The Environment & Wildlife
 The main objective behind the establishment of the Environment Affairs Agency Department is to formulate policies and plans towards conserving the environment, achieving sustainable development and protecting and developing marine and terrestrial wildlife through effective natural resources management strategies. The Agency programme covers the following areas of activity: (a) regulation and environmental legislation; (b) environmental forecasting and planning; (c) environment evaluation; (d) contamination control; (e) mobilising efforts to study environmental issues and problems; (f) garbage management; (g) promoting environmental awareness; (h) developing international cooperation in this field.
In 1997 competent authorities conducted a survey covering environment issues raised in 1996 in a bid to address them. Also the survey was intended to highlight the environment problems facing citizens in order that these may be resolved as quickly as possible.
Whilst the lush northern region of Bahrain harbours a wealth of wildlife, interest lies mainly on Bahrain's nutrient rich eastern shores, hosts to thousands of migrating shorebirds; its scrub desert areas which support a number of specially adapted species of plants and animals; its offshore islands which are home to a number of rare and endangered species; and its shallow saline coastal waters which support a rich marine life including dugong, green turtle and sea-snakes.
Al Areen Wildlife Park, the brainchild of HH Sheikh Hamad bin Isa bin Sulman Al Khalifa, Crown Prince of Bahrain, is divided into two parts, one which is open to the public and the other which forms an off-limits reserve where access is only possible with special permission. Access to the park is by bus from the main entrance and follows a tar macadam road from which one can observe a variety of Arabian mammals such as Arabian oryx, and sand gazelle, together with other ungulates. Many wild birds are attracted to the park which plays a vital role in educating the public concerning conservation issues.
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