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Qatar's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is now accepting entries for the 2026-27 Gulf Cooperation Council Environment and Wildlife Award, according to a ministry statement on Tuesday.The statement invited government and semi-government bodies, academic and research institutions, private companies, civil society organizations and individuals to take part in the prestigious award. The award recognizes those driving meaningful progress in biodiversity and sustainability across the Gulf region.The deadline for nominations is March 2027.According to the ministry, the competition covers three main areas: innovation and technology in biodiversity and its management; community participation in biodiversity protection; and projects focused on restoring and rehabilitating ecosystems. Participants can identify a primary category for their project while also highlighting any related secondary areas.The ministry said entries must involve completed projects or initiatives that have achieved measurable results relevant to the award's objectives.Applicants are required to submit a separate application and nomination file for each entry, along with a video of no more than two minutes explaining the project and its results.Submissions must also include an executive summary of no more than two pages and supporting documents and reports demonstrating the environmental outcomes and practices involved.Applications will be reviewed by the ministry before being referred through the approved procedures to the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council for evaluation and judging.The winners are expected to be honored and presented with their awards on the sidelines of the 2027 meeting of GCC ministers responsible for environmental affairs. 

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC), represented by the Wildlife Development Department, has recorded a species known as the “coral shrimp,” belonging to the genus Pliopontonia, during marine monitoring and survey activities conducted by the department’s scientific marine team. The surveys are being carried out as part of efforts to study marine biodiversity and document the components of Qatar’s marine environment. The coral shrimp lives within brain coral, where its colouration and external appearance help it camouflage itself and remain hidden among coral formations. This natural camouflage makes the species more difficult to observe and identify during field survey operations.The recording of the coral shrimp is part of the ministry’s efforts to document marine organisms inhabiting Qatari waters and to identify their species, characteristics and natural habitats. The work also contributes to strengthening the country’s scientific database on marine biodiversity. It highlights the diversity of organisms found in Qatar’s marine environment, including species closely associated with marine ecosystems and contributing to their stability and natural balance. 

Changpirom has spent years working to rescue trafficked wildlife in Thailand, but even he can sometimes hardly believe the creatures he has found: leopards, hornbills, and once an anteater."We even found living corals hidden in a ceiling," he told AFP.Nawee heads a raid unit in the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) that tries to stop the sale of everything from African elephant ivory to monkeys wanted as pets or for laboratory testing.Alongside weapons, drugs and human trafficking, the illegal wildlife trade is among the most widespread and profitable forms of organised crime globally, run by cross-border cartels.Thailand occupies a rare position because of its abundant local wildlife, the availability of rare species in nearby countries, and its accessibility by sea, air and land.The DNP set up a dedicated Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit (WCU) in 2023 with three permanent staff charged with tracking and intercepting illegal purchases.They spend much of their time trawling social media, which is now "the key channel" for buying and selling illegal animals, said WCU director Polawee Buchakiet.Wildlife traders often describe animals as needing to be "rehomed", rather than explicitly offering them for sale, and post tightly cropped images of their wares to avoid revealing their locations.But the WCU has undercover officers who can track them down.One undercover officer — known by the pseudonym "Tee" — has shinned up electricity poles disguised as a repairman to peer into courtyards and take photos, and posed as a land surveyor to look into windows on neighbouring plots.The WCU needs such evidence to obtain court warrants to go in and seize the animals.He is still haunted by cases where sellers could not be located, or the team arrived too late, finding the creatures either dead or so sickly they died soon after rescue.Trafficked animals are often weakened by the process of smuggling, stressed by the loss of their habitat and family group, and vulnerable to unfamiliar diseases."I wonder to myself if we could have done something to get there sooner," Tee, 43, told AFP."Whether they are big or small, all animals' lives are precious."At just six months old, the leaf monkey curled up inside DNP vet Thanawadee Phaichana's rubber-gloved hand is very small indeed.He was intercepted in luggage at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, bound for India, where demand for exotic animals as pets has been growing.A second monkey found in the same bag died after being rescued."Most of these smuggled animals will be in a weak condition... some are given sedatives or even mild anaesthetic to keep them from moving or making noise," Thanawadee