Al Ain City Municipality has completed the project to establish and develop windbreaks along Tahnoun bin Mohammed Road, extending over 14 kilometres and comprising the planting of 1,807 Ghaf trees, with the aim of reducing sand encroachment, enhancing protection for the road and surrounding areas, and supporting environmental sustainability.
Engineer Al Yaziah Rashid Al Neyadi, Project Manager, said that the project forms part of Al Ain City Municipality’s efforts to enhance vegetation cover and establish green belts that serve as natural windbreaks. These contribute to reducing wind speeds, limiting sand movement and encroachment, enhancing road user safety, and protecting nearby facilities and residential areas.
She added that the project relies on planting Ghaf trees due to their high adaptability to the desert environment, enabling them to form effective windbreaks. The project is supported by a modern, high-efficiency irrigation system that ensures optimal use of water resources, in addition to operation and maintenance programmes that contribute to sustaining vegetation cover and maintaining its density.
She explained that technical studies indicate that the windbreaks can reduce sand encroachment by between 70% and 90% in areas located behind them, depending on vegetation density and prevailing wind direction. This contributes to reducing sand accumulation on the road and mitigating the impact of sandstorms on surrounding areas, while also helping to reduce noise levels.
She noted that the project was implemented through a series of phases, including the preparation of studies and designs, site preparation, installation of irrigation networks, pumping stations and water tanks, planting local tree species in accordance with approved plans, followed by operation and testing and the implementation of maintenance programmes to ensure the project’s sustainability.
The project contributes to efforts to combat desertification by stabilizing soil, reducing wind erosion and increasing vegetation cover. Ghaf trees also contribute to enhancing plant biodiversity and ecosystem stability, as well as capturing dust and airborne particles, supporting improved air quality and the surrounding environment.
The project creates a sustainable green corridor along Tahnoun bin Mohammed Road, contributing to enhanced road user safety, protecting nearby residential areas and facilities from sand encroachment, improving the urban and aesthetic landscape, and supporting sustainability objectives and quality of life in Al Ain City.
Engineer Al Yaziah Rashid Al Neyadi, Project Manager, said that the project forms part of Al Ain City Municipality’s efforts to enhance vegetation cover and establish green belts that serve as natural windbreaks. These contribute to reducing wind speeds, limiting sand movement and encroachment, enhancing road user safety, and protecting nearby facilities and residential areas.
She added that the project relies on planting Ghaf trees due to their high adaptability to the desert environment, enabling them to form effective windbreaks. The project is supported by a modern, high-efficiency irrigation system that ensures optimal use of water resources, in addition to operation and maintenance programmes that contribute to sustaining vegetation cover and maintaining its density.
She explained that technical studies indicate that the windbreaks can reduce sand encroachment by between 70% and 90% in areas located behind them, depending on vegetation density and prevailing wind direction. This contributes to reducing sand accumulation on the road and mitigating the impact of sandstorms on surrounding areas, while also helping to reduce noise levels.
She noted that the project was implemented through a series of phases, including the preparation of studies and designs, site preparation, installation of irrigation networks, pumping stations and water tanks, planting local tree species in accordance with approved plans, followed by operation and testing and the implementation of maintenance programmes to ensure the project’s sustainability.
The project contributes to efforts to combat desertification by stabilizing soil, reducing wind erosion and increasing vegetation cover. Ghaf trees also contribute to enhancing plant biodiversity and ecosystem stability, as well as capturing dust and airborne particles, supporting improved air quality and the surrounding environment.
The project creates a sustainable green corridor along Tahnoun bin Mohammed Road, contributing to enhanced road user safety, protecting nearby residential areas and facilities from sand encroachment, improving the urban and aesthetic landscape, and supporting sustainability objectives and quality of life in Al Ain City.