Oman Environment

Introduction:

Government is responsible for land planning, construction industries, transport, and

preservation of public amenity control of air and water pollution, the protection of the

coast and countryside. As it was defined in the dictionary, the weather of our country

is very hot and dry. So most of our village’s people are using falaj to put water to

their gardens and for other purposes. Culture in Oman is very important. Houses

have been built according to our culture. In our country has one of the best records in

environmental prevention and pollution control measures. Plant was planted at the

side of the roads and parks for good views and most people have plant in their houses

and some of them have gardens. We have different kinds of animals, such as

leopards, hyenas, oryx, gazelle, ibex, desert foxes, antelope and wild costs. In the sea

thirteen different kinds of whales and dolphins have been recorded and some 400

species of birds are found in Oman at different seasons a year. We also have many

factories and power stations in the Sultanate of Oman, which have been established in

different regions and wilayats of the Sultanate. Some of this station, such as those in

Governorate of Muscat and wadi Jazi and Manah station are operated with natural gas

while others in Salalah, Sur, and Governorate of Musandam use diesel. Diesel is

known to be a major source of air pollution in these areas, in comparison with clean

natural gas. We also have another company, Oman Cement Company and Oman

Refinery Company etc. Municipal Ministry has responsibilities for providing the

usual municipal services such as environmental health public.

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 CHAPTER 1

POLLUTION

Introduction:

There are many things that pollute the air such as motor, vehicles, wood burning,
construction activity, agriculture, industrial smokes, power station and wind blow dust
from open lands and those are among the most harmful of all air pollutant.

The major pollutants are chemical or biological materials that degrade water quality.
Petroleum products, oil and chemicals get into water by means of accidental spill,
from ships, tanker trucks, pipelines, and leaking underground storage tanks.

Sewage which is drained to the sea from factories and houses. People play near the

seaside and thrown garbage, empty bottles, cans and plastic bags, water pollution can

kill large number of fish, birds and other animals.

Pesticides and herbicides are chemicals used to kill unwanted animals and plants for

example on farms or streets may be collected by rain water, run off and carried into

streams, falaj and contaminate the water.

Heavy metals such as copper, lead and mercury get into water from many sources,

including industries, automobile exhaust, mines and even natural soil. Heavy metal is

poisonous, can result in health problems.

What is noise pollution?

Noise-sounds that lead to impact harmful to health and unacceptable or undesired

sounds transmitted into the air by subsequent waves in all directions and measured in

units called decibel.

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 CHAPTER 2

OMAN CULTURE

Omani Religion:

The Omani culture has firm roots in the Islamic Religion. Oman developed its own

particular form of Islam called Ibadhism, not all Omanis are Ibadhis, there also Sunnis

and Shia Muslims.

Men’s clothes: The national dress for Omani men is simple ankle length colorless

gown with long sleeves called the dish-dashas. The shall is a long strip of cloth that

acting as a holder for the khanjar, which is worn in leather sheath in front of the body

in a special belt, a tradition which is unique to Oman. It is of Omani origins and is a

symbol of his manhood, courage and deep rooted traditions.

Women’s clothes: The main component of a woman’s outfit comprises of a dress,

which is worn over trousers (sirwal), and the headdress called the liahf. They are

three main types, which show vibrant colours and decorations. Expensive jewelry is

often work with this dress around the head, neck, wrists, ankles, fingers and toes.

Some women pierce their noses on both sides and wear jewelry, which carry carnelian

stone. The women of interior Oman wear a simple yet colourful dress that comes just

below the knee and is embroidered with bands of silk gold and silver thread. The

serwal is fairly loose and have broad bands of silk sewn around the hems. The lihaf

reaches down the back and it is generally made of chiffon. The dress is sometimes

covered by a lightweight black cloth over the dress. In some parts of Oman, women

tend to wear a full-length kandowra, which is embroidered in different designs and

patterns. The jewelry worn by Omani women is made of gold. Now most women

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wear sandals or fashion shoes. Many women in Oman paint their hands and feet with

henna, particular before special occasions as Eid, holidays or weddings.

Frankincense: Frankincense is also used extensively throughout the Sultanate for a

variety of purposes. The Dhofari frankincense is considered amongst the best in the

world.

Traditional Oman food: The Omani people are well known for their hospitality and

warmth. An invitation would mean coffee (kahwa) which is strong, bitter drink

flavoured with cardamom and dates or halwa. More substantial meals often have rice

as a main ingredient together with cooked meat.

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 CHAPTER 3

ANIMALS IN OMAN

There are different kinds of animals such as:

Leopard: A flesh eating animal with yellowish coat and dark spots. These animals

live in Jabal Samhan Natural Reserve. This is an important refuge for some of the

rare wild animal species in Arabia such as the Arabian Leopards which are under

threat of extinction because of uncontrolled human activity such as poaching and

deforestation and the consequent encroachment of their natural habitat.

Hyaena: Another flesh eating wild animal, similar to a wolf with a laughing cry.

These animals live in thick forests such as Jebal Samhan.

Wolf: A wild, flesh-eating animal of the dog family, hurts in packs. Cry raise false

alarms.

Gazelle: A small, graceful kind of antelope. These animals live in the plains of Al-

Wusta Region, where the grass is abundant.

Fox: A wild animal from the dog family with red fur and a bushy tail. These animals

live in Jebal Samhan. They eat dead animals or hunt life animals.

Dolphins: A sea animal like porpoise illus at sea. They live on small fish.

Turtles: An animal with a hard shell on its back, which walks very slowly. These are

found commonly on Ras-Al-Hadd. Facts and figures about green turtles. On maturity

they attain the length of 85 to 120 cm and width of 80-100 cm at the age of 30-50

years, and their expected life span is more than 100 years. Incubation period for their

eggs is 50-60 days. They live on sea-weeds and water plants. Estimated population

of turtles in Oman is approximately 12,000 to 20,000 turtles.

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Oryx: Yet another graceful and peaceful white coloured animal, and they live in

green belts of central part of Oman, and Arabian Oryx sanctuary is located in Al-

Wusta region. Gestation period is 8.5 months, average weight of a new born Oryx is

3.5 kg, and attains 70-90 kgs on attaining adulthood, and expected life span is about

13-19 years. Weaning period of calves is about 6-10 months. Normally, the females

produce a calf once a year. Longest recorded distance traveled is 74 km in 12 hours,

and longest distance traveled in search of rains is 155 k, they are known to sustain

without water for nearly two years.

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