EPA and UN-Habitat in Kuwait organize Coastal Mangrove Tree Planting event
As part of ongoing cooperation between the Environment Public Authority (EPA) and the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) in Kuwait, a mangrove (Avicennia marina) planting event was held along the Al-Messilah Beach. The initiative aims to rehabilitate and restore Kuwait’s coastal urban ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity and promoting environmental sustainability.
The event saw the participation of several volunteers and representatives from various sectors, led by Acting Director General of the Environment Public Authority, Nouf Behbehani, and Sharifa Al-Salem, Head of the Wildlife Monitoring Department and Kuwait’s National Representative to the CITES Convention.
Also in attendance were H.E. Ms. Tuba Nur Sönmez, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye; H.E. Ms. Lena Mariana, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia; and H.E. Norlan Kagkinbayevich, Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic, who all commended the initiative and expressed appreciation for Kuwait’s commitment to environmental preservation.
Dr. Amira Al-Hassan, UN-Habitat Representative in Kuwait, highlighted that the mangrove planting activity is the result of joint volunteer efforts that brought together the public sector, the United Nations, the private sector, and the wider community.
She emphasized that such projects succeed only through collective dedication—from planting mangrove seeds in local nurseries and nurturing them until they reach the appropriate size for transplantation, to ensuring proper coastal planting during low tide to protect the saplings from wave erosion.
Dr. Al-Hassan added that the continued monitoring of the mangroves’ growth is essential, as these trees play a crucial role in restoring coastal environments, preventing erosion, and supporting marine biodiversity along Kuwait’s shores.
The attending ambassadors praised the initiative, describing it as a positive and commendable step that contributes to the protection of Kuwait’s environment and encourages greater community participation in environmental sustainability efforts.
