Doha: The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has announced plans to develop Al Karaana Lagoon into an environmental tourist resort.
“The project, which will be implemented in cooperation with Qatar Tourism, aims at providing a fantastic tourist place to visitors including families,” said Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani.
The Minister was speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of an awareness event held yesterday under endangered sea turtle hawksbill conservation project at Fuwairit Beach, a protected area for turtles.
Al Karaana Lagoon is among the environmental projects of the Ministry which has emerged as a major habitat for diverse birds and fish species. The lagoon also serves as a green rest stop with accessible clean water for migratory birds flocking over the country.
“To ensure the biodiversity and address climate change, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change will launch a number of environmental projects before FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” said the Minister.
He said that the projects will cover all fields including marine environment, wild animals, birds and plants.
Speaking about Qatar’s commitment under Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% in 2030, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani. said that the Ministry stepped up efforts in this regard which bore fruits.
“We made remarkable achievements in cutting the carbon emission in a number of sectors such as energy, transportation and recycling,” said the Minister.
To a question about determination of Qatar to host carbon-neutral 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Minister said the Ministry is working as an umbrella organisation supervising the projects to reduce carbon emission.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani participating in a beach cleaning drive at Fuwairit Beach, yesterday.
“The Ministry is coordinating with all entities concerned in the country to reduce carbon emission at their level best,” said the Minister. For example, he said, Qatar General Electricity and Water (Kahramaa) has announced to start soon first solar power plant equipped with photo-voltaic technology with the capacity of 800 megawatts to provide renewable energy.
Earlier, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change participated in a beach cleaning drive held at Fuwairit Beach on the occasion of announcing turtle nesting season 2022.
Speaking at the event, the Minister stressed on the importance of preserving biodiversity and protecting endangered species. He praised the efforts made by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to protect these species by implementing endangered sea turtle hawksbill conservation project.
The Minister said that the project is being implemented under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and funded by QatarEnergy and implemented by Qatar University in cooperation with a team from the Department of Protection and Wildlife. The project started in 2003 and is continuing until now within the framework of Ministerial Decision No. (37) of 2010 regarding the preservation of turtles and seabirds from extinction.
Fuwairit Beach is being closed during nesting season as it is a safe haven for sea turtles. The Minister said that ministry has released more than 35,000 baby turtles during the past five years.
He lauded the plan to develop the Fuwairit Beach within the framework of the ministry’s efforts to receive the public during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The Minister said the beach has been developed in a way to provide a safe place for turtle nesting, as well as the work of a transfer area for nests and water basins to keep young turtles for conducting some studies and research on them.
Director of Protection and Wildlife Department Talib Khaled Al Shahwani gave a presentation on turtle conservation project and the efforts made through it to protect sea turtles.
The participants cleaned the beach and tour the project where they briefed about efforts made by the Ministry in this regard. The General Cleanliness Department of the Ministry of Municipality, Qatar Red Crescent with 30 volunteers, and the Friends of the Environment Center participated in the event.
