Ulaanbaatar, August 26 (QNA) - Assistant Undersecretary for Protection and Natural Reserves Affairs at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Dr. Ibrahim Abdul Latif Al Maslamani affirmed that the State of Qatar attaches great importance to environmental protection, the preservation of natural resources, and the development of biodiversity, within its national policies aimed at achieving environmental sustainability and maintaining a balance between development needs and the protection of ecosystems.
His remarks came during a meeting with Secretary-General of the Middle East Green Initiative Eng Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al Turki on the sidelines of Qatar's participation in the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP17), held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed ways to strengthen regional cooperation in combating desertification, restoring degraded lands, and developing vegetation cover. They also discussed mechanisms for advancing joint action to address the challenges of land degradation and drought, in support of regional efforts to achieve environmental sustainability goals and enhance ecosystem resilience.
The discussions also covered several topics of mutual interest, most notably the exchange of expertise and successful experiences among countries in the region, as well as the promotion of nature-based solutions for rehabilitating degraded lands and restoring ecosystems, alongside the use of modern technologies and scientific innovations to monitor land degradation, develop vegetation cover, and improve the efficiency of natural resource management.
Dr. Al Maslamani emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation and coordination among countries in the region to address shared environmental challenges, noting that combating desertification and restoring degraded lands require the integration of national and regional efforts, the adoption of best scientific practices and modern technologies, and the development of practical programs that reflect the environmental and climatic characteristics of each country.
He also highlighted Qatar's key efforts to protect the terrestrial environment, develop wildlife, and conserve natural resources, along with programs and initiatives aimed at expanding vegetation cover, rehabilitating natural habitats, and restoring ecosystems, in line with the State of Qatar's national priorities and its commitments under international environmental agreements.
For his part, Eng Al Turki underscored the objectives of the Middle East Green Initiative in promoting regional cooperation, coordinating efforts among member states, and supporting programs aimed at restoring degraded lands, developing vegetation cover, and addressing climate and environmental challenges across the region. (QNA)