Doha, October 04 (QNA) - The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) revealed that terrestrial protected areas cover almost 25 percent of the State of Qatar's land area, with a target of increasing the share of protected terrestrial and marine areas to 30 percent by 2030, strengthening the protection of ecosystems and natural habitats and supporting biodiversity conservation efforts.

To mark World Animal Day, observed annually on Oct. 4, MECC said it highly prioritizes the conservation of native wildlife species, particularly those that require specialized programs to protect them and increase their populations.

These programs are based on scientific methods for breeding, care and monitoring, while also providing suitable environments for their continued survival and reproduction, the ministry added.

In this regard, Director of the Wildlife Development Department at MECC Khalid Juma Al Muhannadi said nature reserves play a fundamental role in protecting wildlife by preserving their habitats and providing safe areas for food, shelter and reproduction, as well as protecting them from encroachments and actions that could de-stabilize or imperil their continued survival.

Al Muhannadi added that the conservation and breeding programs overseen by the ministry cover a number of species, including the Arabian oryx, sand gazelle and ostriches, which are subject to care and monitoring programs aimed at conserving them, increasing their populations and supporting their sustainability.

The Arabian oryx and gazelles are prominent examples of species benefiting from conservation and breeding programs in the country, he noted, remarking that the ministry is providing the necessary care for them within protected areas and centers it operates.

  This is in addition to implementing reintroduction programs for several species in suitable environments, supporting their presence in their natural habitats, Al Muhannadi said.

Al Muhannadi further stressed that protecting wildlife isn't limited to breeding and care programs but also includes protecting their natural habitats, emphasizing the importance of conserving rawdas, terrestrial areas and nature reserves and avoiding harm to their components, as they constitute essential habitats for many wildlife species.

The director noted that MECC also plays a regulatory and oversight role in protecting endangered species by implementing the State of Qatar's obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and regulating the import, export and trade of species covered by the convention, thereby helping curb their illegal trade and conserve protected species.

In addition, Al Muhannadi elaborated on the ministry's efforts to develop procedures for registering captive-breeding centers, documenting animals, their identification methods and their records, thereby strengthening oversight of breeding and trade operations and providing an information database to support efforts to protect endangered species.

He pointed out that the nation's efforts to conserve endangered wildlife extend to international cooperation through supporting specialized programs and centers for breeding and protecting several species abroad, as well as exchanging scientific and technical expertise and experience in conservation, breeding and rehabilitation.

  Subsequently, Al Muhannadi implored all community members to help conserve wildlife species by steering clear of hunting them or disturbing them in their natural habitats and harming their habitats.

All community members are required to comply with laws, regulations, and decisions governing hunting and the protection of wildlife and protected areas, Al Muhannadi stressed, recalling that this day is an occasion to elevate awareness of the criticality of animals and their role in ecosystems and deepen responsible behavior toward them.

He contended that preserving wildlife species and their natural habitats is a shared responsibility that supports the State of Qatar's efforts to protect biodiversity and sustain natural habitats for generations to come. (QNA)