Land Degradation in the Sultanate of Oman: Reasons and Intervention Measures - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 393

6. Reclamation of marginal lands in some areas.
7. Fields management of irrigation water.
8. Studies to associate arable lands with areas existing and expected underground
water potential.
9. Study of soil contamination resulting from the uses of agricultural lands.
10. Preparation of plans for the survey and development of Regional water
resources.
11. Organization of grazing in the mountains of Dhofar.
12. Establishment of gardens, parks, and nature reserves all over the Sultanate.
13. Preparation of the National Plan to combat Desertification (NPCD).
14. Planting drought and salinity-resistant plant to expand vegetational cover in the
affected areas,
15. Use of treated sewage water in irrigation as an important source of water for
agriculture.
16. Study of water resources development and preparation of National Water
Master Plan (NWMP), and preparation of Master plan for ground water
pollution protection (MPGWPP). See also Al-Balooshi ASS ( 2003 )foran
overview.

4 The National Plan of Action to Combat

Desertification (NPACD)

The plan (NPACD) came as a result of a joint cooperation between the Sultanate
and the United Nation Environment Program (UNEP), the Economic and Social
commission of Western Asia (ESCWA) and the food and agriculture organization
(FAO). The (NPACD) was prepared in 1993, and the content of the plan can be
summarized in the following:

1. Inventory of Natural resources of the Sultanate.
2. Socio-economic setting of the Sultanate.
3. The status of desertification in the Sultanate and its causes.
4. Overview of the Sultanate's efforts to combat desertification.
5. The (NPACD) proposed 24 priority projects to control desertification and
minimize its risks, the projects are not only supported by relating them to the
recommendation of UN conference on desertification plan of action, but also
to the revised set of recommendation presented in the report of the executive
Director of UNEP to the UN conference and development 1992.

Finally, while the Sultanate proceeds in implementing the plans aimed at
the sound management of its lands and water resources, in addition to combat
desertification and increasing the cultivated areas within its available potentials;
it is evident that lack of financial and technical support necessary to combat
desertification at the local, regional and international levels, will subject the plans