An official waters a plant during the QBG event to mark UN's World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.
Doha: The Quranic Botanic Garden (QBG), the first garden in the world to exhibit all plant species mentioned in the Holy Quran, Hadith, and Sunnah, marked United Nations World Day to Combat Desertification And Drought recently, with a wild desert plant restoration event at Rawdat Al Faras in Al Nasraniya.
In celebration of this day, QBG planted 15 trees of the Samor, Salma and Sidr varieties in their natural habitats, all of which are mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and Hadith and native to the Rawdat ecosystem at the Rawdat Al Faras restoration site. The seeds for these plants were collected from environmental areas in Qatar that face the pressures of land degradation, camping, grazing, and infrastructure development and then germinated and propagated by the QBG team at its Conservation Center.
The event, listed on the UN Convention to Combat Desertification online world map, was meant to inspire communities in Qatar and worldwide to take action to prevent, halt and reverse land degradation. Held in line with the United Nations’ SDGs’, the environmental pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030, and QBG’s goal of restoring wild plants in their natural habitats, combating desertification, and cooperating with the local community to support its commitment to preserving the nation’s environment, plants, and fungal natural resources, the activity aims to contribute towards creating a greener Qatar and healthier planet for the generations to come. As part of its ecosystem restoration efforts, QBG has planted 1,443 native trees in 2021.
Commenting on the event, Fatima Al Khulaifi, Director, QBG, said, “UN World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is an exceptionally important occasion for QBG and one that reminds us of the necessity of protecting our planet. At the heart of this event is the QBG’s commitment to sustainability, environmental protection, and preserving our planet’s natural resources for generations to come. Across the country, we work closely with important stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, to rehabilitate endemic plants and plant wild trees in their desert habitats to reduce carbon emissions and limit desertification in Qatar.”
Additionally, in a bid to support the Environmental Development pillar of QNV 2030, protect ecosystems, and empower community members to actively contribute to these efforts, QBG launched its free-of-charge ‘Home Garden Phone Helpline.’ The initiative enables the public to pose any home gardening questions directly to QBG experts by calling +974 3091 8519 every Monday from 9 am to 12.30 pm and every Wednesday from 12.30 pm – 2.30 pm.
