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Observer
06-04-2025
- Observer
Al Sifa as an ecotourism destination gaining popularity
MUSCAT, APRIL 6 A boat ride through the mangroves at Al Sifa is gaining momentum and popularity. Al Sifa Beach has different features... one part with flat rocks, another is a white sand beach, and the other with the mangroves. This is what the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation says about mangroves: 'As we navigate the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), mangroves emerge as emblematic of nature-based solutions to global challenges.'According to FAO, restoring mangrove habitats aligns with the decade's goals of halting biodiversity loss, combating desertification, and addressing climate change impacts. 'Gulf countries are at the forefront of these efforts, demonstrating a strong commitment to protecting and restoring mangrove habitats. By integrating traditional knowledge and leveraging advanced technologies, these countries are setting an example for the world,' FAO stated. The natural harbour has the fishermen park their boats, and this is also where one can explore this part of Oman's coast with the mangroves on a boat. The cost of the rides is reasonable, and the area is picturesque. The Green. Earth explains that mangroves are resilient trees and act as potent carbon sinks, utilising photosynthesis, sediment trapping, slow decomposition, and peat formation to store atmospheric CO2. 'Over the past two years, Oman's efforts have seen the planting of over 3.5 million mangrove seeds, with a record-breaking 2 million trees this year. Coastal areas from Dhofar to Muscat and the Daymaniyat Islands are now reaping the benefits of this green resurgence,' the organisation writes in its report on Oman. It pointed out that this groundbreaking initiative marks a pivotal step towards Oman's zero-emissions aspirations, estimating significant environmental and economic gains through restoring and preserving the invaluable mangrove ecosystems. Al Sifa, as a tourist destination, is gaining its prominence, as can be seen with the available amenities. There is a store for renting tents and tenting equipment. There are established facilities, from rooms to caravans. Most importantly, the public restrooms are available right on the roadside. It is almost a 50-minute drive from Wadi Kabir, but there are options from Muttrah and Al Hamriyah as well. The scenic route is much admired, and by the time the Wadi Al Rahba and Al Maha petrol station is crossed, one can enjoy the beauty of Al Sifa. One has to be careful about donkeys and goats on the roadside. But once there, time and mind can be on reset mode, making it an ideal location for ecotourism. The boat ride operators said Eid holidays saw a busy season. But on the beach sides that are popular for camping, picnickers had left the trash behind. The visitors have to bear in mind each season is important. Currently, the shrubs on the beach with wading rocks are in full bloom, attracting a swarm of white butterflies.
Gulf Today
05-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Global food commodity prices steady in March, says UN agency
Global food commodity prices edged up in March, with a sharp rise in vegetable oils offsetting declines in cereals and sugar, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said on Friday. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in a basket of internationally traded food commodities, averaged 127.1 points in March against a revised estimate of 126.8 for February. The March reading was up 6.9 per cent from a year earlier but 20.7 per cent below a March 2022 peak. For vegetable oils, FAO's price index increased by 3.7 per cent from February, with quotations for palm, soy, rapeseed and sunflower oils all rising on the back of strong import demand, the agency said. The price reading for vegetable oils was up 23.9 per cent from a year earlier. FAO's cereal price indicator was down 2.6 per cent from the previous month and now showing a 1.1 per cent year-on-year decrease. Wheat prices fell, as concerns over crop conditions in some major Northern Hemisphere exporting countries eased. Maize (corn) and sorghum quotations also declined, while barley prices increased slightly. FAO's all-rice index fell 1.7 per cent from the prior month amid weak import demand and ample export supply, the agency said. Average sugar prices dropped by 1.6 per cent, driven by signs of weaker global demand. Rainfall in southern Brazil contributed to the decline, though losses were limited by concerns about overall prospects in Brazil and also India, FAO said. The meat price index rose 0.9 per cent on the month, with FAO citing higher pig meat prices in Europe after Germany regained food-and-mouth-disease-free status. World poultry meat prices remained largely stable in March, despite widespread avian influenza outbreaks in some major producing countries, it said. The dairy price index was unchanged from February. In a separate cereal report, FAO increased slightly its estimate of world cereal production last year, to 2.849 billion metric tonnes from 2.842 billion previously. For 2025, FAO kept unchanged its forecast of world wheat production at 795 million tonnes, also little changed from 2024. Meanwhile Global food commodity prices rose in February, driven by higher sugar, dairy, and vegetable oil prices, the Food and Agriculture organisation (FAO) of the United Nations said on Friday. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in international prices of globally traded food commodities, averaged 127.1 points last month, up 1.6 per cent from January and 8.2 per cent from February 2024. The jump was largely driven by sugar prices, which shot up 6.6% month-on-month, pushed higher by concerns over tighter global supplies for the 2024/25 season, partly because of unfavourable weather conditions in Brazil. Dairy prices increased 4 per cent from January, with all major dairy products rising, spurred on by strong import demand which exceeded production in key exporting regions. Vegetable oil prices rose 2 per cent month-on-month and 29.1 per cent year-on-year, largely due to higher prices for palm, soy, and sunflower oils, driven by supply constraints in Southeast Asia and strong demand from the biodiesel sector. FAO's cereal price index edged up 0.7 per cent from January. Wheat prices increased due to tighter supplies in Russia and concerns over crop conditions in eastern Europe and north America, while maize prices continued to rise due to tightening supplies in Brazil and strong US export demand. Conversely, world rice prices fell by 6.8 per cent in February. Meat prices edged down 0.1 per cent on the month. Agencies
