The secret forest of Mahboula

The green and open spaces of Mahboula seem to have turned into an illegal landfill. All over the area garbage is being dumped without the slightest sense of responsibility towards this country or possible damage to the natural environment.  In older times, locals used to picnic in the tree-filled areas around Mahboula and Fintas, which were famous for their beauty and greenery in arid Kuwait. But now much of the area is covered with trash, discarded furniture and other throwaway items.

Some people are still aware of the beauty and value of this place. In a clearing in Mahboula - which is located near oil refineries - hundreds of trees still stand, despite the rigors of the harsh climate.

People play sports and hang out with friends, notwithstanding the rubbish and construction waste due to a lack of open public spaces. A large group of oil sector employees come here to play volleyball, their favorite game, and meet people. Most of them are Nepalese. They say that they need to play on their day off because sport has always been a great way to get rid of work pressure and raise their productivity levels.

Before sunset, one can find buses of oil companies dropping workers near their homes, which indicates that the area is largely inhabited by those who work there. Mahboula has been witnessing a construction boom in the past three years to house more workers after the announcement of many projects by the Kuwait Oil Company and the government.

The remaining trees will soon be uprooted to be replaced by commercial and residential buildings. It will take a miracle to stop this concrete tide and preserve this land and convert it into a public park. Some pressure groups have been demanding preservation of open public spaces and historic buildings in Kuwait City. So where are they now, when it comes to the outer districts? Why don't they bring their candlelight vigils and banners to protest against the slow death of these trees?

Story and images by Athoob Al-Shuaibi