Environment Authority announces pasture resting project in Dhofar Governorate

Riyadh: The Environment Authority (EA) on Wednesday announced a "Range Resting Project" in Dhofar Governorate. The project’s announcement was made on the sidelines of the Environment Authority’s participation in the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16), currently being held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This project was unveiled at the GCC pavilion by Dr. Abdullah bin Ali Al Amri, Chairman of the Environment Authority and Head of the Sultanate of Oman’s delegation to the conference.

The project is undertaken in cooperation with "Global Green Growth Institute", local, regional and international partners and the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

The project seeks to build a sustainable partnership to preserve the green cover in Dhofar Governorate in accordance with innovative nature-based solutions that contribute to the gradual reduction of overgrazing impacts in the western province of Dhofar Governorate (Dhalkout, Rakhyout), during the period from 2025 - 2030.

The project is expected to maximize economic return of livestock breeders by opening market outlets for their products of milk, meat, fertilizers and economic crops.

The project is also aimed at rationalizing water use and preserving soil in accordance with modern mechanisms that the project will provide to beneficiaries in cooperation with strategic partners.

The project is expected to generate 1,500 green jobs, boost the lifestyle of approximately 1,100 livestock breeders in the target area and help reclaim about 10,000 hectares of degraded land. This is envisaged through the establishment of an economic zone and the rescheduling of the grazing system in a manner that realizes the exchange of benefits and the sustainability of ecosystems.