The Public Works Authority (Ashghal), in co-operation with the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar, has completed the development works on Al Wadi Park Natural Reserve in Al Wajba East.
The project, according to an official statement on Monday, comes as part of Ashghal’s efforts to improve public services facilities across Qatar and in line with its strategy to achieve environmental sustainability.
Ashghal hosted a delegation on a tour around Al Wadi Reserve. The participants were briefed about the project and planted seeds of Qatari wild plants.
Engineer Saoud Ali al-Tamimi, Roads Projects Department manager, said the development works have a key role in maintaining the environmental balance and protecting the wildlife and plants. The initiative is part of Ashghal’s constant efforts to expand green spaces in Qatar and provide a healthy recreational avenues.
Engineer Mohamed Arqoub al-Khaldi, chairman of the Supervisory Committee for the Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar, said that the committee gives great importance to wildlife and natural habitats while preserving, developing and protecting the wildlife from extinction.
“These efforts aim to provide a better future for the coming generations, and to preserve local plant species and use them sustainably. The project provides many advantages, the most important of which is contributing to achieving environmental balance while protecting and maintaining ecosystems and their components. Natural reserves maintain the existence of sustainable wildlife, develop environmental stability in natural areas, resist drought, protect soil from erosion and reduce carbon emissions,” he said.
Engineer al-Khaldi explained that an area of 102,000sqm in Al Wadi Park Natural reserve was planted with local tree species including Lycium Barbarum, Ziziphus Spina-Christi (wild sidr), Acacia Tortilis, Boswellia Sacra, Acacia Ampliceps, Albizia Lebbeck (Ficus), and Jerusalem Thorn.
Ashghal hosted a delegation on a tour around Al Wadi Reserve. The participants were briefed about the project and planted seeds of Qatari wild plants.
Engineer Saoud Ali al-Tamimi, Roads Projects Department manager, said the development works have a key role in maintaining the environmental balance and protecting the wildlife and plants. The initiative is part of Ashghal’s constant efforts to expand green spaces in Qatar and provide a healthy recreational avenues.
Engineer Mohamed Arqoub al-Khaldi, chairman of the Supervisory Committee for the Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar, said that the committee gives great importance to wildlife and natural habitats while preserving, developing and protecting the wildlife from extinction.
“These efforts aim to provide a better future for the coming generations, and to preserve local plant species and use them sustainably. The project provides many advantages, the most important of which is contributing to achieving environmental balance while protecting and maintaining ecosystems and their components. Natural reserves maintain the existence of sustainable wildlife, develop environmental stability in natural areas, resist drought, protect soil from erosion and reduce carbon emissions,” he said.
Engineer al-Khaldi explained that an area of 102,000sqm in Al Wadi Park Natural reserve was planted with local tree species including Lycium Barbarum, Ziziphus Spina-Christi (wild sidr), Acacia Tortilis, Boswellia Sacra, Acacia Ampliceps, Albizia Lebbeck (Ficus), and Jerusalem Thorn.
Rashid Mubarak al-Mansoori, director of Services Affairs at Al Rayyan Municipality, thanked those in charge of the project and said it simulates the wilderness while providing paths for walking, cycling and benches to enjoy the beautiful landscape.
Talib Khalid al-Shahwani, director of the Department of Protection and Wildlife at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change said the natural reserve will contribute to combat desertification and climate change and provide a natural recreational space for the residents of the area.
Talib Khalid al-Shahwani, director of the Department of Protection and Wildlife at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change said the natural reserve will contribute to combat desertification and climate change and provide a natural recreational space for the residents of the area.
Engineer Fahad al-Otaibi, head of Western Areas Projects at Ashghal's Roads Projects Department, said that the main works included enhancing green areas by planting 836 trees, providing lines for the irrigation network, constructing a 1.5km metal fence around the reserve, three gates to the north, south and east of the reserve, benches for visitors, bicycle parking spaces, advanced lighting system, two prayer areas, and construction of 1.1km of pedestrian, bicycle paths and jogging track.
Engineer Maryam al-Kuwari, project design manager at the Supervisory Committee, said the main idea was to preserve the rocky and natural landscape of the reserve, taking into account the existing troughs and hills.
“Pedestrian, jogging and bicycle paths were implemented without affecting the valley’s path and its rainwater stream, since more than 90% of the excavation works were carried out manually. With the aim of enhancing the reserve’s identity, local trees were planted to decrease the effects of climate change, achieve environmental balance and become an environmental legacy,” she said.
