Desertification and drought represent an increasing environmental and developmental challenge at the global level, in light of the accelerating pace of climate change and the continued pressures resulting from human activities, and the resulting degradation of land and natural resources, which threatens food security and biodiversity and undermines efforts to achieve sustainable development.
Qatar recognises these challenges by paying close attention to combating desertification and drought, given its geographical nature characterised by a hot and dry desert climate, limited surface water resources, and the unique nature of its vegetation cover.
Within the framework of Qatar National Vision 2030, the country has adopted an integrated strategic approach to address these challenges based on protecting natural resources and achieving sustainable development through developing afforestation programmes, planting drought-resistant plants, applying modern water-saving irrigation techniques, rehabilitating degraded lands and improving soil properties, along with enhancing the environmental monitoring and follow-up system using modern technologies.
At the regional and international levels, Qatar pursues an active policy in the field of combating desertification and promoting environmental sustainability through its commitment to relevant international agreements and its participation in global efforts to address environmental challenges, including joining the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and adhering to its requirements.
In addition, the state participates in the Conferences of the Parties negotiations on climate change, along with supporting and financing regional environmental projects through the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), enhancing co-operation with the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries in the areas of joint environmental management, as well as hosting international conferences and events related to the environment and climate.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) continues to contribute to its initiative to plant 10mn trees by 2030, which was announced by Qatar as part of the Middle East Green Initiative, with more than 4mn trees planted so far.
During 2025, 19,580 local wild and coastal seedlings were cultivated, and 31,275 wild and coastal seedlings were produced in the Al-Ghashamiya nursery to support propagation and environmental rehabilitation programmes.
To reinforce this trend, the MoECC launched the National Strategy to Combat Desertification 2025-30 as part of Qatar’s efforts to protect its natural resources, enhance their sustainability, and mitigate land degradation and the impacts of drought, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy 2024-30.
The strategy encompasses six key outcomes: protecting ecosystems and reducing factors contributing to desertification and drought; promoting sustainable management of natural resources; strengthening vegetation cover and rehabilitating affected environments; building capacity and supporting scientific research and innovation; developing legislation, policies, and effective governance; and enhancing community
participation and national and international partnerships.
In this context, the ministry is implementing a number of programmes and initiatives aimed at reducing land degradation and enhancing vegetation cover.
This includes afforestation programmes and planting plant species adapted to the Qatari environment, environmental monitoring programmes that rely on advanced systems to track indicators of land and vegetation degradation, in addition to initiatives to rehabilitate land, improve its quality and reduce the effects of desertification.
The ministry also attaches particular importance to employing technology and innovation in its environmental efforts through the use of geographic information systems and remote sensing technologies in monitoring environmental changes, developing smart irrigation and sustainable agriculture applications, supporting research related to adaptation to drought, and improving the ability of ecosystems to cope with climate challenges.
These efforts are based on an integrated legislative and regulatory system aimed at protecting the environment and natural resources.
This includes laws and regulations governing the protection of agricultural lands, water resources and biodiversity, in addition to environmental assessment requirements for various projects.
In terms of awareness, the MoECC is keen to promote environmental awareness and community participation through the implementation of awareness and afforestation programmes, support for research initiatives, and encouragement of various segments of society and the private sector to contribute to protecting the environment and preserving natural resources.
Assistant Undersecretary for Protection and Natural Reserves Affairs Dr Ibrahim Abdul Latif al-Muslimani explained in a statement to the Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the MoECC is implementing the National Strategy to Combat Desertification 2025-30, which includes programmes and projects to rehabilitate degraded lands, protect natural habitats and meadows, develop vegetation cover, ensure biodiversity sustainability, and combat invasive plant species.
He pointed out that the strategy aims to restore and rehabilitate at least 30% of degraded natural habitats.
Dr al-Muslimani added that nature reserves represent a fundamental pillar in the state’s efforts to protect biodiversity and reduce land degradation.
He said that terrestrial reserves cover about 27% of the country’s area, with work underway to raise the percentage of protected terrestrial and marine areas to 30% by 2030.
The official reported that the ministry carried out protection and rehabilitation works in 76 gardens and natural sites, with a total area of 16.72sq km from 2019-26, through fencing, regulating use, cultivating local plants and scattering seeds, with a plan to expand protection and rehabilitation programmes to include 500 gardens and natural sites by 2030.
Regarding modern technologies, Dr al-Muslimani pointed to the use of geographic information systems, remote sensing and drones in monitoring the condition of the land and vegetation cover, indicating that these efforts contributed to the inventory and documentation of 1,573 parks, and the establishment of the first integrated national spatial database for parks and natural sites, in addition to studying the use of artificial intelligence (AI) applications to enhance the efficiency of environmental monitoring and support decision-making.
Regarding national partnerships, he stressed that combating desertification requires the combined efforts of various parties.
He noted the participation of more than 25 national bodies in the relevant technical consultations, as well as the contribution of private sector institutions in supporting projects to fence, cultivate and rehabilitate the meadows within the framework of social responsibility.
Director of the MoECC’s Wildlife Development Department, Khalid Juma al-Muhannadi, confirmed in a similar statement to QNA that Qatar is dealing with the challenges of desertification and drought through a long-term strategy based on the sustainable management of lands, the restoration of degraded areas, and the enhancement of local vegetation cover, which contributes to increasing the ability of ecosystems to adapt to climate changes.
He explained that the country’s geographical nature as an arid environment makes it more affected by limited rainfall, high temperatures and scarcity of water resources.
He added that global climate changes impose additional challenges that require the adoption of proactive solutions based on scientific foundations.
Al-Muhannadi stressed that protecting the environment is a shared societal responsibility.
He emphasised the ministry’s keenness to promote environmental awareness through the implementation of awareness campaigns and educational programmes targeting various segments of society, and involving volunteers, educational institutions and the private sector in initiatives to protect meadows, plant local plants and preserve natural habitats.
Head of the Nature Conservators Centre in Qatar, Dr Saif Ali al-Hajri, confirmed that the country indeed succeeded in transforming the barren desert environment into green lands and spaces within the framework of ambitious plans and programmes and effective regional and international co-operation and partnerships.
He told the QNA that there is close co-operation between the various ministries and state institutions.
Dr al-Hajri pointed out that Qatar organises and hosts many related events, including the annual International Agricultural Exhibition (AgriteQ), Expo 2023 Doha with its slogan Green Desert, Better Environment, and other activities, events and initiatives related to combating desertification and drought. – QNA