DOHA: Qatar e-Nature, a free application created by Sasol in association with Friends of the Environment Centre (FEC), has now been updated to include mammals and reptiles that are found across Qatar.
Available in both Arabic and English, the application, which was launched in December last year, first focused on the flora, birds and insects in the country.
It is the first of its kind in the region and is available in application stores for smartphones and tablets.
The Supreme Education Council (SEC) will lend its support by rolling out the application in all schools across Qatar. With the SEC’s support, the application will enhance environmental awareness at a grassroots level.
Fawziya Al Khater, Director of the Education Institute at SEC, said: “The SEC is pleased to support the efforts of Sasol and FEC via the Qatar e-Nature application. Protecting nature starts with understanding its value. The council will work through its relations with both private and public schools to introduce this application to the students and encourage them to know and protect their environment.”
High quality photography, vivid descriptions and accurate data provide a simple means of identifying and learning about the animals. Easy to navigate and rich in content, including a full range of bird call sounds, the expanded content provides entertaining education for new and existing users. Users of the app can now discover mammals like the Arabian Oryx. The comprehensive update also features a comprehensive guide on the reptile species in Qatar, including lizards and snakes.
FEC founder, Dr Saif Al Hajari, said: “It was our intention from the beginning that the application would be dynamic and continue to evolve. The addition of the mammal and reptile data adds a new dimension. We thank Sasol for continuing its commitment to this partnership on Qatar e-Nature, and hope that users will use the opportunity of the cooler months ahead to go out into Qatar’s wild areas and discover the beauty of its diversity.”
“The response to the Qatar e-Nature application among students, in particular, has been fantastic,” said Marjo Louw, President of Sasol Qatar, “We extend our deepest gratitude to the Friends of the Environment Centre, with whom we worked closely to develop the application, and the Supreme Education Council for supporting our effort in expanding its reach within Qatar’s schools. Adding mammals and reptiles gives explorers of all ages more to discover, right from their smartphone or tablet.”
Work is also underway to gather information about fish in Qatar to add to this application.
Users may visit the App Store, Google Play or the Windows Phone Store to download the update, while the app will be updated directly for users who have automatic updates. The information is also available on www.enature.qa.
The Peninsula
