KUWAIT: Some 300
volunteers planted, in only two hours yesterday, up to 5,000 tree saplings in
Al-Abdaliya natural reserve west of Kuwait City, in the latest effort to
beautify Kuwait and improve the climate. Dr Ameera Al-Hassan, Director of
UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Program), said in a statement to
the press the saplings were planted in line with global sustainable development
objectives, with cooperation between UN-Habitat and Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

Greening is not
merely an act of beautification; it is rather a basic need for the environment
and population of Kuwait, she said, indicating that the shrubs and trees are
necessary to alleviate impact of dust storms and heat. The planting was part of
the "Kuwait Plants" campaign launched on Oct 31, 2019, coinciding
with the World Cities Day. The campaign also aims at encouraging and nudging
campers to plant trees in the desert, she added.

Omar Sadeq, KOC
manager of East Kuwait operations, also in charge of the reserve, said planting
at the protected location has continued since opening the reserve in 2011. Work
kicked off by greening 1.1 million square meters of land. Later, 1.7 million sq
m of land was planted and in the third phase, the greening covered five million
square meters of land. This reserve is an ambitious environmental project
located in West Kuwait within the operational areas of the KOC. It aims
tackling environmental damage and restoring life and biodiversity to the desert.

Al-Abdaliya
reserve has been carved out to create better conditions for wildlife, plants
and animals through the creation of lakes with surrounding hills for desert
plants such as al-arfaj, al-arti, al-ramth, al-qarsi and others that grow in
Kuwait. Kuwait, along with associations, volunteers and NGOs, has been sparing
no effort to green the country, with natural reserves and public parks
including many trees. Trees and plants, particularly palm trees, decorate
public places and streets. A sophisticated irrigation system keeps them alive
and green during the very hot summer. - KUNA