Conservation

Efforts for the conservation of wildlife in Bahrain started with the establishment of the Al-Areen Wildlife Reserve. This sanctuary of four square km in area was built in 1976 as a response to the call for conservation in the Middle East. As part of the protection of the wild animals, vegetation in the reserve has been protected for the last 20 years. Cover and diversity in the reserve is high compared to that outside, which reflects the effects of protection in conservation.

More recently an Amiri decree (2/1995) has been announced. This decree states the formation of a National Committee for the Protection of Wildlife; establishment of protected areas, prohibition of hunting and removal of living organisms from the protected areas. In addition, Bahrain has signed the following conventions: Biological Diversity, RAMSAR, CITES, BONN. Also, Tubli Bay, a mangrove habitat, has been designated a protected area and any reclamation within it has been prohibited.