By Manuela Gutberlet

MUSCAT Mangroves that grow in saline coastal habitat can protect the city from storm waves. They are like buffers between the ocean and the coastal residential area. The massive mangrove root system is efficient at dissipating wave energies from the sea.

Last week Cyclone Gonu  caused huge damage to the beach road in Al Qurum besides the mangrove area, however not so large area of mangroves were affected. And in Quriyat most of the mangroves withstood the cyclone fury. “Some mangroves at the mouth of the Khawr (channel) were pushed off by the flood. But mangroves are very strong against floods. They act as a barrier, especially when they grow bigger into the sea,” told Tomoo Shoji, Environment Adviser at the Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environ-ment and Water Resources (MRMEWR). Mangroves can grow in blackish water and saline water. “In Salalah, during Khareef, mangroves grow comfortably. The annual growth of mangroves in Al Batinah region is 20-60 cm whereas, in Salalah mangroves grow up to 120 cm per year because of its climatic conditions,” said Shoji.  A total of approximately 1,000 hectare of mangrove forests is spread across the Sultanate. The mangrove ecosystem is a nursery for the marine fauna and it is one of the most vulnerable and productive ecosystems in the subtropics and tropics. “Small fish can hide themselves and large fish predator cannot get inside,” said Shoji. Besides fish and crustacean mangroves accommodate in Al Qurum about 14 bird species.  Mangrove related birds especially such as the oriental white-eye bird is a presumed breeding resident in some mangroves in Al Mahawt Island (Al Wusta) and the white-collared kingfisher in the Northern Batinah region. “Those are endangered species of great importance,” said Shoji. 

This year a new Mangrove Information Centre will be built in Al Qurum. “The Mangrove Information Centre was severely affected by Gonu, the site is like a lagoon now and we must re-locate the site,” said Shoji. Construction will start on a different site in August this year or later.

The Mangrove Information Centre will be a joint Omani-Japanese project. The centre will be a training, research, monitoring, exhibition and educational centre. “We want to create awareness about environment issues especially for children,” stressed Shoji.

Currently there are four mangrove nurseries in the Sultanate: Two in Al Qurum, one in Sur and one in Salalah. Another nursery is planned in Al Wusta region, near Al Kahl or in Shinas in the Northern Batinah region, said Shoji.

OMAN TRIBUNE