Qur’anic Botanic Garden (QBG), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), has signed a protocol of co-operation (PoC) with the Agriculture Research Department of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME).
The agreement aims to strengthen scientific, agricultural, and environmental research in Qatar, through the conservation of national plant resources and modern mechanisms in horticultural preservation and agricultural sustainability. QBG’s partnership with the Agriculture Research Department, therefore, reflects its commitment to enhancing Qatar’s sustainable development and reinforces the Environmental Pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV2030).
Fatima bint Saleh al-Khulaifi, project manager, QBG, stated that the agreement is extremely beneficial to both entities, who have united under common efforts to preserve and protect Qatar’s environment.
“The agreement demonstrates our commitment to nurturing Qatar’s environment, and is line with the invaluable words of QF chairperson HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, ‘If we nurture our environment, it will nurture us’.”
During the signing ceremony, Agricultural Research Department director Masoud Jarallah al-Marri said the department represents Qatar in international conventions and treaties related to the environment and agriculture and also manages the genetic resources of the country.
“I hope that the PoC will pave the way for us to benefit from these international treaties, and enable the two parties involved to support Qatar, as well as implement the Qatar National
Vision 2030.”
Agricultural Research Department’s genetic resources head Aisha Dasman al-Kuwari explained that her section collects, characterises, and
conserves wild plants in Qatar.
“The genetic resources department conducts various activities, like environmental surveys and storing plants in the gene bank, and aims to establish an integrated database of genetic resources in Qatar.
“This protocol of co-operation will contribute to strengthening our relationship with the Qur’anic Botanic Garden and help to better conserve and preserve Qatar’s
environment”.
The agreement also paves the way for a number of collaborative activities, mutual research benefits, and overall development and education opportunities. This includes publishing co-produced research, plant conservation, documenting traditional knowledge and heritage, laboratory experiments for tissue culture techniques, and DNA identification, as well as organising technical seminars, workshops, and scientific meetings.
The QBG exhibits all the plant species mentioned in the Qur’an, and those in the Hadith and Sunnah (Sayings and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH). The garden exhibits the botanical terms mentioned in the Qur’an, explaining the significance of their mention in the Qur’an, as well as the scientific explanations of composition, application and usefulness to man.
It inspires appreciation of nature by encouraging respect and responsibility for our environment. The concept comes from a region-wide Unesco initiative. The QBG was inaugurated by HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser on September 17, 2008. To mark the event, she planted QBG’s very first tree, the Sidra (Ziziphus spina-christi Willd, Sidr), which is also the symbol of the QF.