In order to enhance the State's efforts in preserving the environment and biodiversity to address the issue of climate change, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has launched a slogan to mark Qatar Environment Day 2022 which falls on February 26, Saturday.
The slogan ‘Our Environment Our Responsibility’ (Biatna Amana) reflects the rich biodiversity of Qatar eco-system including life in sky and sea, wild and desert life, land and natural resources.
The slogan aims at creating awareness among public and private sectors and the community and to encourage them to come forward to play an active role in enhancing the State’s efforts to preserve the environment.
To mark the day, the Ministry will organise a number of nationwide activities to protect the environment of the country.
The major events include deploying an artificial coral reef at Sealine, releasing Ream deer, tree plantatings and cleanup drives in Sealine Reserve today (February 24).
On Saturday, Barouq Reserve will witness tree plantating and cleanup drives. Many birds will also be released at the reserve.
On February 28, the Ministry will release baby fish in mangrove forests and take a group of people on a trip there to educate them about the importance of mangrove forests in protecting environment.
Speaking to Qatar TV yesterday on the importance of the day, Dr. Mohamed Saif Al Kuwari, an environmental expert at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, talked about the importance of the Qatar Environment Day observance.
“The day aims at sending message to government institutions, private companies and community members to protect environment from degradation on a serious note,” said Dr. Al Kuwari. He said that it is very important to increase awareness among the people about the importance of environment.
“Qatar is one of the first countries in the world which attached great importance to preserve the environment by playing a proactive role and taking a number of measures,” said Dr. Al Kuwari. Speaking about the laws for protecting the environment in Qatar, he said that the Law No. 30 of 2002 was the first one issued to protect the environment in the country followed by Law No. 19 of 2004 which aims at protecting marine life.
Dr. Al Kuwari said that Qatar enacted and implemented a number of laws to preserve the biodiversity, deal with eco-system of the country and punish the violators. To a question about the impact of global climate change to Qatar, he said: “Thanks God, we did not witness the natural disasters such as floods and tsunamis which hit some countries in the past, however, in Qatar we suffered from higher temperatures compared to the past.”
“This is why the State focused on greenery and tree plantation drives. Under ‘Plant Million Tree’ initiative, the target to plant a million trees will be achieved by the end of this year and another initiative to plant 10 million trees is targeted to achieve by 2030.”
He said after plantation of 10 million trees,Qatar will be turned in to a country of greenery and forest which will help bring down the temperature significantly addressing the issue of climate change.
