Doha, April 21 (QNA) - Qatar, along with various world countries celebrate "Earth Day" on April 22 of each year to raise awareness to preserve the environment and reduce pollution, while highlighting the challenges facing the planet, and emphasizing the importance of preserving the Earth to ensure a healthy and safe environment and a more stable world.

This year's celebration is held under the theme "Our Power, Our Planet," the same theme as last year. The event, which involves more than one billion people around the world, focuses on accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources, combating various forms of pollution, and promoting environmental protection efforts.

This year's Earth Day comes amidst unprecedented and accelerating climate change, with 2025 on track to be one of the hottest years on record. This makes Earth Day a renewed global call to action, urging individual and community efforts to protect the environment. As ecosystems face increasing degradation, with oceans filled with plastic waste, rising acidity and salinity levels, and escalating heat waves, fires, and floods, the urgent need to restore ecological balance is paramount. The health of ecosystems is fundamental to the sustainability of life and human well-being on Earth.

In his remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Director of the Wildlife Development Department at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) Khalid Jumaa Bojamhoor Al Mohannadi said that the department is implementing various initiatives as part of the MOECC's programs to serve the goals of the Earth Day. These initiatives include protecting species and their habitats, restoring ecosystems, and raising environmental awareness. He added that these efforts encompass protecting endangered wildlife species, implementing breeding and rehabilitation programs, and working to restore coastal ecosystems, particularly mangroves. The department also conducts campaigns to clean up natural areas and continues its project to reduce and control invasive species, such as the common myna.

He pointed out that the department's role is not limited to field work, but extends to documenting biodiversity through the national database, in parallel with initiatives such as planting 10 million trees by 2030, which contributes to enhancing biodiversity and implementing nature-based solutions.

Al Mohannadi emphasized that Earth Day is not just an occasion for celebration, but an annual opportunity to review the efforts made in the State of Qatar on land, sea and coasts and to expand participation with various segments of society, the private sector, universities and scientific research institutions.

Regarding the department's efforts over the past years and its role in raising community awareness, the Director of the Wildlife Development Department at the MOECC indicated that work has focused on providing awareness programs that are more accessible and relevant to the public. This has been demonstrated through campaigns to clean up natural areas and wildlife habitats, sea turtle conservation seasons, and the dissemination of awareness messages clarifying regulations for hunting, transporting, and selling wildlife. He also noted the involvement of schools, universities, and various other entities in sustainability and biodiversity initiatives.

He highlighted that these efforts have contributed to making environmental information clearer and more accessible, serving researchers and decision-makers and raising public awareness of the importance of species and habitats in the country. He added that the results have been reflected in tangible indicators, particularly the progress in combating invasive species. The national project to control and contain the Myna bird resulted in the capture of 52,067 birds during the past period, leading to a significant decrease in their numbers in the targeted areas.

He pointed out that the department continues to implement programs to protect species and habitats of high environmental value, such as sea turtles, dugongs, whale sharks and mangrove trees, as part of integrated efforts that include monitoring, protection, rehabilitation and propagation, in partnership with the relevant authorities.

He pointed out that the Wildlife Development Department at the MOECCe is implementing a package of integrated projects and programs in the fields of propagation and rehabilitation, which represent a fundamental pillar within the state's efforts to preserve ecosystems and ensure the sustainability of its natural resources. He noted the national project for fencing and rehabilitating the grasslands, which focuses on protecting them from human encroachments, such as overgrazing and vehicle entry, in addition to carrying out cleaning work and replanting them with local plant species, which contributes to restoring vegetation cover and improving the natural habitats of wildlife.

The Qatari Desert Rehabilitation Project is a large-scale national program aimed at addressing the deterioration of desert environments, through the replanting of local plants, improving soil properties, and restoring the ecological balance of areas affected by human activities. This project is integrated with the plant propagation programs implemented by the administration through nurseries and seed banks, where local species such as acacia, jujube, ghaf, and mangrove are produced and propagated, ensuring a sustainable source of seedlings used in rehabilitation projects and preserving the genetic diversity of local plants. 

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change highlighted ongoing efforts to expand green spaces, protect wildlife, and strengthen biodiversity conservation as part of wider sustainability goals.

Al Mohannadi said initiatives include national afforestation programs aimed at increasing vegetation cover, improving air quality, and enhancing ecosystems' ability to absorb carbon emissions.

He also highlighted wildlife breeding and reintroduction programs, particularly for endangered species such as sea turtles, where nesting sites are protected and hatchlings are released into their natural habitats.

In addition, conservation efforts include managing invasive species that threaten ecological balance, alongside the development of national biodiversity databases to support environmental planning and decision-making.

Al Mohannadi said these initiatives are aligned with broader climate and environmental objectives, including ecosystem restoration and biodiversity protection, marking Earth Day as a reminder of the importance of environmental sustainability.

He stressed that combating invasive species requires coordinated action, early monitoring, public awareness, and data-driven interventions involving both government and society.

He further noted improvements in biodiversity management through expanded field programs and enhanced monitoring systems, including marine species protection and habitat restoration projects.

Al Mohannadi urged the public to take part in environmental protection efforts, emphasizing that safeguarding nature is a shared responsibility that contributes to Qatar’s environmental identity and long-term sustainability goals. (QNA)