His Excellency the Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanem affirmed Qatar’s strong commitment to supporting parliamentary work at both the regional and international levels, and its continued keenness to provide effective platforms for dialogue, consultation, and the exchange of expertise among Asian parliaments. In a speech delivered at the opening of the meeting of the Standing Committee on Budget and Planning of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly, hosted in Doha yesterday, he noted the wide participation of member states in the committee’s work. He emphasised that this supports the progress of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly, which serves as a unifying framework for enhancing parliamentary cooperation in Asia. The Speaker pointed out that the meeting is being held amid rapidly evolving regional and international challenges, which necessitate strengthening financial planning efficiency, consolidating the principles of transparency, accountability, and good governance, and ensuring sound resource management. These measures, he said, are essential to guaranteeing the sustainability of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly’s work and enabling it to fulfil its active parliamentary role in promoting Asian co-operation. He praised the efforts of the members of the Budget and Planning Committee and the effectiveness of its previous meetings, during which important decisions were adopted. These included the Doha meeting held in November last year, where participants approved the adoption of a unified and equal membership fee for all member states. The committee also adopted a proposal to amend certain provisions of the Assembly’s statute, including the voting mechanism, granting each member state one vote only on draft resolutions and approving decisions by majority rather than consensus. He described this as an important step toward enhancing fairness, ensuring balanced participation in decision-making, and contributing to the development and activation of parliamentary work within the Assembly. The Speaker stressed the importance of this parliamentary bloc as an effective framework for unifying visions and coordinating positions among Asian parliaments in various regional and international parliamentary forums. At the outset of his speech, he welcomed the participants and expressed his wishes for the success of the meeting, once again hosted by Doha, in achieving its intended objectives and issuing recommendations and decisions that strengthen Asian parliamentary action, particularly in the field of budget and planning. The Secretary-General of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly Mohammad Reza Majidi, Representative of the Assembly’s President Dr. Rizvan Oglu Nabiyev, and Vice President of the Assembly Boris Chernyshov praised in their remarks during the opening session on Qatar’s diplomatic and humanitarian efforts and its role at both the regional and international levels. In this context, they commended the support and co-operation of the Shura Council with various parliamentary organisations and legislative councils, which contribute to strengthening parliamentary diplomacy in Asia. They also called for enhanced co-operation and joint parliamentary action among the parliaments of the assembly’s member states, and for leveraging Asia’s exceptional global standing given its geopolitical weight and significant economic and human potential. Prior to the start of the meeting’s proceedings, the Speaker met with the heads of the participating parliamentary delegations, welcomed them, and expressed the hope that their meeting would contribute to supporting joint parliamentary work and strengthening the role of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly in advancing sustainable development efforts across the Asian continent.

From rare desert flora to centuries-old native trees, Qatar’s wild meadows are emerging as a frontline of environmental protection, with authorities accelerating efforts to safeguard fragile ecosystems that cover thousands of hectares across the country.Qatar is home to more than 1,825 natural wild meadows, covering approximately 2.5% of the country’s total land area and providing habitat for between 300 and 500 species of native plants, some of which are protected to ensure their long-term survival.**media[396952]**Most of these meadows are concentrated in the northern and southern regions of the country. To date, 1,273 meadows have been officially registered, with their data recorded in a comprehensive digital database. The information includes details on vegetation cover — such as plants and trees — as well as the threats and challenges facing each site, enabling authorities to develop appropriate protection and maintenance plans.As part of these efforts, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) has completed the maintenance and fencing of 38 wild meadows across the country to further protect Qatar’s green cover. In addition, the ministry is implementing an ambitious project to rehabilitate 100 Qatari meadows by 2028, prioritising the most endangered areas that contain rare plant species.**media[396953]**To prevent damage, some meadows have been fully closed, while others have been partially restricted to deter intrusion — particularly by irresponsible visitors and motorists attempting to enter sensitive areas with vehicles.So far, more than 17,463 seedlings of native wild plants, shrubs and trees have been planted at targeted rehabilitation sites. In parallel, 4,980 wild trees have been transplanted from state infrastructure project locations to rehabilitation areas, under the supervision of environmental specialists.**media[396954]**MECC has stressed that public access to key ecological sites has not been denied, but rather regulated to prevent harmful or careless practices. The ministry has repeatedly urged the public to enjoy Qatar’s natural landscapes responsibly and to comply with environmental regulations, noting that respect for nature is an integral part of the country’s cultural heritage.Several Qatari meadows are known by distinctive local names, reflecting their environmental and historical significance. These include Umm Al Sahnat Meadow, located in the north-east and covering 232,148 sqm, which hosts native trees such as Sidr, Samr and Awsaj alongside diverse plant species.**media[396955]**Other notable sites include Al Qaiya Meadow in the north-west (approximately 854,461 sqm); Al Sulaimi Al Gharbi Meadow in the north-east (120,739 sqm); Rawdat Muaither Al-Darb near the Muaither and Abu Nakhla areas; Rawdat Al-Ajouz in the northern region west of Umm Al-Amad; and Rawdat Rashid, along with Rawdat Saeed, Rawdat Al Arnab and Rawdat Al Faras.Among the most prominent wild trees and shrubs found in Qatari meadows are Sidra (Ziziphus spina-christi), Samr (Vachellia tortilis), Awsaj (Lycium shawii), Qurm (mangrove) (Avicennia marina) and Gafnah (Dipterygium glaucum).**media[396956]**Native grasses and herbs include Dahah (Lasiurus scindicus), Ain Al Qot (Gymnarrhena micrantha), commonly known as cat’s eye, Aqool (Alhagi maurorum) or camel thorn, as well as Stipagrostis species and Cyperus conglomeratus.**media[396957]**Environmental protection is enforced under Law No. 32 of 1995 on the Prevention of Damage to Plant Ecology and Ecosystems, which stipulates penalties including imprisonment of up to three months and fines ranging from QR1,000 to QR20,000, or both. The law also allows for the confiscation of vehicles or tools used in violations and obliges offenders to compensate for environmental damage.