Land Degradation in the Sultanate of Oman: Reasons and Intervention Measures - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 385

Chapter 19
Land Degradation in the Sultanate of Oman:
Reasons and Intervention Measures

H. Al-Hashmi

Synopsis The Sultanate of Oman is a desert country with a large part of its territory
classified as arid or hyper-arid. Desertification per se probably does not occur
because hyper-arid regions are excluded from the UN definition of regions where
desertification is said to occur. But desert encroachment and land degradation in its
many forms are a problem and this chapter examines the situation in Oman and the
steps taken to remedy and reverse the situation.

Key Points

• The Sultanate of Oman is located on the Arabian Peninsular which is classified

according to the World Atlas of Desertification as mostly Hyper-arid and Arid
in parts - 95 % of Oman is either climatic desert or more than moderately
affected by land degradation. The conservation and protection of the environment
of Oman, is the major component of this National Conservation Strategy to
safeguard the welfare of the coming generations of people of Oman. It is seen as
a pillar of national development because the achievement of the socio-economic
development depends on the existence of suitable environment conditions that
lead to attaining the balance between the people's welfare and conservation of
the natural resources.

• There are 2.3 million hectares of land suitable for agricultural production in the

Sultanate of Oman. However, the future exploitation of these lands depends, to a
large extent, on water availability. The area under rangelands in the Sultanate of
Oman amounts to 172,625 km 2 (17,262,500 ha). The productivity of these lands
is estimated at 0.2 tonnes/ha (Agricultural and Fisheries Development in the
Sultanate of Oman 2005). This means that the rangeland resources provide some