Doha: Assistant Undersecretary for Protection and Natural Reserves Affairs at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC), Dr. Ibrahim Abdul Latif Al Musallamani, affirmed that the State of Qatar is progressing with an integrated national strategy aimed at combating desertification, restoring ecosystems, and protecting natural resources. This initiative includes a series of projects and initiatives focused on enhancing vegetation cover, preserving biodiversity, and achieving the goals outlined in Qatar National Vision 2030.
According to Qatar News Agency, Dr. Al Musallamani highlighted the significance of the National Strategy to Combat Desertification 2025-2030, which the MOECC has implemented. This strategy encompasses the rehabilitation of degraded lands, protection of meadows and natural habitats, development of vegetation cover, sustainable management of natural resources, and control of invasive plant species. The strategy aims to restore and rehabilitate at least 30% of degraded natural habitats while promoting the sustainability of natural resources.
Dr. Al Musallamani also noted that nature reserves play a crucial role in the state's efforts to protect biodiversity and reduce land degradation. Currently, terrestrial reserves cover about 27% of the country's area, with plans to increase the percentage of protected terrestrial and marine areas to 30% by 2030. The current theme of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, 'Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.,' underscores the importance of rangeland ecosystems in preserving biodiversity and enhancing resilience to climate change.
He further detailed that the MOECC has executed protection and rehabilitation efforts across 76 natural parks and sites, encompassing a total area of 16.72 square kilometers from 2019-2026. Additionally, there are plans to expand protection and rehabilitation programs to cover 500 natural parks and sites by 2030. The MOECC employs modern technologies, such as geographic information systems and drones, to monitor land and vegetation conditions. These efforts have facilitated the documentation of 1,573 gardens and the establishment of the first integrated national spatial database for gardens and natural sites.
Dr. Al Musallamani emphasized the necessity of collaborative national partnerships in combating desertification, involving over 25 national entities and private sector institutions. Challenges facing Qatar include limited water resources, high temperatures, fluctuating rainfall, degradation of natural habitats, and the spread of invasive plant species such as the mesquite plant. Groundwater, accounting for about 19% of the country's water resources, is extracted at rates exceeding natural recharge by over four times.
Efforts to address these challenges include the National Strategy to Combat Desertification 2025-2030 and various practical measures to protect vegetation cover and restore natural habitats. These measures include extending the ban on camel grazing and regulating sheep and goat grazing, as well as a national program to combat the invasive mesquite tree, resulting in the removal of over 8,500 trees since 2023.
Dr. Al Musallamani lauded MOECC's national projects and initiatives that aim to enhance the sustainability of natural resources and protect biodiversity. These efforts align with Qatar's contribution to planting 10 million trees by 2030, with over four million trees planted so far. The initiatives include cultivating thousands of local wild and coastal seedlings, expanding environmental monitoring, and rehabilitation programs, contributing to the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Qatar National Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
In conclusion, Dr. Al Musallamani called on citizens and residents to actively participate in environmental protection and preservation efforts, emphasizing that positive practices contribute to environmental sustainability and the conservation of natural resources for future generations.