Biodiversity

The Supreme Council for the Environment (SCE) seeks to preserve the wildlife and marine life in the kingdom of Bahrain. Since its establishment, its efforts have succeeded in allocating six areas as diverse natural sanctuaries. They include five marine protected areas, namely the Hawar Islands, covering 51,4 Km2, the Tubli Bay, covering 13.5 Km2, Arad Bay, covering 0.5 Km2, Mashtan Island, covering 2.5 Km2 and Hayr Bulthamah, covering 7.8 Km2. Meanwhile, Al Areen is the only wildlife reserve, and covers 5.4 km2.

The following is a number of environmental projects and programs aimed at conserving biodiversity in the Kingdom of Bahrain:

• Imposing a ban on fishing turtles, dolphins and dugongs.
• Devising many plans and strategies aimed at maintain biological diversity, including mainly the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
• Establishing a botanical garden for species of wild plants at the Al Areen Wildlife Park.
• Following intensive and constant efforts, the Kingdom obtained the approval of the World Heritage Committee, during its 36th session, to register the Pearl Route Project in the World Heritage list. The project is among the most important across the region to document and promote Bahrain’s maritime heritage, represented in the diving profession. The project, including protected marine natural reserve to conserve hayrat (oyster habitats), is one of the largest nature reserves in the Arabian Gulf and the first of its kind which is related to preserving oyster beds.