Manama: In line with the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to expand afforestation across the Kingdom of Bahrain's governorates, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, planted and watered the 191,000th tree at Manama Municipality, marking the completion of afforestation works and the surpassing of the annual target for 2025 under the national afforestation plan.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the initiative was attended by a number of ministers and senior officials. The Deputy Prime Minister said that the progress achieved since the launch of the afforestation plan in 2022 aligns with the comprehensive development process led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, which aims to support environmental sustainability, enhance quality of life, and achieve balance between urban development and environmental, social, and economic considerations.
He noted that the close attention given to the afforestation plan by HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister has played a direct role in accelerating implementation, improving performance efficiency, and underscoring the prominence of environmental priorities within government work, as well as advancing current plan targets towards the overall goal set for 2035.
Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah also commended the follow-up of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to the afforestation plan and the 'Bahrain Mangroves' initiative launched by His Highness, highlighting their role in supporting environmental action, protecting natural resources, and strengthening related national efforts.
He pointed out that coordination between the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture and relevant entities contributed to exceeding the annual target this year, achieving 101% of the planned figure by planting 191,000 trees compared to the original target of 189,000, reflecting effective coordination and implementation mechanisms.
The Deputy Prime Minister further noted the role of the private sector and civil society organisations in supporting community-based afforestation initiatives, which contribute to raising environmental awareness and embedding care for green cover as a sustained national practice that supports comprehensive development.
He also commended the efforts of national professionals working on environmental projects, lauding their sense of responsibility and teamwork in achieving set objectives. Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, said that achieving the annual afforestation target for the third consecutive year reflects Bahrain's commitment to translating environmental security into tangible outcomes, in line with the comprehensive development process led by His Majesty the King and the directives of HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
The minister expressed appreciation to the Deputy Prime Minister for planting the final tree for 2025 at Manama Municipality, noting His Excellency's continued follow-up of afforestation initiatives through the Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, and its role in monitoring implementation and enhancing coordination among relevant entities.
The total number of trees planted across the Kingdom of Bahrain has reached 2.4 million, representing 67% of the overall target of 3.6 million trees to be planted by 2035. Mangrove planting has reached 138% of its target, with 2.2 million saplings planted, exceeding the goal of 1.6 million saplings set for 2035.