The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME), represented by the Department of Monitoring and Environmental Laboratory, has started the second executive round of field survey and soil quality monitoring in Qatar for 2020, which will continue until next month, after the implementation of the first round at the beginning of this year.
Director of the Department of Monitoring and Environmental Laboratory in the ministry Engineer Hassan al-Qassimi explained that the implementation of the second round of the Soil Monitoring Programme in Qatar is part of the department's efforts in developing and implementing plans for environmental monitoring programmes for air, water, and soil and part of the several environmental monitoring programmes prepared and implemented by the department. The programme is being done after the preparation and submission of periodic reports that included assessment of the state of environmental soil quality in the country.
He said that this programme aims at protecting and sustaining the Qatari environment and ensuring that no environmental pollution occurs, pointing out that the department is always developing its tools, mechanisms, and programmes as part of the operational management plans included in the sustainable strategy of MME.
Engineer al-Qassimi referred to the many initiatives and tours adopted by the Department of Monitoring and Environmental Laboratory to achieve the objectives of the National Development Strategy of Qatar 2022.
The efforts to protect and sustain the Qatari environment and its resources are carried out according to the approved strategies and within the framework of the care that the environment in Qatar enjoys, and clearly represented in the fourth pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030, he stressed.
Ali Jassim al-Kuwari from the Department of Monitoring and Environmental Laboratory, said the Soil Monitoring Programme includes 52 sites distributed across Qatar.
Soil monitoring sites include different types of soils, that are considered an important environmental resource and which are used in several fields. The distribution of these sites also covers the different uses of the soil, such as grazing, gardens and camping areas, sabkha, beaches, dunes, undeveloped desert land, in addition to the soil in residential and industrial areas.
He pointed out that the environmental survey teams of the department had collected soil samples from the surface and at about 15cm depth at such sites. After that, they are delivered to the environmental laboratory of the Environmental Monitoring Department to conduct physical and chemical measurements of about 25 environmental measures and variables of quality.
Such variables include, for example, salinity, acidity, organic matter content (which can account for the carbon stored in soil), heavy metals, granule grading, etc.
Following analysis of all samples, semi-annual reports and other annual reports are prepared, containing a comprehensive environmental quality assessment of soil in Qatar and to determine whether there is any contamination and its source if any.
In another context, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, represented by the Public Parks Department and Al Daayen Municipality, yesterday inaugurated two new parks namely Al Sakhama Park and Lusail Valley Park in Al Daayen Municipality, in the presence of a number of officials from MME.
Al Sakhama Park is located on an area of 6,250 square metres, of which 2,240 are green areas.
It includes 16 palm trees, a cafeteria, bathrooms, and play areas.
The Lusail Valley Park is located on an area of 8,370 square metres, of which 2,360 are green spaces. It also includes 17 palm trees, a football field on an area of 960 metres, a basketball court on an area of 970 metres, as well as a cafeteria, bathrooms and play areas.
Director of the Department of Monitoring and Environmental Laboratory in the ministry Engineer Hassan al-Qassimi explained that the implementation of the second round of the Soil Monitoring Programme in Qatar is part of the department's efforts in developing and implementing plans for environmental monitoring programmes for air, water, and soil and part of the several environmental monitoring programmes prepared and implemented by the department. The programme is being done after the preparation and submission of periodic reports that included assessment of the state of environmental soil quality in the country.
He said that this programme aims at protecting and sustaining the Qatari environment and ensuring that no environmental pollution occurs, pointing out that the department is always developing its tools, mechanisms, and programmes as part of the operational management plans included in the sustainable strategy of MME.
Engineer al-Qassimi referred to the many initiatives and tours adopted by the Department of Monitoring and Environmental Laboratory to achieve the objectives of the National Development Strategy of Qatar 2022.
The efforts to protect and sustain the Qatari environment and its resources are carried out according to the approved strategies and within the framework of the care that the environment in Qatar enjoys, and clearly represented in the fourth pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030, he stressed.
Ali Jassim al-Kuwari from the Department of Monitoring and Environmental Laboratory, said the Soil Monitoring Programme includes 52 sites distributed across Qatar.
Soil monitoring sites include different types of soils, that are considered an important environmental resource and which are used in several fields. The distribution of these sites also covers the different uses of the soil, such as grazing, gardens and camping areas, sabkha, beaches, dunes, undeveloped desert land, in addition to the soil in residential and industrial areas.
He pointed out that the environmental survey teams of the department had collected soil samples from the surface and at about 15cm depth at such sites. After that, they are delivered to the environmental laboratory of the Environmental Monitoring Department to conduct physical and chemical measurements of about 25 environmental measures and variables of quality.
Such variables include, for example, salinity, acidity, organic matter content (which can account for the carbon stored in soil), heavy metals, granule grading, etc.
Following analysis of all samples, semi-annual reports and other annual reports are prepared, containing a comprehensive environmental quality assessment of soil in Qatar and to determine whether there is any contamination and its source if any.
In another context, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, represented by the Public Parks Department and Al Daayen Municipality, yesterday inaugurated two new parks namely Al Sakhama Park and Lusail Valley Park in Al Daayen Municipality, in the presence of a number of officials from MME.
Al Sakhama Park is located on an area of 6,250 square metres, of which 2,240 are green areas.
It includes 16 palm trees, a cafeteria, bathrooms, and play areas.
The Lusail Valley Park is located on an area of 8,370 square metres, of which 2,360 are green spaces. It also includes 17 palm trees, a football field on an area of 960 metres, a basketball court on an area of 970 metres, as well as a cafeteria, bathrooms and play areas.