Okaz/Saudi Gazette JAZAN — A group of 50 female students from the University of Jazan on Wednesday planted mangrove seedlings on the Red Sea coast as part of an afforestation drive to protect the city's fragile shoreline. The students also distributed pamphlets explaining the ecological value of mangroves and their significance in preserving the ecosystem. The students were from the faculties of science and humanities at the university's Al-Aridah campus. The campaign, titled "Together, we take care of mangroves," had in fact kicked off last November. The women's committee for the Health Program of Cities in Al-Aridah organized Wednesday's program in coordination with Jazan Fish Resources Research Center and Jazan University in a move to create awareness among young people about the marine ecosystem and the importance of mangroves in supporting marine life. Maysoon Shitaifi, head of the committee, said the program involved planting of mangrove seedlings in a scientific way on the coastal area after taking into account its unique ecological value in stabilizing the shoreline, maintaining coastal water quality and providing habitat for a diverse range of wildlife species, including fish, shrimps, crabs as well as migratory birds. "The students had an opportunity to visit the mangrove nursery belonging to the Fish Resources Research Center, which had more than 100,000 seedlings ready," she said. On her part, Olya Adel, supervisor of the program, said the scientific trip to the Jazan beach was conducted as part of the university's endeavor to take part in preserving environment and spreading awareness about the ecosystem and sustainable development. "A team from the Jazan Fish Resources Research Center accorded a warm reception to the students who took part in the campaign and explained to them the value of mangroves to the ecology, especially its role in protecting the shorelines from erosion and other threats by facilitating sediment deposition and slowing water flow," she said. In November 2014, Jazan Emir Prince Muhammad Bin Nasser launched the ambitious campaign to plant 100,000 mangrove seedlings on Jazan beaches. He inaugurated the campaign with planting a seedling at Al-Marjan Corniche in the presence of then Minister of Agriculture Fahd Balghunaim. Since then, all segments of society in Jazan, especially students, have been actively taking part in the campaign.
