MoECC efforts to protect environment runs all year long

Assistant Undersecretary for Protection and Natural Reserves Affairs at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) Dr Ibrahim Abdullatif al-Maslamani has stressed that the ministry's environmental protection efforts run all year long, striving for environmental sustainability and keeping the environment clean and pollution-free.
In a statement to the Qatar News Agency (QNA), the official said that the ministry is holding various activities on Qatar Environment Day (QED) in partnership with government agencies.
He said that this year's theme stresses the citizens’ connection and belonging to their local environment, with the marine environment representing the ancestral workplace and the desert being the birthplace of the Qatari tribes.
Dr al-Maslamani said that the ministry has accomplished many achievements, such as expanding, establishing, and preserving natural reserves, commissioning research projects, and expanding eco-tourism such as the case with te recently inaugurated Dahl Al Misfir.
He further noted that work is under way to prepare other eco-tourism areas such as Khor Al Adaid, due to be announced soon.
Dr al-Maslamani added that educating the community about the importance of environmental protection is a ministry objective, pointing out that there are specialised units in the ministry working on raising public awareness.
Assistant Undersecretary for Environmental Affairs Abdulhadi al-Marri said that the QED is a good occasion to emphasise the importance of preserving the local environment, which is the legacy of the forefathers of Qatar.
He praised the ministry's efforts in protecting the local environment and its natural diversity of plants and animals, as well as preventing marine and land pollution.
Additionally, al-Marri indicated that the ministry has set air quality monitoring stations to monitor air purity in Qatar, two of which are mobile whilst three are fixed, which are linked to the operating room in the ministry building.
Environmental expert and engineering consultant at the ministry Dr Mohamed Saif al-Kuwari noted that the ministry celebrates the QED through a series of activities on Al Aaliya Island, which is characterised by its beautiful green colour and fresh air.
He expressed the hope that the island finds its way on the touristic scene due to its beauty enjoyed by citizens, residents and visitors to Qatar alike.
Wildlife Development Department director Mohamed Ahmed al-Khanji said that the QED events and activities contribute to the development of wildlife, such as the release of many large Fuwayrit-raised turtles.
Additionally, mangroves were planted due to their great environmental and economic importance.
Mangroves play a key role in developing fisheries, as well as in creating artificial nests for local birds, helping in the birds' reproduction and becoming shelter for them and for their young.
Al-Khanji added that many different types of fish have been released in co-operation with the Ministry of Municipality.
Public Relations director Farhoud Hadi al-Hajri said that bird nests were built on Al Aaliya Island as part of the QED activities.
He noted that the island is characterised by biological diversity, boasting of wild animals and aquatic life, mangroves, and native and migratory birds, with the latter taking the island as a transit station.
On Sunday HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change toured the island, which is one of Qatar's natural reserves rich in biodiversity and mangroves, where 150 mangroves were planted and 80 baby hawksbill turtles – threatened with extinction – were released into the sea.
Additionally, participants helped build artificial nests for ospreys in a number of locations on the island.
An extensive cleaning campaign of the island's coasts was conducted Sunday in co-operation with volunteers from the PADI Diving Resorts.
Specialists from the ministry briefed participants on Qatar's efforts to protect the endangered hawksbill turtles.
Information was also provided on local fish, and on the state's efforts to protect and enhance fish stocks.
The activities were held in co-operation with several partners, namely the Ministry of Municipality, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar, and the Barzan Youth Centre.
The activities were also attended by all assistant undersecretaries, directors of departments and those concerned with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, as well as representatives from the participating agencies.