BAHRAIN's farms are under threat from owners who are selling them to building developers for high prices, say local environmentalists.

They claim in many cases owners who sell their farms are violating laws that protect palm trees and land that falls within the green belt.

Environment Friends Society (EFS) founder and president Khawla Al Muhannadi is calling on authorities and civil societies to take action against those who violate the law and to halt Bahrain's dwindling farms.

"All farms are under attack. Most farms that have been destroyed have violated the law, but nothing is done about it," she told the GDN.

"Even if they are not in the green belt area, the law still protects palm trees in Bahrain and has done so since 1983, but no-one seems to be punished for this.

"The law states that no-one is allowed to kill or harm a palm tree or impact its growth.

"The punishment is jail, or a fine, but we haven't seen anyone in jail for this."

Last December, EFS launched a committee to monitor Bahrain's farms and 10 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) pledged their support.

The committee is responsible for recording all existing farms in Bahrain, the size of each one and how many trees it has and other details.

It will then focus on each farm and sit with owners to find out what their plans are with the land, because most farmers rent the land.

"Our aim is to at least maintain what's left, we have lost a lot and we are so sad for each farm we lost," said the environmentalist, who is also United Nations West Asia civil societies representative.

"We tried to save them, but failed because we didn't get support."

Ms Al Muhannadi said EFS had some records of existing and demolished farms, but was still waiting for exact figures from the Municipalities and Agriculture Ministry.

"A complete farm of palm trees, fruit trees and others in Sanad was demolished to be turned into a building project," she said.

"In many cases it happens that the land was protected but somehow it became exempt from the law and then the land becomes about seven times more valuable than it was as farm land.

"The price is our habitat, our environment.

"A freshwater ecosystem exists only on farms and they attract freshwater turtles, frogs and mammals.

"Planting trees on the street won't form an ecosystem and can't be equivalent to a habitat of a farm."

Meanwhile, Ms Al Muhannadi said EFS was also fighting for the protection of Fasht Al Adhm.

"We have been able to protect it for two years but recently we have seen dredgers there and if you do this near a coral reef the silt will suffocate them and kill them," she noted.

The environment activist said Bahrain's marine environment was also under threat and this had been evident by the dwindling numbers of fish.

A smaller population of fish meant fishermen were catching less and as a result forced to put up prices.

Sitra coastline, Fasht Al Jaram and Buhair Valley also need continuous environmental protection, she said.

Ms Al Muhannadi said MPs, municipal councils, ministries and NGOs played an important role in protecting the environment and EFS was hoping to create partnerships with each of them.

"We are planning to meet municipal councillors to discuss various environment issues in the near future," she said.

"And we hope with this new period of parliament, the MPs will be willing to fight for environmental causes and we will sit with them and explain all the problems. "They must see it as their national duty to protect this heritage and the main wealth for generations to come."