English abstract
The focus was on wild (local) trees and predicting ideal sites for afforestation in Al-Buraimi city,
considering numbers of criteria affecting them, to achieve sustainability in afforestation
operations in urban cities as a main goal of this study, by linking it to the National Strategy for
Urban Development and the goal of achieving zero carbon neutrality in 2050 within Oman
Vision 2040.
The study adopted a quantitative analytical approach using geographic information system
technology programs (Arc Map) and (Maxent) by identifying 17 factors and extracting 142
climatic, natural, human, and topographical criteria, and projecting them onto a specific number
of wild (local) trees to predict the best afforestation sites in Al-Buraimi city, based on knowledge
of the economic and social factors affecting afforestation.
The study dealt with tracking the afforestation operations witnessed by the Sultanate of Oman,
and the legislation and standards adopted regionally and locally, where the relevant authorities
were communicated, officials were interviewed, the absence of a policy of activating local
legislation and standards for afforestation operations in the urban construction of cities was
clarified, and an attempt was made to review the proposed future plans to enrich and activate this
sector.
One of the most prominent results that came out of the study is the ability of Al-Buraimi city to
be afforested with wild (local) trees, which is included in this study in degrees of high
proportionality, suitable, and medium proportionality. The most prominent recommendation is
the necessity of including environmental planning within urban planning processes to build
sustainable cities, and the importance of conducting extensive future studies in the field of
afforestation for Al-Buraimi city.