said.Animals rescued in and around Bangkok often come to the DNP's small facility for initial treatment before being transferred to a sanctuary.Older, healthier animals might eventually return to the wild, but younger ones struggle to learn the skills needed to survive."I feel sorry for them," said Thanawadee.Wildlife traffickers can face up to 10 years in prison for crimes involving protected species, or 15 years for endangered species.There has been a string of recent high-profile arrests, including a July raid that rescued a leaf monkey, a gibbon and hundreds of turtles, as well as multiple interceptions at airports.But there have also been setbacks.In 2019, a Thai court dismissed the case against suspected wildlife trafficking kingpin Boonchai Bach. While the Supreme Court later sentenced him to prison, he remains at large.The team also struggles with stonewalling from social media sites and chronic shortages of staff and funds.Officers posing as undercover buyers sometimes have to use their own money, Nawee said.What would make a real difference? An end to the exotic pet trade, he said."These are wild animals, they don't belong in a cage." 

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) has intensified its efforts to protect wildlife, expand vegetation cover, strengthen environmental oversight, and further develop the country’s natural reserves, a report by MoECC has revealed in its achievements during the first quarter of 2026.The report was issued by MoECC Sector of Protection and Natural Reserves, the report underscores a comprehensive strategy aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030, combining field inspections, regulatory enforcement, and public awareness initiatives to advance environmental sustainability across the country.**media[437857]**A central pillar of the report focuses on land protection efforts. The Department of Land Protection carried out 100 inspection campaigns, leading to dozens of environmental violations. These included illegal grazing of camels and sheep, improper waste disposal, unauthorized entry into sensitive meadows (Rawda) soil excavation, and tree cutting without permits. In total, 581 violations were recorded, including the use of bird-calling devices, littering, and the establishment of unlicensed camps.**media[437858]**The department also stepped up its community engagement, participating in major national events such as the Qatar Camel Festival “Jazilat Al Atta',” while organizing awareness campaigns across northern, central, and southern regions. It also marked key occasions like Qatar Environment Day and World Wildlife Day, reinforcing environmental consciousness among the public.**media[437859]**On the marine front, the Department of Marine Protection conducted 837 inspection tours, identifying 105 violations. These ranged from the use of illegal fishing tools that harm marine life to coral reef damage, banned nets, and unauthorized fishing within protected areas—reflecting continued pressure on marine ecosystems.Efforts to restore and expand vegetation were also prominent. The Department of Wildlife Development planted 600 seedlings and supplied 200 more to the Al Ghishamiyah nursery. Restoration projects included fencing and rehabilitation of key rawda sites such as Rawdat Umm Al Qaham, Rawdat Umm Al Jarathim, and Wadi Athna. The department also removed 150 invasive Ghaf-related trees (Prosopis cineraria), maintained damaged vegetation, irrigated new plantings, and collected native seeds for future cultivation.In addition, the department organised 32 environmental events, conducted 587 inspection tours, and carried out 143 field visits to meadows' areas, resulting in 36 violations related to unauthorised landfilling, dust pollution, and quarrying activities. It also assessed 68 development projects for environmental impact and issued 669 permits and 359 licenses tied to activities in vegetation zones.The wildlife and border control division reported significant regulatory activity, issuing 329 falcon transit permits, 261 CITES import certificates, and 37 re-export certificates, alongside 40 permits for non-CITES wildlife imports. A total of 252 licenses were granted in this domain, with authorities recording the import of 11 live wild animals and 166 related products, derivatives, and taxidermy items.As part of its invasive species control program, the Ministry continued its campaign against the common myna bird, capturing 2,912 birds using modern methods, including specially designed traps to curb its spread.Meanwhile, the Natural Reserves Department conducted 630 inspection tours within protected areas, documenting 333 violations such as illegal fires, littering, poaching, and damage to plant ecosystems. While 10 permits were issued, several applications were rejected due to environmental concerns.Cleanup operations also formed a major component of the Ministry’s efforts. More than 120 tonnes of waste were removed from key coastal and desert areas such as the Sealine Beach and Khor Al Adaid through field campaigns and volunteer initiatives, helping restore these ecologically sensitive areas.Encouragingly, the report highlighted positive developments in biodiversity conservation. A total of 87 wildlife births were recorded within reserves, including 46 Arabian Oryx, 13 sand gazelles, 6 pygmy goats, and 4 North African Oryx, alongside the successful hatching of 26 ostrich chicks, marking a significant boost to Qatar’s conservation efforts.The ministry further stressed that these achievements reflect a growing commitment to environmental protection, sustainable resource management, and biodiversity preservation, reinforcing Qatar’s position as a regional leader in ecological conservation. 

