Countries

Forests and the forestry sector

The archipelago country of Bahrain has no formally declared forested areas, although the islands have relatively lush vegetation compared with other parts of the Near East. There is no natural forest cover in Bahrain. The woody cover present in the country is being planted by the government through an afforestation programme. Forest cover increased by 14.9 percent from 1990 to 2000. Desert plants, particularly halophytic species, are the predominant vegetation in Bahrain. Parts of some islands are covered by date palms (Phoenix dactylifera) growing under relatively low saline conditions. However, significant areas of date palms have been felled in recent years. Small areas of mangrove swamp occur in some coastal areas. Sea intrusion in some areas is causing a very critical situation, resulting not only in the salinization of soils but also in reducing the green areas. Increasing demands on subterranean water sources have also resulted in palm mortality.

In the 800 hectare Al-Areen Wildlife Sanctuary, Bahrain¿s most notable protected area, around 100 000 trees have been planted since 1976 to complement the primary wildlife conservation objectives. Other protected areas included UBF Stream Wildlife Reserve (5 ha), designated in 1988, and Ras Sanad Mangrove Reserve (50 ha) established in 1989. Manama Town Landscape and Greenbelt Protected Area totals 470 ha. The protected areas system also provides tourism and education benefits.

Forest plantations have been developed in coastal, subdesert and desert areas. Besides the indigenous species Prosopis juliflora, Zizyphus spina-christi, and Phoenix dactylifera, species trials have been carried out to introduce new forest tree species that can grow satisfactorily under the harsh conditions of Bahrain, and 11 species found to be adapted are used in afforestation programmes.

There are no forest industries in Bahrain. Virtually all of the wood products used in the country are imported.

Verified data are currently unavailable on the presence or significance of non-wood forest products in Bahrain.

The rapidly decreasing groundwater accompanied by increasing salinity has led the Ministry of Works and Agriculture to look for alternative resources with a view to meet ing the social requirements and maintaining landscaping activities in the country.

The most significant of the environmental problems include the extensive damage and destruction to mangrove and mud flats and autumn wader migration feeding grounds through massive urban development programmes and rapid land reclamation programmes. Since oil was first discovered in 1931, many beaches in northern Bahrain have been drastically polluted by oil.

Last updated: May 2004