Yesterday’s event saw the release of birds at Barouq Reserve by H E Sheikh Faleh bin Nasser Bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani
Qatar Environment Day is celebrated by the State of Qatar on February 26, under the slogan “Our environment is a trust”. This slogan aims to highlight the importance of coordinated community, civil and official efforts to preserve Qatar’s environment, keep it clean, and make it safe, sound, and healthy for future generations.
Since 1996, Qatar has been celebrating this national environmental event under a specific slogan to serve a specific environmental issue. This is to remind and draw attention that protecting the homeland’s environment is everyone’s responsibility, especially as the issue of the environment has become an international issue in all its dimensions. International attention has been paid to it through summits, conferences, and meetings that seek effective and innovative solutions.
Not only did Qatar celebrate this annual event, but it also launched many initiatives such as planting one million trees. The initiative was launched with a QR 1 Billion budget in 2019 to support international efforts against climate change and promote environmental sustainability.
Qatar also pledged to host a carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup Qatar in 2022. They also committed to following international standards in the area of environmental conservation by adopting sustainability standards for stadiums based on different categories such as design, construction, energy and water use.
Qatar National Vision 2030 has included the environment pillar. Qatar implemented a balance between development goals and environmental protection. Qatar created efficient and advanced environmental institutions that raise public awareness about environmental issues and encourage use of environmentally sound technology.
The activities of Qatar Environment Day aim to raise environmental awareness and improve knowledge, skills, and values related to the safety and recovery Qatar’s environment. They encourage participation in a variety of activities, as well as entrepreneurship and the development of environmental awareness among residents, groups, and citizens. These activities aim to increase the role of public institutions and private bodies in the area of environmental protection.
It is clear that the achievements of Qatar Environment Day over the years have contributed greatly to increasing community awareness about environmental issues. This reflects the care and attention given by the wise leadership to protect the environment from pollution and other harmful practices.
Qatar News Agency (QNA), Assistant undersecretary for environmental affairs of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Eng., spoke to us. Hassan Jumaa Bu Jamhour Al Mohannadi stated that the slogan of Qatar Environment Day this year, “Our environment is a trust”, reflects the excellence in Qatar’s biodiversity. He also noted that the ministry seeks protection of this diversity by creating a database to preserve it and to achieve a balance between human, environmental, and social development to ensure a sustainable future.
Al Mohannadi stated that the negative practices of the environment and tampering anywhere with its components is a rejection behavior by the international and local community. He also said that the teachings and values Islamic religion reject these practices because they threaten resources, spoil the ecosystem, drain its resources, deprive subsequent generations of the maximum benefit from it. He said that every citizen and resident should be involved in protecting the environment. They have a responsibility to ensure that the environment is free from pollution, diseases and other environmental risks.
He also mentioned that the 2022 Qatar Environment Day celebration is notable with the high level interest and participation by state institutions, companies from the private sector, and civil society. The celebration activities began Thursday in Sealine with the participation and participation of HE minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Faleh Bin Ahmed bin Ali Al-Thani and camp owners. The activities included the launch and management of Rhim gazelles within the Sealine Nature Reserve and campaigns for hygiene and farming in cooperation with Qatar Scouts and Guides Association.
Al Mohannadi stated that Saturday’s activities at the Brouq Nature Reserve would include hygiene and cultivation campaigns, as well as the release of a specific species of bird. He said that the activities at Bin Ghannam Island will include releasing fish and conducting eco-introductory tours in the forest.
The country is keen to promote eco-tourism in the framework the Qatar National Strategy for Environment and Climate Change. This strategy was launched in October.
QNA received a statement from the Assistant Undersecretary of Environment Affairs of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Engineering. Hassan Jumaa Bu Jamhour Al Mohannadi stated that the ministry’s focus for this year will be eco-tourism as it is part Qatars National Strategy for the Environment and Climate Change. He also said that the ministry releases deer and Arabian Oryx from the reserves, organizes tours and works to conserve and develop eco-tourism areas.
Al Mohannadi, in his assessment of Qatar’s environmental situation, described it as excellent and explained that this approach would be continued during the next stage of the Qatar National Strategy for Environment and Climate Change. This strategy receives the highest care, attention and follow-up from Qatar.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has always stressed the need for biodiversity and sustainability in Qatari environment and encouraged land reclamation and agriculture. In this context, the 7th Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition (QIAAE) and the first Qatar International Environmental Exhibition (QIE) announced the intention to plant one-million trees. The international efforts to combat climate change and improve environmental sustainability are supported.
A growing interest in Qatar’s environment has led to the continuation of several projects related to the environment, including the creation and development of monitoring devices, national capacities and the work systems development, the conservation of endangered species, the increase of nature reserves, the conservation of the plant ecosystem and plants, and the fulfillment of treaty obligation of various international environmental projects signed by Qatar.
The responsibility to protect Our Environment is a Trust is a collective and social responsibility as all citizens, residents and institutions affect and are impacted by the environment. Therefore, the slogan for this years celebration of Qatar Environment Day is “Our Environment is a Trust” which reflects all these contents and Qatar’s growing efforts to preserve its environment.
Qatar Environment Day highlights the importance of protecting the environment and all its components, especially since Qatar National Vision 2030 has adopted sustainability as one its four pillars for sustainable development in the country.
All of these achievements and efforts confirm the high level of care Qatar pays to the environment. This is especially true given Qatar’s prominent international position in the area of environmental preservation in cooperation and other relevant international organizations. Qatar has hosted many conferences of parties in this field.
