Environment minister highlights Qatar’s experience in reviving ecosystems at UN Forum on Forests
HE Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, headed the delegation of the State of Qatar, which participated in the 19th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests, held from May 6 to 10, 2024, at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, United States of America.
He also participated in the high-level roundtable meeting on “”Forest-based solutions to the triple planetary crises: A focus on people, science, technology, and finance.””, where solutions focused on humans, science, technology, and finance, within the framework of the United Nations Forum on Forests.
During the meeting His Excellency affirmed that Qatar has launched numerous scientific initiatives based on nature-based solutions (NbS) to enhance biodiversity, recycle water, protect coasts, and preserve the environment in collaboration with specialized research centers. He pointed out that one of these initiatives has contributed to the preparation of maps for all areas suitable for agriculture. These maps have also identified the types of trees and crops suitable for each region, especially coastal areas.
His Excellency explained that this NbS initiative has contributed to enriching and sustaining the country’s coastal areas through the expansion of tree forests in natural reserves, adding that these forests have shown great potential in enhancing biodiversity, improving food security, and their ability to sequester carbon and produce oxygen. He stressed the state’s success in overcoming all the challenges it faced in developing coastal areas, including rising temperatures, high salinity, and limited arable land.
HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change drew attention to Qatar’s green efforts within the framework of relying on NbS, which included expanding the establishment of green belts throughout the country. In 2022, Qatar announced a project to plant ten million trees by 2030. In the same year, the One Million Trees initiative was launched. He affirmed that the state’s official efforts have resulted in the preparation of a national program for the rehabilitation and conservation of marine ecosystems on all the country’s coasts and beaches, explaining that this program has contributed to enriching and supporting marine biodiversity by protecting and conserving seagrass beds and coral reefs.
Concluding his speech before the delegations of countries participating in the roundtable, HE Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie said that based on Qatar’s belief in the need for international cooperation to combat climate change, Qatar is ready to share its successful experience in establishing green belts and planting coastal trees with all friendly and sisterly countries that have similar conditions, which will contribute to international cooperation to preserve and protect the green planet.
