SCE), completed 47 afforestation projects in various locations in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa, Secretary General of NIAD, commended the government and private institutions, civil society organizations and individuals for their support and efforts in addressing climate challenges to meet Bahrain’s commitment to achieving net neutrality by 2060. The initiative has developed a third phase plan in partnership with four municipalities, which has resulted in the afforestation of 19 sites across the Kingdom.

Shaikha Maram bint Isa emphasized that the initiative, launched under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of Her Majesty the King and Chairwoman of the Advisory Board of NIAD, under the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has led to the afforestation of 16 sites of official institutions belonging to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, Primary Health Care Centers, and 12 other sites of the private sector and individuals, public transport stations, health centers, housing projects, schools, parking lots, coastlines and streets, including 20 sites in the Southern Province and 16 sites in the Capital Municipality.

She highlighted the role of the private sector in the success of the campaign, contributing to afforestation projects and supporting national plans to increase green areas in Bahrain. She praised the efforts of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture and the municipalities of the four governorates participating in the campaign.

The platform was launched as part of the third phase to showcase available sites for afforestation, facilitating input from the private sector and civil society organisations. The platform provides information on the number of trees, implementation costs, maintenance period and photos of the sites, making it easier for individuals and organisations to select a suitable site and contact the National Initiative for booking. The success of the third phase has set the stage for the upcoming phase of the campaign, which is scheduled to start in October.