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A strong environmental policy

The preservation of the environment is largely the result of a policy instituted by the former sultan, Qaboos ibn Said, who reigned from 1970 to 2020. The first environmental legislation was enacted in 1974. In 1984, a Ministry of the Environment was created, the first in the Arab world. Projects included environmental preservation (mangrove restoration by replanting mangroves), the creation of nature reserves with a ban on hunting, the fight against poaching and the reintroduction of species. To limit the impact of increasing urbanization, the country launched a coastal zone management project in 1990. Environmental protection also involves an action plan for the management of coral reefs, launched in 1997. Projects are generally implemented in conjunction with international donors, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). For example, Oman has joined the UN Clean Oceans Campaign, organizing beach clean-ups. It is also the first country in the region to award a prize for environmental preservation, known as the Sultan Qaboos Prize.

Protected areas

The country has a number of regulated nature reserves, which aim to preserve habitats and endangered species such as the Arabian gazelle, the desert monitor, the Houbara bustard, marine biodiversity and birdlife.

Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve: located in the Muscat region, this archipelago of 9 islands is a sanctuary for birds and marine biodiversity. Dive sites will enable you to discover over 110 species of coral, as well as turtles, rays, leopard sharks, whales and other marine species, some of which are endemic.

RasAl-Jinz Tur tle Reserve: protects sea turtle nesting sites. In particular, you can observe the very special - and moving - moment when the turtles leave the beach and launch themselves into the sea.

The Land of Incense (in the Dhofar region): the incense route was an important trading route during Antiquity and the Middle Ages. UNESCO has designated 4 sites emblematic of incense production and trade as World Heritage Sites: the incense trees of Ouadi Dawkah, the Shisr/Wubar oasis, and the strategic ports of Khor Rori and Al-Balid. The area is also protected by royal decree.

Al-Wusta Nature Reserve: home to over 130 species of birds (some endemic), the Arabian oryx, an antelope reintroduced in 1982, as well as sand foxes, gazelles and Arabian wolves.

The Qurm Park Nature Reserve , near Muscat, protects the mangrove ecosystem and has been replanted with mangroves. Considered a green lung, the capital's inhabitants love to stroll here. Nature-loving visitors will discover a wealth of birds and wetland biodiversity. The reserve has been classified as a RAMSAR site (remarkable wetland) since 2013.

Al Saleel National Park: this protected area is located in the Sharqiyah region. It is made up of different natural environments: alluvial plains, valleys and mountains. It is home to a high level of biodiversity, including acacias, Arabian gazelles, turtles and a large bird population.

Jebel Samhan Nature Reserve: located in Dhofar, this reserve is renowned for protecting the habitat of one of the last populations of the Arabian leopard.

The Khawrs of the Salalah Coastal Reserve : a group of 8 nature reserves in Dhofar. They conserve lagoon ecosystems, as well as archaeological remains such as those of the ports of Khor Rori and Al-Balid in the Land of Incense.

Oman Botanical Garden in Muscat. The largest botanical garden on the Arabian Peninsula boasts 420 hectares of local and endemic flora. The construction of this space integrates environmental requirements (energy management in particular).

Emblematic: the Sultanian Arabian Oryx Reserve. The nature reserve was created to protect populations of Arabian oryx, reintroduced in 1982 after the species had become extinct in the wild following years of excessive poaching. The site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Oil drilling led to a 90% reduction in its surface area, reducing and endangering oryx populations and their viability. Unesco downgraded the site in 2007.

An oil-based economy

The country is heavily dependent on oil. Most black gold is imported to cover the country's energy needs. Drilling since the 1950s has not freed the sultanate from this dependence (low stock). Since 2005, the country has embarked on gas extraction.

Sustainable agriculture?

In conjunction with the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization), the country is seeking to introduce sustainable agriculture, with the aim of achieving food self-sufficiency by reducing fruit and vegetable imports and developing jobs in the agricultural sector. Fishing remains traditional, and bottom trawling is banned for environmental reasons.

Points of progress

Economic diversification has also involved the construction of an aluminium plant at Solar, whose process is extremely polluting and energy-intensive. More needs to be done to prevent air and water pollution and to manage waste. The country has set up systems to measure atmospheric pollutant emissions in the capital. The issue of reducing greenhouse gases is also a concern that is beginning to be taken into account in projects. Last but not least, waste reduction and recycling, as well as water purification systems, remain key issues.