Al Karaana Lagoon to develop into an environmental tourist resort
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change announced that plans are underway to develop Al Karaana Lagoon into an environmental tourist resort.
“The project, which will be implemented in cooperation with Qatar Tourism, aims at providing a fantastic tourist place to visitors including families,” said Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani.
The Minister spoke with The Peninsula while at an awareness event held yesterday on the endangered sea turtle hawksbill project at Fuwairit Beach, a protected zone for the turtles.
Al Karaana Lagoon is one of the environmental projects of the Ministry that have become a major habitat for a variety of fish and bird species. The Lagoon also serves as a green rest stop and a source of clean water for migrating birds.
“To ensure biodiversity and address climate change, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change will launch a number of environmental projects before FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” said the Minister.
He said that the projects will be undertaken in almost every field, including marine environment, wild animals, birds, and plants.
The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, H E Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani, pointed out that Qatar stepped up efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% within 2030 in line with its Paris Agreement commitment.
“We made remarkable achievements in cutting the carbon emission in a number of sectors such as energy, transportation and recycling,” said the Minister.
In response to a question about Qatar's effort to host a carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup in 2022, the Minister said the Ministry acts as the supervising entity for projects to reduce carbon emissions.
“The Ministry is coordinating with all entities concerned in the country to reduce carbon emission at their level best,” said the Minister.He noted that Qatar General Electricity and Water (Kahramaa) had announced that it would soon start building a photovoltaic technology power plant with a capacity of 800 megawatts of renewable energy.
He was also leading a beach cleaning drive earlier at Fuwairit Beach in honor of the beginning of turtle nesting season in 2022.
شهدت الفعالية التوعوية وحملة تنظيف شاطئ فويرط برعاية وحضور سعادة الوزير حدوث عملية تعشيش سلحفاة خرخت للشاطئ، حيث تم أخذ القياسات المطلوبة وتركيب أرقام لها وتنظيفها من القواقع والطفيليات ومعالجة بعض الجروح، كما تم نقل بيضها للموقع المحمي بشاطئ فويرط. pic.twitter.com/akj2zxjff0
— وزارة البيئة والتغير المناخي - قطر | MOECC Qatar (@moecc_qatar) April 13, 2022
He emphasized the need to preserve biodiversity and protect endangered species. In his remarks, he commended the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change for its efforts to protect the endangered sea turtle hawksbill conservation project.
According to the Minister, the project is being implemented under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. It is funded by QatarEnergy and is being implemented by Qatar University in collaboration with a team from the Department of Protection and Wildlife.
Since 2003, the project has been carried out within the framework of Ministerial Decision No. (37) of 2010 to protect turtles and seabirds from extinction.
During nesting season, Fuwairit Beach is closed as a refuge for sea turtles. In the past five years, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has released more than 35,000 baby turtles.
In light of the efforts by the Ministry to welcome the public during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, he praised the plan to develop Fuwairit Beach.
لقطات من مشاركة سعادة الوزير بفعالية توعوية وحملة تنظيف شاطئ فويرط بالتزامن مع انطلاق موسم تعشيش السلاحف 2022 pic.twitter.com/F00Ouy0jYi
— وزارة البيئة والتغير المناخي - قطر | MOECC Qatar (@moecc_qatar) April 13, 2022
The Minister said that the beach has been developed in such a way as to provide a safe nesting ground for turtles. Further, nests and water basins will be constructed for the housing of young turtles for research and study purposes.
Talib Khaled Al Shahwani, Director of Protection and Wildlife Department, presented the turtle conservation project and the efforts to protect sea turtles.
Participants took a tour of the project and beach cleaning took place. They were briefed about Ministry efforts concerning this project.
The event was attended by the General Cleanliness Department of the Ministry of Municipality, the Qatar Red Crescent with 30 volunteers, and the Friends of the Environment Center.
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Image credit & Source: The Peninsula
