Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (Environmental Affairs Units), in co-operation with a number of governmental, non-governmental, and community members, celebrated the Qatar Environment Day yesterday.
To mark the occasion the ministry is holding a major event at the Cultural Village Foundation – Katara until February 28.
The Qatar Environment Day activities in Katara will witness the participation of all departments affiliated to the Environmental Affairs Units, under the slogan “Let’s live together”, emphasising the interest in biodiversity and sustainability in the Qatari environment.
The ministry also holds, in co-operation and partnership with a number of bodies, institutions, and authorities in Qatar, cleaning campaigns at some beaches, roads, and parks in different regions of the country, in addition to some afforestation and agricultural work.
The Environmental Affairs Unit works hard to maintain the survival of vital systems, restore balance, preserve the environment, and develop and sustain its resources, which are considered fortunes for future generations, based on the ministry’s responsibility towards the environment and achieving its vision, mission, and goals.
The Environmental Affairs Unit has implemented many programmes that support the path of development and environmental conservation within the strategic plan and international treaties and agreements in this regard in a manner that reflects the aspiration of the people of Qatar and future generations.
Speaking on this occasion, HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie underlined that Qatar attaches great importance to the issue of the environment and its preservation, in light of the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. The state has put environmental development as one of the four main pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030, and stressed that achieving this vision is a national responsibility.
The minister added that the celebration of this occasion, with the participation of government, private agencies and various groups of society, aims to emphasise the importance of the environment and its preservation and sustainability for future generations, noting that through the second national development strategy and the sustainable strategy of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (2018-2022), clear goals have been set to achieve the environmental sustainability of the country.
The minister noted that Qatar shares the interest of the world in preserving biodiversity, and this year, the ministry celebrates the Qatar Environment Day with a national slogan “Let’s live together”, realising the importance of biodiversity in achieving environmental balance and sustainability.
Minister al-Subaie emphasised that the Ministry of Municipality and Environment seeks to protect Qatar’s environment diversify and preserve its resources in order to achieve sustainable development and work to protect the sustainability of living and non-living natural resources.
The Environment minister pointed out that the ministry has implemented a number of projects and programmes in this field, including a project to establish a database of biodiversity in the country; a project to protect endangered plants such as Mesquites and Cordia myxa; a project to rehabilitate the Qatari mainland; endangered Hawksbill turtle protection project; the DNA project for the Arabian Oryx; the establishment of Al Reem Reserve, which is included in the Man and the Biosphere Programme (Unesco).
The ministry has also implemented several other projects such as the whale shark protection project; the sea cows protection project; the production and reproduction of Houbara bustard in Rawdat Al Faras centre and the external reserves in a number of countries.
Several activities are being held to mark Qatar Environment Day.
