Deputy Director General of the Environment Public Authority for Technical Affairs, Dr. Abdullah Al-Zaidan, has affirmed the authority’s collaborative efforts with relevant entities to “implement the pastoral system for hima (protected lands), a practice established in numerous Arab nations.”
Elaborating on the issue, he said, this system revolves around delineating areas and utilizing lands in a regulated and sustainable manner for grazing purposes. Studies have shown that converting these lands into pastoral areas could result in doubled production and enhanced vegetation coverage.
In a statement to Al-Rai daily, Al-Zaidan noted that this system ensures the organized utilization of grazing lands, leveraging land management and preservation. It counters overgrazing, enriches the plant sector, and aligns with the objectives of sustainable development. It also adheres to environmental protection laws, striving to establish a safe, healthy environment, and a robust society.
Al-Zaidan emphasized that the authority is investing significant efforts to combat desertification and expand green spaces. He highlighted the negative impact of erroneous human activities on soil quality and seasonal flora.
He emphasized that Kuwait is experiencing erosion, degradation, and overgrazing, which exacerbate desertification and dust emissions. This phenomenon is attributed to the lack of natural green buffers in open desert areas and around urban zones within the country.
In terms of the measures adopted by the “Authority” to address this issue, Al-Zaidan explained that these measures are aligned with the United Nations’ global sustainable development goals. These objectives emphasize the urgency of addressing climate change and its consequences. As such, efforts are concentrated on collaborating with relevant state bodies to enhance pastures, promote sustainable agricultural zones, and increase vegetation to diminish the carbon footprint. Moreover, initiatives are in place to counteract land degradation, preserve biodiversity, regulate desert environments, and combat desertification.
Al-Zaidan revealed that the Environment Public Authority, in partnership with the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and the Kuwaiti Camel Association (KCA), is actively “enhancing pasture quality, enriching and preserving the plant sector using optimal methods and practices.” He stressed that violators would face legal repercussions and consequences for their actions.
He reiterated the authority’s commitment to creating a wholesome environment that caters to societal needs. He emphasized that success is attainable only through cooperation and synergy between all stakeholders, be they public, private, or part of the civil sector. This collaboration is essential to establishing the groundwork for applying the Hima system in Kuwait and identifying suitable areas for implementing the pastoral system. This collective effort aims to safeguard the country’s ecosystems from degradation.
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