Oman is working to establish new areas for mangroves as part of the government efforts to protect its marine resources, according to a top official at the Director General of Environmental Affairs.

"Soon we would launch a 22-month project with Japanese experts to develop new areas for mangrove," the acting Director General at the department, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Muharrami told Gulf News yesterday.

The Sultanate of Oman has a 3165 km coastline and mangroves are vital to preserve its resources, including marine life like endangered species of turtles.

"Last year we developed three new nurseries in Sawadi area," he revealed. Interestingly, Sawadi, which is about 50 kms off the capital, is being developed as a major tourist attraction.

"We planted 42,000 plants last year in Sawadi, Sur and Salalah," Al Muharrami said while talking about the new areas touched by the authorities in their efforts to develop mangrove.

He also added that the natural reserve in Qurum was being protected with a well planned strategy. "We have paid attention to safeguard the mangrove forests."

Although, Qurum locality in Muscat has in the recent past witnessed major road and new infrastructures development, the natural mangrove reserve has been protected and allowed to flourish further.

"Our objective is to rehabilitate mangrove in the Sultanate," stressed Al Muharrami.

For the purpose, he added, national research was a continuous process. "Our department as well as the other government agencies are trying to train native Omanis in marine development," he pointed out.

"We have invited experts from Japan to survey and study means to protect the marine life in general and mangrove in particular," he said. A seven-member Japanese team from the Japan International Corporation Agency would arrive soon in Oman to under take the project in association with the DG of Environmental Affairs.

"They would stay here for the entire duration of the 22-month project," said Al Muharrami.

Although, Al Muharrami said, all the mangrove areas are protected, "sometimes human activities could endanger it."

A study has revealed that mangrove were abundant in several parts of Oman, including the eastern coast, but over a period of time, with the human activities, plying of boats with outboard engines have damaged or destroyed mangrove forests.

Hence, the government is making all efforts to educate people living in the areas around mangrove forests. Experts also feel that it has become imperative to take measures to protect and conserve natural resources when the Sultanate is eyeing to increase its share of tourism industry in the region.

At the moment visitors come mostly to Muscat and Salalah but as the tourism grows, more and more and visitors are expected to travel to the other parts of the country. Thus the authority is gearing up for protecting the marine life and mangrove, which usually coexist with the other ecosystems such as coral reefs.