Qatar attaches great importance to environmental issues, said the chairman of ‘A Flower Each Spring’ programme Dr Saif Ali al-Hajari said during the weekly trip at the programme’s headquarters at Ras Matbakh in the Al Khor area. He said the Qatari constitution and Qatar National Vision 2030 have stipulated this, by reducing thermal emissions and shifting from the fossil fuel-based economy to a knowledge-based economy.
‘A Flower Each Spring’ programme emphasises that the protection of the environment is one of the most important issues facing the globe, and that it is the responsibility of all in the society, including the legislative bodies, civil society organisations, the private sector and support initiatives related to this aspect. 
Dr al-Hajari stressed that the protection of the environment is everyone’s responsibility, from the family that converts the knowledge of children to practical behaviours, through the bodies that are concerned with the children, such as the Ministry of Education, civil society institutions, the private sector and companies, by providing green products and supporting programmes and initiatives related to this field and through legislative bodies that enact laws supporting educational awareness and investment bodies that are looking to achieve environmentally safe investments.
The chairman of the programme called on the research centres to study the Qatari environment and its plants to increase their capacity and work to develop them. He explained that the Qatar’s Environment Day, which falls on February 26 every year, is an important occasion to introduce the fundamental transformations in the country in preserving water, air, and soil, and an opportunity to inform the society of the great efforts made in this regard. 
He added that this programme is keen to attract all components of society in this week’s trip that includes centres, communities, and schools of different nationalities, as the numbers of participants in each trip reach more than 300 people per week, which indicates the success of the programme in achieving its goals.
For his part, ambassador of Indonesia to Qatar Mohamed Basri Sidehabi, stressed that Qatar’s Environment Day is an opportunity to increase environmental diversity and beautify cities, noting that his country differs in nature from Qatar, because Indonesia has a rainy climate, so it has dense vegetation, while Qatar has desert, therefore, Doha needs greening its streets and cities to overcome the effects of the climate. He praised Qatar’s agricultural projects and expanding vegetation across the country.
The ambassador suggested planting mangroves on the coast of Qatar, due to its great importance in attracting migratory birds, food of marine creatures and protecting the atmosphere, noting that one mangrove supplies 50 people with the oxygen. ‘A Flower Each Spring programme’ is initiated and sponsored by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. This spring ‘A Flower Each Spring programme’ celebrates the ‘Shuwaika’ flower. 
The programme, initiated and sponsored by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, reflects the importance that Her Highness attaches to issues of society and the country to create awareness among the children about their natural heritage. 
The Shuwaika flower is also known by its scientific name “Fagonia bruguieri”. It is a genus of wild, flowering plants in the caltrop family, Zygophyllaceae. It has green leaves, covered with fluff and its flowers which come in a light purple, with a pleasant aroma, bloom in March and April. 
The programme aims at introducing the flora of Qatar in their natural habitats to the local community in order to be protected and grown well, and building positive behaviour towards the natural environment for young people.
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