A court in Kenya Tuesday charged two men with transporting wildlife illegally after one ‌of them, a Chinese national, ​was arrested ‌at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport ‌with ⁠more ‌than 2,000 live ants last ‌week.Zhang Kequn, 27, was detained last ⁠Tuesday while attempting to leave the country, court documents showed. Kenyan immigration officials had flagged his passport with a "stop order" after he evaded arrest in the country last year.Prosecutors arraigned ​a second person, Charles Mwangi, on Monday, accusing him of supplying live ants to ‌foreign traffickers. Authorities linked ⁠Mwangi to ​a shipment of ants seized in ​Bangkok on March 10, which originated from the Kenyan port city of Mombasa.Zhang and Mwangi pleaded not guilty to the charges before Senior Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi, including dealing with wildlife species without a permit. The court ordered both men to ‌be remanded ‌in custody, pending ⁠further directions in the case on March ⁠27.Ant ⁠enthusiasts pay large sums to maintain colonies in large transparent vessels known as formicariums, which offer a literal window into the species' complex social structures and behaviours.Four ​men were fined $7,700 each last year for trying to traffic thousands of ants valuable to Kenya's ecosystem, in a case that experts said showed a move in biopiracy from trophies like elephant ivory to lesser-known species. 

Qatar has launched an aggressive campaign to save its rawdas — fragile natural depressions that serve as lifelines for desert wildlife — fencing off more than 70 sites and planting thousands of native trees as human encroachment threatens to destroy one of the country's most vital ecosystems.  The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change warns the rawdas face mounting pressure from off-road vehicles, illegal camping, overgrazing and urban sprawl, particularly during the popular camping season when violators crush vegetation, dump plastic waste and light fires directly on desert soil. "These are among the most sensitive ecosystems in the country," said Khalid Juma al-Muhannadi, Director of Wildlife Development at the ministry.  He described the rawdas as strategic environmental assets that act as natural water reservoirs, wildlife habitats and seasonal vegetation centers essential to maintaining ecological balance. The ministry has adopted an integrated approach combining regulation, monitoring, rehabilitation and public awareness to protect these critical sites.  Authorities have identified approximately 1,500 rawdas nationwide and created a comprehensive geographic database containing detailed environmental information on each site to support planning and decision-making. Advanced monitoring technology including geographic information systems, aerial imagery and drones enables officials to track environmental changes and detect violations in real time across the vast desert landscape.  Rehabilitation teams planted more than 14,600 native seedlings during 2025, including sidr, samar, ghaf and acacia species. Seeds are collected from their original habitats and preserved in the national gene bank to protect genetic diversity and ensure the survival of indigenous plant species adapted to Qatar's harsh desert conditions.  The government extended restrictions on camel grazing and regulated sheep and goat grazing for an additional two years to allow vegetation to recover. Inspection campaigns intensified across desert areas, with environmental officers working alongside the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) to document violations and refer offenders for prosecution.  Salim Qadri al-Yami, Assistant Director of the Terrestrial Protection Department, said his team deploys environmental inspectors year-round across rawdas and desert areas to monitor harmful practices.  The most common offenses include overgrazing that degrades vegetation and accelerates soil erosion, lighting fires directly on the ground, off-road driving that crushes plants and scars the landscape, littering especially plastic waste, setting up camps in unauthorised locations and cutting plants for firewood. "During peak seasons, environmental violations are formally recorded and offenders are referred for legal action," al-Yami said, warning that plastic pollution poses serious risks to both environment and human health.  Nawaf Jabr al-Nuaimi, Assistant Director of the Natural Reserves Department, emphasised that protected areas play a vital role in conserving Qatar's plant and animal biodiversity. He said natural reserves serve as an effective tool for environmental protection, supported by regulatory legislation, restrictions on harmful human activities and afforestation initiatives alongside continuous monitoring and community participation through conservation projects. Al-Muhannadi stressed the importance of community involvement, urging residents to follow environmental guidelines, report violations and participate in volunteer programs.  Future plans include expanding fencing and rehabilitation projects, launching national initiatives to plant native vegetation and increasing public awareness through digital platforms. "These efforts reflect Qatar's commitment to protecting its natural heritage and conserving biodiversity in line with national and international environmental obligations," he said. The conservation push aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030 goals to safeguard biodiversity and ensure environmental sustainability for future generations.

