The Kuwait Environment Protection Society emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and the exchange of expertise among countries in the region to protect coastal wetlands and preserve their natural resources. This came during its participation in the "Regional Workshop for Assessing the Status of Coastal Wetlands in the Arabian Peninsula," organized over two days by BirdLife International \u2013 Middle East in Amman, under the patronage of the Jordanian Minister of Environment, Dr. Ayman Suleiman, and in partnership with the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature in Jordan. Representatives from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Yemen, Iraq, and Jordan participated, in addition to international and regional organizations specializing in environmental protection. Representing the Society at the regional workshop was Mohammed Shah, head of the Bird Monitoring and Protection Team, who presented a visual presentation entitled "Nature Reserves in Kuwait." His presentation highlighted the most prominent reserves spread across the country, which number more than ten, distributed among islands, desert areas, and wetlands. Shah said, \u201cA workshop like this is very important for the region, especially since we have some habitats and coastal areas that have begun to suffer from drought due to multiple factors, primarily climate change. There are also signs of desertification in a number of areas, such as what happened in Iraq where the marshes dried up due to dam construction in Turkey and elsewhere.\u201d He added, \u201cThese are all serious indicators that demand attention, and through workshops like this, efforts can be combined, and we hope to be able to improve the situation and mitigate these challenges.\u201d He noted that \u201cthe initiative is based on international scientific studies and reports, most notably the Ramsar Convention\u2019s Global Outlook on Wetlands report, BirdLife International\u2019s studies on Important Bird Areas and Biodiversity, as well as national and regional research on mudflats, mangrove forests, and coral reefs. These studies indicate that if urgent action is taken, the degradation of coastal wetlands can be halted and they can be restored to their full ecological potential, ensuring their continued existence as vital resources that support the balance between humans and nature and preserve biodiversity for future generations.\u201d He discussed in detail the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Nature Reserve (Warbah and Bubiyan Islands), which is considered one of the most important marine environments in northern Kuwait, as well as the three southern islands (Kubbar, Qaruh, and Umm Al-Maradim), which were designated as nature reserves in 2022 under the supervision of the Environment Public Authority. He also addressed Kuwait Bay, the second largest fish nursery in the world and a major habitat for migratory birds, which includes three main reserves: Sabah Al-Ahmad Nature Reserve, Doha Nature Reserve (Sheikh Zayed Reserve), and Jahra Nature Reserve. He reviewed the achievements of Jahra Nature Reserve, such as the replanting of mangroves and jujube trees to combat desertification and promote ecotourism. During his presentation, he emphasized that nature reserves in Kuwait represent a fundamental pillar for protecting biodiversity and promoting ecological balance, noting their role in providing safe environments for fish and bird breeding, and supporting sustainable development efforts and adaptation to environmental changes. Shah stated that \u201cthe number of nature reserves in Kuwait has reached more than 10 nature reserves spread throughout the country, including island reserves, desert reserves, and wetlands,\u201d noting that \u201cMubarak Al-Kabeer Reserve (Warbah and Bubiyan Islands) is located northeast of Kuwait at the entrance to Kuwait Bay, bordered to the east by Khor Abdullah and to the west by Khor Al-Sabiyah, and is under the supervision of the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources. Its land is muddy and interspersed with inlets, rich in marine crabs and mudskippers, and is home to the breeding grounds of eagle-winged birds, crab-eaters, gulls, and herons.\u201d He explained that \u201cthe southern islands (Kubbar, Qaruh, and Umm al-Maradim) were designated as nature reserves by a decision issued in 2022 and are supervised by the Environment Public Authority. Among the most prominent of these are: Kubbar Island (located southeast of Ahmadi, with an area of approximately 1400 m\u00b2), which is a sandy island with abundant shrubs to the north and west, and four types of terns breed there, and Umm al-Maradim Island, which is considered a primary nesting site for turtles. I must also mention the efforts of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research in rehabilitating the coral reefs on these islands.\u201d Regarding Kuwait Bay, Mohammed Shah said that it \u201cis one of the most important environmental areas in Kuwait, and is considered the second largest fish nursery in the world. It is a suitable and safe environment for shrimp breeding and nursery, and its shores are muddy and rich in habitats: crustaceans, mudskippers, migratory birds, and visiting birds such as flamingos, great cormorants, gulls, and others. The bay contains three important reserves: Sabah Al-Ahmad Nature Reserve, Doha Nature Reserve (Sheikh Zayed Reserve), and Jahra Nature Reserve.\u201d He said, \u201cThe Sabah Al-Ahmad Nature Reserve is located in the historic Kazma area, north of Kuwait Bay. It is divided into two sections by Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Road: a northern desert section with sandy rocky terrain, highlands reaching 100 meters, hollows, and small artificial lakes, and a southern coastal section located directly on Kuwait Bay. Among the most prominent birds are the osprey, the little owl, and the hoopoe lark. Its management is the responsibility of the Voluntary Work Center, and it contains archaeological sites dating back to the Ubaid civilization 7,000 years ago. Entry to it is not permitted except with special permits.\u201d He spoke about \u201cthe Doha Nature Reserve (Sheikh Zayed Reserve), which is located in the Ashairij area \u2013 East Doha, and is owned and supervised by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research,\u201d addressing \u201cthe Jahra Nature Reserve, which is located west of Kuwait Bay, and was established in 1987 with an area of 2.5 km\u00b2, and expanded in 2001 to 3.5 km\u00b2, and then expanded again in 2013, and is supervised by the Environment Public Authority,\u201d addressing the most prominent achievements, including that it \u201cprevented overhunting and grazing, promoted ecotourism, and replanted mangrove plants for 6 years, with thousands of seedlings annually, in addition to planting Sidr trees to combat desertification.\u201d The representative of the Environment Society and head of the bird monitoring and protection team, Mohammed Shah, concluded his participation in the first day's sessions of the "Regional Workshop for Assessing the Status of Coastal Wetlands in the Arabian Peninsula" by stating that "Nature reserves in Kuwait represent a fundamental pillar for protecting biodiversity, and are important sites for birds, fish and plants, and contribute to promoting ecotourism and ecological balance.".<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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