Mohamed Ahmad alkhenji, deputy executive director of the Friends of the Environment Centre, said the planting of local tree species in the reserve will greatly contribute to enriching biodiversity and wildlife in Qatar.
Dhabiya al-Sulaiti, director of Al-Khamis Wildlife Reserve and Researcher in Linguistic Documentation, Culture and Qatari Environment said Al Wadi Reserve is unique as it provides paths for pedestrians and bicycles among wild trees.
Ali Talib al-Hanzab, an environmental activist, said the natural reserve includes all kinds of Qatari wild plants, which tolerate high temperatures and saline soil. "We hope to implement the project idea in all regions of Qatar. We will contribute to providing seedlings of Al-Arfaj, Al-Ramth, Al-Abal and Al-Markh and planting them at the beginning of next season,” he said.
Ghanem bin Abdullah al-Ghanim and Saadoun al-Ghanim, local dignitaries, appreciated the project. Aisha al-Maadeed, owner of the Green Future Initiative, said natural reserves are very important to preserve renewable environmental resources.
Al Wadi Park Natural Reserve project is part of the Roads and Infrastructure Project in Al Wajba East (Package 1), which Ashghal began implementing during the third quarter of 2020.
In addition to developmental works on the reserve, the project includes implementing a 17km roads network to enhance the traffic flow and provide connection with the future public facilities in the area. This is in addition to providing traffic safety elements, such as street lighting systems and poles, directional signs and road marking. The project will also provide 34km of shared pedestrian and cycle paths, and 2,570 parking areas.
As for infrastructure services, the project includes a 14-km-long sewage network, a 16.6-km surface and groundwater drainage network, a 10.7-km treated sewage effluent network, in addition to extending potable water pipes and connecting them to the main drinking water network.
The project serves 368 citizens’ subdivisions in Al-Wajba East. Project works are scheduled to be completed during the second quarter of 2023 and about 40% has been completed so far.
Within the framework of supporting local materials and manufacturers, the target for local components is up to 70%. Materials such as lamps, directional signs, sewage and rainwater drainage pipes, asphalt, and prefabricated manholes, in addition to concrete and steel reinforcement and other materials will be supplied by Qatari manufacturers.
“Pedestrian, jogging and bicycle paths were implemented without affecting the valley’s path and its rainwater stream, since more than 90% of the excavation works were carried out manually. With the aim of enhancing the reserve’s identity, local trees were planted to decrease the effects of climate change, achieve environmental balance and become an environmental legacy,” she said.
Mohamed Ahmad alkhenji, deputy executive director of the Friends of the Environment Centre, said the planting of local tree species in the reserve will greatly contribute to enriching biodiversity and wildlife in Qatar.
Dhabiya al-Sulaiti, director of Al-Khamis Wildlife Reserve and Researcher in Linguistic Documentation, Culture and Qatari Environment said Al Wadi Reserve is unique as it provides paths for pedestrians and bicycles among wild trees.
Ali Talib al-Hanzab, an environmental activist, said the natural reserve includes all kinds of Qatari wild plants, which tolerate high temperatures and saline soil. "We hope to implement the project idea in all regions of Qatar. We will contribute to providing seedlings of Al-Arfaj, Al-Ramth, Al-Abal and Al-Markh and planting them at the beginning of next season,” he said.
Ghanem bin Abdullah al-Ghanim and Saadoun al-Ghanim, local dignitaries, appreciated the project. Aisha al-Maadeed, owner of the Green Future Initiative, said natural reserves are very important to preserve renewable environmental resources.
Al Wadi Park Natural Reserve project is part of the Roads and Infrastructure Project in Al Wajba East (Package 1), which Ashghal began implementing during the third quarter of 2020.
In addition to developmental works on the reserve, the project includes implementing a 17km roads network to enhance the traffic flow and provide connection with the future public facilities in the area. This is in addition to providing traffic safety elements, such as street lighting systems and poles, directional signs and road marking. The project will also provide 34km of shared pedestrian and cycle paths, and 2,570 parking areas.
As for infrastructure services, the project includes a 14-km-long sewage network, a 16.6-km surface and groundwater drainage network, a 10.7-km treated sewage effluent network, in addition to extending potable water pipes and connecting them to the main drinking water network.
The project serves 368 citizens’ subdivisions in Al-Wajba East. Project works are scheduled to be completed during the second quarter of 2023 and about 40% has been completed so far.
Within the framework of supporting local materials and manufacturers, the target for local components is up to 70%. Materials such as lamps, directional signs, sewage and rainwater drainage pipes, asphalt, and prefabricated manholes, in addition to concrete and steel reinforcement and other materials will be supplied by Qatari manufacturers.