In the sun-scorched lands bordering Zimbabwe's largest wildlife sanctuary, Takesure Moyo pedals through his village each morning on a mission to help his community coexist with the elephants and predators that roam nearby.The 49-year-old is among several locals trained as community monitors under an initiative by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Zimbabwe's National Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks).Equipped with a mobile phone, he uses an app to log sightings, spoor and incidents — data that enables authorities to respond swiftly and issue alerts to prevent potential confrontation with dangerous animals, including ones straying from the nearby Hwange National Park."We have always lived with wild animals around us, but our responses to human-wildlife conflict were rather individual and unco-ordinated," said Moyo, speaking in vernacular Ndebele."The initiative has helped the community become more knowledgeable about animal behaviour and ultimately minimise conflict."Wild animals have killed around 300 people in Zimbabwe over the past five years, according to Zimparks, with crops and livestock also suffering heavy losses. Nearly 70% of reported incidents occur in communities bordering national parks such as Hwange, it says.A few years ago, Moyo lost six cattle to lions. It prompted him to become involved in the project to protect his community.Equipped with a bicycle provided by IFAW, he patrols the area around his village daily, sending updates to Zimparks with a focus on "problem animals" like elephants and lions.His input complements data received by satellite from GPS collars fitted to 16 elephants in the area, both feeding a mobile application called EarthRanger that allows real-time monitoring and rapid response.Zimbabwe is home to nearly 100,000 elephants, the world's second-largest population of savannah elephants after neighbouring Botswana, according to a 2022 aerial survey conducted under the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area."During the dry season, elephants sometimes come for water at the nearby dam, which is the source of water for our communal gardens," Moyo said. "And during the cropping season, they can come to eat our crops."The EarthRanger app — used in 80 countries, according to its developers — is "highly effective," Zimparks acting public relations manager, Tamirirashe Mudzingwa, told AFP.As a live early warning system, it gives communities time to protect themselves, their livestock and property from approaching wildlife, he said.A separate project collects data from collars fitted to some elephants that have been rescued, rehabilitated and reintroduced to free-roaming herds by the Wild Is Life organisation.At a monitoring centre, technical officer Simbarashe Mupanhwa pointed to multi-coloured lines on his computer screen that tracked the movements of Samson, a seven-year-old elephant back in the bush after being saved when he was abandoned at birth."Other than helping monitor the elephants' movements, the application is also able to track the organisation's rangers and vehicles, helping ensure that if there are any incidents of poaching, reaction is as swift as possible," Mupanhwa said.The satellite telemetry "offers critical spatial insights into habitat use, movement patterns, and the identification of frequently utilised areas, including ecological corridors and dispersal zones," said Phillip Kuvawoga, IFAW's conservation senior director.Community-based conservation has become a common ground for IFAW and Zimparks, which have different philosophies over Zimbabwe's ballooning elephant population.The government argues the country cannot sustain so many of the animals and has lobbied for the lifting of a global ban on the trade in tusks, saying its ivory stockpile is worth millions of dollars that could be used to bolster ranger welfare and conservation.Zimparks, a government agency, supports "consumptive tourism" such as safari hunting, including of elephants, while IFAW promotes photographic safaris."The collaboration embodies a pragmatic agreement: conservation efforts must be inclusive, science-based, and adaptable," said Alleta Nyahuye, country director of IFAW, which flags as its mission the ideal of "helping animals and people to thrive together".In villages like Moyo's, the impact is tangible."It's not just about protecting animals," Moyo said. "It's about protecting our way of life, too." 

