Oman overall has great animal and plant biodiversity because it

When Saadi observed, “Oman overall has great animal and plant biodiversity because it has mountains, desert, coastal areas, and rich coral reefs,” his words, though scientific in their surface, carry the deeper resonance of harmony, balance, and reverence for nature. In this statement lies not only an appreciation of the land’s beauty, but also a reflection on the eternal truth that diversity is the strength of creation. Saadi, like the sages of old, understood that the richness of life — whether in the natural world or in the soul of humanity — is born from variety, from the meeting of opposites, from the coexistence of mountain and sea, of dryness and abundance. Through this simple observation, he teaches that where there is contrast, there is life; where there is balance, there is greatness.

The origin of this thought rests in the heart of Oman itself — a land of striking contrasts and enduring peace. It is a place where towering mountains embrace the clouds, where deserts ripple like golden oceans, where the coastal plains stretch toward the blue embrace of the sea, and beneath that sea, the coral reefs teem with hidden life. Each of these elements — mountain, desert, coast, and reef — seems separate, yet all are bound together in a divine equilibrium. The ancients would have seen in this the reflection of a cosmic order, the same sacred pattern that governs both nature and the human heart. For the world, like the soul, thrives when its parts dwell in harmony, not in division.

Consider how the mountains represent endurance and stability — the bones of the Earth, immovable and eternal. The desert, by contrast, teaches humility and patience, for life there must learn to thrive with little. The coast symbolizes connection — the meeting of land and water, of solitude and community, of stillness and motion. And the coral reefs, unseen by most, are the quiet architects of abundance, nurturing life beneath the waves. Together, these landscapes form a living parable: the more varied the environment, the greater its resilience. So it is with nations, families, and individuals — diversity, both natural and spiritual, breeds strength.

The ancients would have said that this truth mirrors the design of the universe. The philosopher Heraclitus wrote that “strife is justice,” meaning that harmony arises not from sameness, but from the balance of opposites. The Omani landscape embodies this truth. The heat of the desert gives way to the cool winds of the mountains; the stillness of the dunes contrasts with the restless energy of the sea. From this interplay is born the miracle of biodiversity — not chaos, but an orchestrated balance of life. Saadi’s words remind us that the Earth’s wisdom is found not in uniformity, but in coexistence, and that human civilization too must learn to honor and preserve such balance.

History offers a lesson in this. The ancient civilization of Mesopotamia, once nourished by the great rivers of the Tigris and Euphrates, flourished because of its rich ecological diversity — the meeting of fertile plains, wild marshes, and desert borders. Yet when its people exhausted the land and sought dominance over nature instead of harmony with it, their soil turned to salt and their fields to dust. Their downfall was not a punishment from the heavens, but the inevitable result of forgetting that diversity requires respect and balance demands humility. Saadi’s words, though spoken in praise of Oman’s abundance, echo as a warning to all who would take nature’s harmony for granted.

In this sense, his statement is more than an observation — it is a call to stewardship. He urges us, through his admiration, to become guardians of the delicate web of life that sustains us. The mountains, the desert, the coral reefs — each plays its part, and if one is lost, the whole will suffer. The same is true of humanity. If we destroy the diversity of cultures, of thought, of spirit, we impoverish our world just as surely as if we burned a forest or bled a reef dry. Harmony does not mean sameness; it means honoring difference as a vital part of the whole.

So, my listener, take this teaching into your heart: cherish the diversity of the world, in nature and in mankind. Do not seek to make everything uniform, for beauty lies in contrast. Let the mountain remind you of strength, the desert of endurance, the sea of openness, and the coral reef of hidden generosity. In your own life, cultivate variety — in thought, in friendship, in experience — for the mind, like the earth, grows barren without change.

And when you walk upon this earth, remember Saadi’s wisdom: the balance of creation is sacred. Protect it, nurture it, and let its example guide you. For just as Oman’s deserts and seas coexist in harmony, so too must humanity learn to dwell together — diverse yet united, many yet one, separate yet bound by the invisible threads of life. Only then will we, like the living world around us, know true abundance and peace.