Oman's Environment Authority checks on reports of tree-burning

Muscat: Environment Authority (EA) officials have visited Al Jabal Al Akhdar based on reports of wild trees being burnt.

A statement issued online by the Environment Authority (EA), said: "Based on incoming reports of repeated cases of burning wild trees and violating wildlife rules at Al Jabal Al Akhdar, His Excellency the President of the Environment Authority and a group of specialists visited the Al Jabal Al Akhdar on Thursday to find out about these violations. His Excellency directed the specialists to expedite work to find quick and appropriate solutions to solve the problem, and to urgently take preventive and legislative measures to curb these repeated abuses."

"His Excellency also thanked the efforts made by the Ministry of Defense, the Public Authority for Civil Defense and Ambulance and the Royal Oman Police for their prompt response and cooperation with the reports received about these abuses, stressing that this logistical cooperation will enhance the efforts made to combat violations. His Excellency stressed that these behaviors show irresponsibility and indifference on the part of some tourists who, by lighting a cooking fire near these trees, cause them to burn. The trees are oily and are affected quickly even from cooking and barbecuing residues," the statement added.