This morning, Thursday, the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah (EPAA) launched an initiative to afforestation campaign Al Muntather Reserve 2 in the Al Bataeh area, in cooperation with the Al Bataeh Municipality, the Municipal Council of Al Bataeh District, the Sharjah Police, the Sharjah Social Services Department, the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, and Bee’ah Company.

The campaign targeted employees of EPAA and employees of government and private institutions, in addition to volunteers of the volunteer platform of the Sharjah Social Services Department, with the participation of 250 participants, and planting 200 seedlings.

Consolidating environmental culture in the hearts of the people of the country

Her Excellency Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, said: “We are continuing the afforestation campaigns in Al Muntather Reserve, in cooperation with our strategic partners, following the plan and strategy of the EPAA emanating from the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. Which focuses on the importance and necessity of protecting and preserving the environment, preserving biodiversity, environmental sustainability and community awareness.”

Her Excellency continued: “All thanks and appreciation to the authority’s teams who are making outstanding efforts, and thanks to our partners, whose success and achievement can only be completed with them and their vital role in promoting and consolidating the environmental culture in the hearts of the people of the country and raising their awareness of the importance of environmental components, which contributes to the protection and sustainability of the environment.”

Set of goals

The forestation program of Al Muntather Reservepredominantly aims to continue the path started by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah. In both afforestation campaigns and achieving a set of goals. Foremost of which is contributing to preserving the environments of wild areas. The affirmation of social responsibility in protecting the settings of wild spaces and their biodiversity, encouraging local agriculture and keeping perennial, annual plants, promoting the concept of a culture of social entertainment in rugged natural environments, and raising awareness of positive behaviours that are beneficial to the environment.

Initiative Activities

The initiative’s activities began with receiving the EPAA’s employees and employees of the departments of the Emirate of Sharjah. They were then registered and given identification cards for each party participating in the afforestation campaign initiative. Participants were then directed to the place designated for afforestation. The participation of all government department employees in the Emirate of Sharjah in planting Al Ghaf seedlings is expected. A location has been allocated for cultivation for each participating entity in the Al Muntather Reserve’s designated part.

Al Muntather Reserve, is distinguished by its desert nature, and the abundance of trees, pastures and wild plants in it. The reserve is located on Sharjah Maleiha Road, and covers an area of 9 square kilometres. It is home to over one and a quarter million Al Ghaf and Sedr trees and is considered an integrated reserve with its trees and wild plants.