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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.

From plastic waste transformed into carpets to eggshells becoming tableware and numerous new products, Thai upcycling is proving that sustainability can produce high-value items that attract global luxury brands. This was the message of Dr Singh Intrachooto, chief adviser to the Research and Innovation for Sustainability Centre and an associate professor at Kasetsart University in Bangkok, in an interview about “Thailand’s Innovative Upcycling for Everyday Life” exhibition at M7. The week-long exhibition, presented by the Thai embassy in collaboration with Qatar Museums from September 8-14, aims to showcase Thailand's expertise in the circular economy and inspire similar initiatives in Qatar. Speaking to Gulf Times, Dr Intrachooto said he hopes that visitors to the exhibition would be surprised by the diverse applications of recycled materials, saying: “So the product you see here at M7 would be something the people (would say), ‘Oh really? The carpet can be made from plastic waste or even the paint from my wall can absorb carbon? Those are made from just ashes or eggshells?’” He underlined the huge potential of upcycling, such as “eggshells into tableware, into countertops, and a lot of people like to eat fruits, we turn mango peels, banana peels into leather”. “With this kind of innovation that people could see here at M7, they will start thinking, ‘hey maybe sustainability is not so far away after all’”, Dr Intrachooto said. He pointed out that these are tangible, everyday items that everyone can support, understand, and use. He added that the exhibition aims to spark initiative and encourage collaboration across borders, highlighting art, science, and co-operation as key elements for progress. About the viability of such initiatives in Qatar, Dr Intrachooto drew parallels with Thailand’s own journey, saying: “Can Qatar do this? I definitely think they can”. He recalled initial skepticism in Thailand about upcycling, but noted that after 15 years, it has evolved into mass production and established new industries. “It became a new industry to serve the future, needs and trends,” he said, citing the growing demand for sustainable products in the booming green building sector, and suggesting that Qatar is in a “great position” to capitalise on this market. While some people might question upcycling’s cost-effectiveness, he assured that “if you start doing it, you get the price down within the first few years”. Dr Intrachooto revealed the significant appeal of upcycled materials to the luxury market, as he addressed concerns about attracting customers, especially in the context of popular brands. “For example... we work with Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Cartier, so that means even big brands want to use this kind of materials,” he said, stressing the importance of merging design with science. “You can not just push science, and it doesn’t look good, and you can not just do the design without having the substance of new innovation,” Dr Intrachooto said. He expressed optimism that a Scrap Lab can be established in Qatar, along with partners, which will serve as an academic “sandbox” for developing new formulas and solutions, which would then become available to industries.