The State of Qatar is a peninsula located between 24o
27- and 26o 10- N latitude and 50o 45- and 51o 40- E
longitude. It is about 180 km long and 85 km wide,
covering an area of 11,437 km2. Qatar is surrounded on
three sides by the waters of the Arabian Gulf and
connected to the south by land to Saudi Arabia. The
landscape is generally flat to wavy with some prominent
hills. The land elevation ranges between 6m to 103m
above sea level. Rocky hills and sand dunes are mostly
found in the southern parts of the country. Saline
swampy mud flats are common along the coastal areas.
According
to its geographical location and climate, Qatar is
classified as a hot subtropical desert; very hot and
muggy between June and August and pleasant between
November and February. The average annual rainfall is 81
mm, average maximum temperature is 31oC and average
minimum temperature 22oC. The morning humidity averages
71% and the afternoon relative humidity 43%. Qatar is
affected by wind blown dust and occasionally sandstorms.
The country has no rivers or lakes, and besides the
rainfall received, the primary source of fresh water is
the ground water. Surface water is very limited; only
after a good winter rainfall, water may be seen in
depressions, Wadis and runnels for a short time.
As Qatar is subjected to an arid
climate, it mainly possesses an arid soil, with coarse
texture, shallow depth and low retention low of soluble
substances. Four soil associations were recognized in
addition to the soil of the cultivated areas. These have
been tailored in accordance to geographic and
topographic settings, and comprise Rowda (depression)
soils, Sabkha deposits (saline soil), Lithosol (rocky
soil) and sandy soil. The location of Qatar, being a
part of the large land mass of the Arabian Peninsula,
play an essential role in the make up of its flora and
vegetation. Ephemerals, annuals, dwarf woody perennials,
few tree species and perennial grasses are the most
common features of plant life forms in the inland
leveled parts of the country. Generally the inland
vegetation is sparse, with vast areas either barren or
with few sporadic species. However, well established
plant communities grow in depressions and water
catchment areas. Halophytes are common along the coastal
areas.
Of
the terrestrial invertebrates, few species (only five)
of terrestrial annelids were reported, and even fewer
species of terrestrial molluscs are known. However,
arthropods including spiders, scorpions, centipedes,
ticks, isopods and mainly insects constitute the bulk of
terrestrial invertebrate diversity in Qatar. The class
Insecta dominates in relative density and diversity. The
ecological role played generally by terrestrial
invertebrates and particularly by arthropods as far as
energy transfer and recycling of organic material, is
major in the functioning and overall balance of the
delicate desert eco-systems of Qatar. Records of
arthropods in Qatar are limited. Few groups have been
identified and published in form of lists: (Abdu and
Shanmar, 1985; Abu Shama, 1997, 1999; Vine and Casey,
1992; Pittaway 1980). Studies of terrestrial vertebrates
have received little attention and the records available
are marred by many gaps. Reptiles of Qatar were
investigated by Mohammed (1988), who recorded 27 species
of turtles, lizards and snakes. More recently, El-Sherif
and Al-Thani (2000) published a list of Qatar reptiles
describing 29 species which comprised varieties of
Chelonids, Lacertids and Ophids. However, Amphibia of
Qatar have not been previously studied, only one record
exists; the green toad Bufo Orientalis (viridis) which
was recorded around the waste water ponds south of Doha
city (Kardousha, et al., 2001).
The geographical location of Qatar
and the presence of some islands gave it the importance
of being a destination locality for
migratory birds. However, industrial and civil life
affected the life of birds both negatively and
positively. For example due to pollutants and civil
life, some species like Struthio camelus were extinct;
on the other hand, the increased cultivated area likes
palm farms and public gardens, the appearance of sewage
water ponds and efforts towards preservation of
ecosystems, have led to attraction of more migratory
birds to Qatar; some of them interbreed. There have been
few attempts to survey the distribution of terrestrial
mammals in Qatar. Kamel and Madkour (1984) recorded 6
species including one insectivore (Ethiopian hedgehog),
one lagomorph (Cape hare) and 4 rodents (lesser jerboa,
house rat, Baluchistan gerbil and Cheesman’s gerbil).
The Gulf is an extremely shallow sea, having a mean
depth of only 35 meters with the deepest point about100
meters near its entrance at the strait of Hurmuz. Near
to the delta of Shat Al-Arab, at the northern end of the
Gulf, the water is very shallow and off the delta there
are extensive tidal mud flats. Along the northern
Iranian coast is the central deeper part ranging from
75-100 m. The floor of the gulf lies entirely within the
depth range normally considered as belonging to the
continental shelf.
