Few would expect Thailand and Qatar to become partners in mangrove restoration. One is defined by its tropical coastlines and dense mangrove forests; the other by desert landscapes and the waters of the Arabian Gulf. Yet it is precisely this contrast that has created a remarkable opportunity for cooperation on environmental sustainability. That vision is now becoming a reality.
Through the facilitation of the Thai embassy in Doha, senior Qatari researchers recently undertook a five-day working visit to Thailand’s mangrove conservation sites, laying the groundwork for a mangrove restoration project in Qatar that will involve a Thai expert as a consultant later in 2026.
The visit was organised by the embassy in Doha in June, in cooperation with the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Thailand’s principal agency for international development cooperation. The programme brought two senior researchers from Qatar University’s Environmental Science Centre (ESC) - Prof Dr Jassim al-Khayat and Prof Dr Vethamony Ponnumony - to visit Thailand’s coastal conservation sites, research centres, and government agencies responsible for marine and coastal resources.
According to the embassy, this visit marks the first major step toward deeper cooperation on sustainable development and mangrove restoration between Thailand and Qatar. This year, a mangrove expert from Thailand has been selected to serve as a consultant for a mangrove restoration project in Qatar, representing an important milestone in bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the field of sustainable development.
This progress did not happen by chance. For more than a year, the embassy in Doha has worked to position Thailand as a trusted partner for Qatar on environmental sustainability, laying the foundation for practical collaboration that benefits both countries.
The foundation for this initiative was laid in 2025 through two embassy-led visits by Thai experts to Qatar. The first visit was held from February 16 to 19, 2025, and included a seminar entitled 'Mangrove Conservation in Qatar: Towards a Practicable Action Plan', co-hosted with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC), ESC, and Earthna Centre for a Sustainable Future on February 17, 2025 at Qatar Foundation.
The delegation also visited mangrove conservation sites, agricultural plantations, and eco-tourism locations in Al-Thakira and Al-Ruwais to observe conservation efforts, exchange expertise, and explore potential areas for collaboration. The second visit was held from April 22 to 23, 2025, and coincided with the Earthna Summit 2025, which the embassy, in collaboration with MECC, ESC, and Earthna, co-hosted a seminar entitled 'From Local to Global: Thailand’s Sustainability and Eco-Tourism Journeys', as an official side event of the summit.
The seminar highlighted Thailand’s sustainability frameworks, emphasising its globally recognised eco-tourism models, environmental conservation efforts, and community-driven development initiatives. The embassy also organised an exhibition at the Earthna Village 2025 to showcase Thailand’s journey towards sustainable development through the display of upcycled and community products from Thai mangrove forests, highlighting the achievements of community-driven development while demonstrating how local communities contribute to sustainable development.
The recent visit to Thailand in June brought the ESC delegation to meet with the institutions responsible for Thailand’s conservation ecosystem. In Phetchaburi Province on the western coast of the Gulf of Thailand, the delegation visited the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources’ Mangrove Resource Management Centre, observing mangrove nurseries and restoration techniques, as well as community-led value addition projects that generate sustainable livelihoods.
The group also visited the Laem Phak Bia Environmental Research and Development Project under Royal Initiative, a research centre recognised as a regional model for integrated coastal management and circular economy practices. In Chonburi Province on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand, the delegation visited the Royal Thai Navy Sea Turtle Conservation Centre, where they explored an approach to marine animal conservation that engages public and military institutions with the private sector to protect endangered sea turtles and other marine species.
The visit also included policy discussions with senior representatives from TICA, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), Kasetsart University, and the Royal Thai Navy. The discussions focused on exchanging knowledge about mangrove restoration protocols, marine resource conservation, and how ecotourism policy frameworks can be structured as conservation tools rather than as tools for resource exploitation.
The embassy noted that the visit delivered tangible outcomes, as both parties committed to strengthening institutional networks and academic cooperation. Although Thailand and Qatar face different environmental challenges, both countries share a common aspiration towards environmental conservation and sustainable development, a shared vision that underpins the growing partnership.
Thailand’s best practices in coastal resource management and mangrove conservation provide opportunities for academic cooperation with Qatar, which has already achieved remarkable progress in various environmental conservation and restoration projects under the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy. Qatar brings considerable strengths to the partnership, namely strong institutional management and abundant natural resources that offer significant potential for conservation-led development. Against this backdrop, Thailand’s experience and expertise offer an accessible model that could be a beneficial addition to Qatar’s ongoing efforts.
As Thailand and Qatar continue to strengthen their partnership, the embassy said this initiative demonstrates how countries with vastly different environments can work together to address shared global challenges. What began as an exchange of expertise has evolved into a practical partnership - one that promises lasting benefits for environmental conservation, scientific cooperation, and sustainable development in both countries.