KUWAIT CITY, Sept 3:  Acting Director General of the Environment Public Authority (EPA), Nouf Behbehani, on Tuesday affirmed the authority’s ongoing efforts to rehabilitate Kuwait’s coastal environment through mangrove cultivation to combat climate change and protect biodiversity.

Behbehani told KUNA that the authority has cultivated mangrove plants in its laboratories, provided by donor Munif Al-Shammari, head of the "We Plant and Protect" volunteer team. Shammari donated nearly 5,000 seedlings and seeds in cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

She added that the seedlings and seeds were cultivated in the EPA’s laboratories to be transplanted and acclimatized before being transferred to their natural environment as part of a wider project to rehabilitate coastal areas across Kuwait.

Behbehani explained that this collaboration reflects the authority’s commitment to supporting voluntary initiatives and civil society contributions aimed at enhancing biodiversity protection and sustaining coastal ecosystems.

All seedlings are scheduled to be planted in the Jahra Nature Reserve in stages over the coming period. The EPA plans to invite relevant authorities, the public, volunteers, and environmental enthusiasts to participate in the planting, alongside initiatives to raise awareness about afforestation and greening.

For his part, donor Munif Al-Shammari said the initiative will help protect Kuwait’s coastal and terrestrial environments, restore ecological balance, and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.

Shammari highlighted that mangroves offer multiple benefits, including combating climate change, protecting coasts from erosion, enriching biodiversity, and purifying water. He added that such steps are crucial to addressing global environmental challenges, achieving sustainability, reducing pollution, improving the quality of life, and safeguarding the planet.

EPA launches mangrove cultivation to protect biodiversity and combat climate change.