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani’s official visit to Rwanda offered one of the most quietly meaningful diplomatic moments of the year.A single image circulated widely: HH the Amir walking through the Rwandan wilderness with a camera in hand, observing wildlife with calm curiosity. It showed a leader close to people, grounded, and genuinely engaged with the world around him and it subtly reflected the kind of diplomacy Qatar increasingly represents.Rwanda’s progress over the past three decades is one of the most remarkable transformations on the African continent. From unimaginable tragedy, the country has built stability, economic growth, reconciliation, and a governance model now studied internationally.In many ways, Rwanda’s emphasis on planning, unity and long-term development mirrors the values that also guide Qatar’s own national trajectory, making the partnership between Doha and Kigali both natural and strategic. Qatar’s role in facilitating dialogue between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo further illustrates the country’s approach to foreign policy: patient, steady, respectful, and focused on lowering tensions rather than raising them.It is a diplomacy that stands out precisely because it avoids spectacle. His Highness the Amir’s visit also gains significance in the context of his broader regional outreach, including his stop in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and his participation in the G20 Summit in South Africa. Qatar and South Africa share positions on several global issues, particularly the Palestinian question, where Pretoria’s principled stance has drawn international attention.This alignment adds weight to Qatar’s growing partnerships across the continent. Taken together, these developments outline a clear direction: a foreign policy that moves fluidly between people, nature and high-level diplomacy, and a leadership style built on calm confidence and genuine respect.That photograph from the Rwandan forest was more than a striking moment; it captured the essence of a political philosophy that seeks peace through understanding and progress through partnership.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC), represented by the Wildlife Protection Department, carried out a clean-up and rehabilitation campaign of Rawdat Al Waseeta in Al Shamal, part of a national project to fence and rehabilitate Qatar’s wild fields. Carried out in co-operation with Qatar Insurance Company (QIC), the rehabilitation effort saw the participation of representatives from official entities, volunteers, and environmental workers, with 15 students from the Children’s Literature Center taking part in planting native trees and desert plants, in addition to 300 seedlings of local species such as the Qatari Al Ghaf Tree, which help stabilise soil and preserve biodiversity in desert environments. In this context, Assistant Director of the Wildlife Development Department at MoECC Dr Dhafi Heedan said that this initiative forms part of an integrated set of projects implemented by MoECC to protect terrestrial ecosystems and develop the country’s vegetation cover in cooperation with private-sector partners. **media[383109]** He said that rawdat areas are some of Qatar’s most important ecosystems, providing natural habitats for plant and animal species, adding that fencing is a key step done before conducting environmental rehabilitation. For his part, Group Chief Administrative Officer of QIC Group Rashid al-Buainain affirmed that the partnership with MoECC reflects a strategic commitment to supporting national environmental protection projects and conserving natural resources. **media[383110]** He said that rehabilitating rawdat areas is not merely an environmental activity but a long-term investment in Qatar’s environmental future, adding that QIC remains committed to continued cooperation in similar initiatives. At the conclusion of the event, participants, volunteers, and supporting organisations were honoured in recognition of their efforts, with an emphasis on continued collaboration between MoECC and private-sector institutions through sustainable environmental development initiatives, in alignment with the Qatar National Vision 2030.