The completion of the latest phase of the unique Coral Management Programme is a milestone in the attempt to preserve the marine biodiversity of the country. The project undertaken by Qatargas in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Qatar University and the Ministry of Municipality was launched in 2021.
In recent years, both the government and corporate sectors in Qatar have been contributing heavily to the protection of nature and the preservation of biodiversity. With alarming changes occurring all over the world due to the climate change phenomenon, it becomes even more important that we take care of our flora and fauna and preserve the local biodiversity by nurturing the environment.
From setting up a ministry specifically for environment and climate change to hosting a carbon-neutral world cup, Qatar has taken many steps to address the environmental challenges of the present and the future.
The Environment Ministry recently highlighted the need to raise awareness and educate the importance of preserving the biodiversity of Qatar. They have been doing many different projects over the years involving educational institutions and public volunteers to preserve the biodiversity of the country and also to conserve the traditional and endangered flora and fauna belonging to the country and region. A good example of this is the endangered sea turtle hawksbill conservation project, which has emerged as one of the most successful environmental projects in the country to preserve biodiversity. Under this project, 31,586 baby turtles were released during 2016-2021 at the protected area, Fuwairit Beach.
Another interesting project which has been ongoing since 2014 is the research done on dugong in Qatar to protect their natural habitat. The dugong was also selected as National Museum of Qatar’s mascot “based on its representation of the museum’s ethos of sustainability and environmental awareness, and also for its cultural significance as part of Qatar’s local heritage.” They play an important role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
Efforts to protect whale sharks have also seen positive output as one of the largest gathering areas for these endangered whales is the Qatar territorial waters.
The latest phase of Coral Management Programme saw the deployment of hybrid artificial reefs, which were locally fabricated, using environmentally friendly materials, taking the total number of artificial reefs deployed to 1,100 units. This was followed by the relocation of live corals from project areas to these recipient sites, bringing the total number of relocated corals to 12,000.
The programme, aligned with the Environmental Developmental Pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030, comprises Artificial Reef Deployment and Coral Relocation as well as the first-of-its-kind land-based Coral Nursery.
