Sharjah body launches afforestation projects

According to a source at the municipality, a large number of trees were planted along Al Muwailih Street as part of the civic body's comprehensive greenery project, which also included construction of playgrounds at public schools.

The source added that the civic body has also planted different kinds of trees at a new park in Al Kharaein area. The park is likely to be opened for public very soon.

During the previous year, more than 10 new parks were opened at different areas in the emirate including Al Nouf, Al Falaj, Al Qoz, Al Azra, Al Ghafiya, Samnan, Al Nahda, Al Rashidiya and Al Mulaiha. The civic body has also drawn up designs to construct a major park at Al Saij area in Diba Al Hosson. "Several beautification projects are being executed by the civic body at different sites in the emirate such as Al Nahda bridge and Al Khan Corniche," the source said.

The civic body published a number of publications highlighting the achievements of the municipality in the greenery project, he said. "Sharjah Municipality had bagged the first prize of the City Greeting Competition organised by the Arab Cities Organisation (ACO). The award is the second accomplishment for Sharjah in less than three years in the field of environment and greenery. During 2000, Sharjah won the second prize in Environment Awareness Award organised by ACO," he said.

On the strides taken in afforestation and greenery, he said that the municipality had issued last year a statistical book comprising 158 pages. "The book contains details about the philosophy of Sharjah in the field of afforestation and the projects it has carried out including the parks, recreational areas, public squares, green belts and roundabout," he noted. "A section of the book talks about the problems faced by Sharjah Municipality in its drive to spread the green colour and how it has encountered them," the source said.

He noted that due to the importance of the palm tree for the environment and it being part of the country's culture and heritage, the municipality had also set up a special unit at the horticulture section to irrigate, fertilise, and plant palm trees.