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change’s Wildlife Protection Department in co-operation with the Environmental Security Unit of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) has carried out an extensive inspection campaign in the southern regions of the country aimed at reducing environmental violations regarding the use of bird-attracting devices.The campaign resulted in the seizure of around 474 bird-attracting devices (sound lures), and the necessary legal measures were taken in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations in this regard. The ministry stressed the importance of adhering to environmental laws and regulations and refraining from using methods that harm wildlife and biodiversity. It also noted that the campaign is ongoing as part of its efforts to protect Qatar’s environment and preserve its natural components.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has announced the issuance of Ministerial Decision No 26 of 2025 regarding the regulation of the hunting season for birds and wildlife.The decision sets the conditions and controls for practicing hunting, as part of the Ministry’s efforts to protect biodiversity and ensure the sustainability of wildlife in the country. Under the decision, the migratory bird (Al-Laffo) hunting season begins on September 1 and continues until February 15 of each year, for a period of two years from the date it comes into effect.The decision stipulates that hunting the houbara bustard is only permitted using falcons, while the use or trade of non-traditional hunting tools and means is strictly prohibited, particularly electronic devices that emit bird-like sounds (calling devices).The decision also stressed the necessity of avoiding causing harm to bird eggs or nests, and refraining from damaging wild plants. Hunting is allowed only from sunrise to sunset. The sale, trade, or circulation of hunted birds is prohibited. Further, hunting is banned in the certain locations that include: within nature reserves, islands, artificial lakes, inside cities and villages, public parks, within 500 meters of public roads, and on private properties and farms unless the owners and right-holders have granted permission for this.The decision included a list of species permitted to be hunted during the two-year period (2025–2026), including: houbara bustard, stone curlew, mallard (wild duck), blue rock thrush, song thrush, common chiffchaff, greater hoopoe lark, desert wheatear, Isabelline wheatear, and northern wheatear.Besides, Article Three of the decision prohibits the hunting or possession of any local and resident wildlife species, as well as other migratory species, across all parts of Qatar throughout the year, for two years from the date the decision takes effect. These species include: hare, ostrich, gazelle, honey badger, jerboa, hedgehog, shrike, crested lark, warbler, Swinhoe's White-eye (Zosterops simplex), red-tailed wheatear, cream-colored courser, spiny-tailed lizard (dhub), and monitor lizard.Accordingly, the Ministry stressed that any violation of this decision will subject the offender to the penalties stipulated in Law No 4 of 2002 Promulgating the Law of the Environment Protection. The Ministry urged all to abide by the standard regulations and guidelines to safeguard wildlife and preserve natural resources for future generations.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change's Department of Wildlife Protection has carried out a comprehensive cleanup campaign in the central region, covering Rawdat Muaither Al-Darb, Al-Riffa, and north of the Abu Nakhla complex, as part of its ongoing project covering meadows and wild areas across the country. The campaign aims to preserve the natural environment and protect the green cover, contributing to the promotion of environmental sustainability and allowing visitors to enjoy nature in clean and safe surroundings. The ministry stressed that these initiatives are part of its continuous efforts to protect the environment and to reduce harmful practices that negatively impact the ecosystem in these places. It pointed out that its field teams regularly monitor and implement awareness and cleaning programmes. The ministry called on all visitors to wild areas and Rawdats to maintain cleanliness by refraining from leaving waste behind, and to dispose of their waste in the designated containers to help preserve the beauty of nature and protect wildlife.