Katara is cultural partner of National Black Tree drive

The Al Shabhana Environmental Association has launched a campaign titled‘Qatar’s National Black Tree’, of which Katara – the Cultural VillageFoundation is the cultural partner.Katara general manager of Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti launched thecampaign in the presence of Al Shabhana Environmental Associationco-founder Abdullah Khalid al-Khater, former Minister of Justice Hassanbin Abdullah al-Ghanim and Qatar Post chairman Faleh Mohamed al-Naeimi. Anumber of artists, members of the association and other interestedindividuals were also present. Following the planting of a black tree aspart of the campaign, Dr al-Sulaiti said: “Katara, the cultural partnerof this campaign, is eager to organise and launch such campaigns withthe aim of highlighting the importance of biodiversity, the cultivationprocess for desert trees, especially the black tree. It is a well-knownregional plant that is characterised by its unique shape, strength andstability.”The black tree is planted at different places in the deserts of Qatar,and its qualities are similar to those of the country: proud and stable,one that is able to withstand any condition, it was observed.He expressed hope that the campaign would be further extended to include more regions in Qatar. On his part, al-Khater said: “With the support of the Cultural Villageand in co-operation with Qur’anic Botanic Garden at Qatar Foundation andNomas Centre, Al Shabhana Association has launched this campaign. It entails a wide number of activities, which include tree planting.Some 130 trees have been planted and more than 400 black tree seedlingshave been distributed.” Cultural awareness activities will be organised in the presence of thecampaign’s ambassadors, artists Salman al-Malik and Khalifa al-Obaidli,who have led a number of technical workshops and whose paintings will beused at an upcoming exhibition, he added. The Al Shabhana Associationwas established in April 2016 and works towards combating all forms ofenvironmental pollution and vandalism, as well as planting and spreadingendangered plants and wild trees in Qatar. It also aims to enhance the role of young people in the protection andconservation of natural resources and strengthen environmentalsustainability through meaningful community partnerships, affirming itsmission that Qatar’s environment must be protected and preserved in allits components, according to a press statement.