Sharjah: Khorfakkan To Transform Into A Forest-Surrounded City

Khorfakkan will soon take an easier breath. The green city of Sharjah is about to have a massive green change. It is planned to surround the Khorfakkan city with the coastal area with forests to enhance the air quality and life. The announcement was made by the Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, who revealed the vision in a phone call at the Direct Line programme. 

Sharjah Ruler Releases Vision To Transform Khorfakkan Into A City Of Forest Coating

A report by the Gulf News stated that the project will see the trees planted in big numbers all over the mountains and valleys of Khorfakkan in order to augment the oxygen level, minimise the carbon dioxide and make the environment in the region calmer and healthier.

A Green Vision Based On Wellbeing

The Sharjah Ruler clarified the objective to be comfort, tranquillity and long-term environmental balance. The trees planted carefully on the mountain slopes and valley routes will enable the rainwater to be automatically collected in dug pits to nourish the roots rather than wasting it into the sea.

The result? Khorfakkan is transformed into a forest-surrounding city, where nature is silent in the background to make life much easier.

No-Nonsense Guide To Home Gardening

In addition to urban grandiose, Sheikh Sultan also provided useful planting tips in terms of practical advice to ordinary flower lovers. He has stated how roses require care and attention right at the beginning. The soil should be clean clay and preferably be gathered at the base of mountains, whereby it is devoid of sand. The slightest portions of sand, he said, will influence the last form of the flower.

Light control was also emphasised by him. Flowers can be planted in the semi-shade, not in the sun. Small canvas canopies have openings that give a small passage of the sunlight to the delicate plants and supply them with light at the same time. Timing matters too. The pruning of the roses should be done before March, because only new and tender branches bear new flowers.

Reviving The Qasd Tree, One At A Time

The most memorable was the time when Sheikh Sultan was talking about the Qasd tree, otherwise referred to as awsaj. The desert tree, which bears fruit and was common in places such as Al Madam, had almost disappeared.

Based on his childhood recollections, the Ruler talked of how he had gone out to find surviving Qasd trees, where he found one tree at Al Badi. Nevertheless, there was some scepticism, and cuttings were made, to which the growth hormones were applied, and planted with success. The tree is growing today in the nursery of the Al Badi palace.

That nursery now provides millions of seedlings to municipalities in Sharjah, which replaces overstretched municipal nurseries.

Also Read: Sharjah Ruler Inaugurates Fili Fort Heritage Project In The Central Region

Mountains And Valleys And A Long-Term Promise

There is already planting along the mountains of Khorfakkan. Specialised firms are carrying out land development to ensure that trees receive natural water through rainwater runoff. The vision has clarity and consistency.

Cover Image Courtesy: Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi/X