Manama: Amna Hamad Al Rumaihi, Chief Executive of the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE), said the Kingdom of Bahrain places environmental protection and biodiversity conservation among its strategic priorities, in line with the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Al Rumaihi highlighted the support of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Consort of His Majesty the King, President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), and President of the Consultative Council of the National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD), for agricultural and environmental initiatives that have strengthened environmental sustainability and supported efforts to expand vegetation cover in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Al Rumaihi also commended the role of His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Personal Representative of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE), in following up national environmental efforts and enhancing the implementation of environmental initiatives and programmes.
She said the continued implementation of the Bahrain Mangrove initiative, launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, reflects effective cooperation among the relevant entities in the Kingdom of Bahrain, led by the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture and the SCE.
Al Rumaihi said the initiative supports Bahrain's strategic goal of quadrupling mangrove trees by 2035, enhancing biodiversity, protecting coastal ecosystems and advancing the Kingdom of Bahrain's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. She noted that the SCE continues to prioritise mangrove ecosystems through its technical and regulatory role in cooperation with its partners, recognising their importance in carbon storage, protecting shorelines from erosion and providing natural habitats for marine life and resident and migratory birds.
She added that the SCE is conducting environmental studies in cooperation with relevant entities to assess the carrying capacity of available coastal areas and establish an integrated technical database to evaluate proposed mangrove planting sites, ensuring the best environmental and development outcomes.
Al Rumaihi emphasised that protecting the environment and conserving natural resources is a shared national responsibility that requires continued cooperation between official institutions and the community to ensure the sustainability of coastal ecosystems and biodiversity for current and future generations.