The surface and shallow waters of the Gulf undergo
wide temperature changes in response to daily and
seasonal cycles of heating and cooling. The fluctuations
are not damped, as they are in most areas, by the
thermal inertia of a large mass of deeper water. On the
contrary, strong northern (Shamal) winds result in
thorough mixing of the entire water column. The vertical
temperature gradients are thus usually small, except in
late summer when some density stratification can occur.
Surface temperature can range from 10 C to 36 C in
summer, while the offshore temperature ranges between 15
to 35 C. The range of variation in water temperature
tends to increase away from the entrance of the Arabian
Gulf. The Gulf is considerably more saline than other
seas. The surface salinity in the central part of the
Gulf averages 37-40% , while in the shallow parts of the
coast ,the salinity averages 40-50%, rising to 60-70% in
the remote lagoons and coastal embayments. The high
salinity is one of the important factors limiting the
occurrence and distribution of marine life of the Gulf.
Marine invertebrates of the Arabian Gulf are highly
diverse and abundant forming an important source of food
for higher consumers. Environmental and biological
factors of the Gulf have profoundly influenced the
occurrence and distribution of
marine
invertebrates. Available biological and ecological data
on marine biota of the Arabian Gulf are scarce, with
some coastal areas receiving more attention than others;
some critical marine habitats, coral reefs, inter-tidal
salt marshes, mangroves and sea-grass beds, have been
recognized (Basson et al., 1977; Barratt, 1984; price,
1985; Al-Ansi, and Al-Khayat, 1999). A review of the
available literature reveals that macro-invertebrates of
the intertidal, sub tidal and deep waters of Qatar have
received considerable attention recently. Jones (1985)
wrote some notes on intertidal and shallow sub tidal
fauna and flora species in Ras Laffan to the north of
Qatar. Mohammed and Al-Khayat (1994) reported the common
marine intertidal Mollusca at the east and west coast of
Qatar. Al-Khayat (1997) produced a comprehensive list of
Mollusca species (246 spp.) along the Qatari EEZ. The
general features of the intertidal and sub tidal benthic
habitats of the north east and west of Qatari waters are
well documented (Al-Khayat and Al-Khayat, 2000; Al-
Khayat, 1997, 1998, 1999).
Several studies have been carried out on the marine
fish in Qatar. About 150 species were recorded. It has
been shown that
the
richest fishing grounds are situated to the north east
of Qatar where the catch consists primarily of various
carangids (jacks), sweet lips, emperors and snappers,
together with lesser quantities of goatfish, shark,
groupers, barracudas, thread fins, lizard fish and
rabbit fish, (Vine and Casey 1992).
Study of fish parasites in the Arabian Gulf is recent,
starting about twenty yours ago. Most investigations
included taxonomic studies dealing with morphological
and anatomical descriptions, but some recent studies
recorded life cycles (Abdul-Salam and Sreelatha, 1993).
These studies have led to a better understanding of fish
parasites in the Arabian Gulf region. A survey of the
available literatures indicates that the most studies
carried out on parasitic platyhelminthes of Qatar are
mainly restricted to digenetic trematodes and few
cestodes collected from marine fishes, (Saoud et al.,
1986a, 1986b, 1987, 1988a, 1988b and 1988c; Al-Kawari et
al., 1996; Al-Kawari, 2000). Only two reports regarding
the terrestrial animals were observed, one from bats
(Al-Kawari, 199) and the other from toads (Kardousha,
2001).
Little is known about marine mammals of Qatar (Sivasubramaniam
and Ibrahim, 1982, Abdel-Razik, 1994, Mohammed and Al-Khayat,
1994, Soliman, 1995, and Kornprobst, 1999). Most of
marine mammals observed in Qatari waters like dolphins,
porpoises and occasionally whales, are commonly
distributed along the Arabian Gulf. The only documented
records in Qatar is related to Dugongs which have been
discovered in large numbers in the Gulf of Salwa (Gross,
1987). It is hoped that the National Biodiversity
Strategy of Qatar focuses on more studies on mammals,
specially endangered species. As noted above Qatar has
witnessed appreciable expansion in agriculture, diary
and poultry farming and livestock production. This
constituted a noticeable “Agriculture biodiversity”
which requires consideration. Agricultural biodiversity
is a broad term that includes all components of
biological diversity of relevance to food and
agriculture. It encompasses the variety and variability
of animals, plants and micro-organisms, at the genetic,
species and ecosystem levels. These are necessary to
sustain key functions of the agro-ecosystem, its
structure and processes for, and in support of food
production
and food security. Of the large numbers of crops, only
30 crops “feed the world”. These are crops that provide
95% of the dietary energy (calories) or protein. It is
important that the diversity within the crops is
conserved, made available for use and managed wisely.
Agricultural biological diversity is essential for
global food production and livelihood security, as well
as sustainable agriculture. All major food crops have
their origins and centers of diversity in the tropics
and sub-tropics of Asia, Africa and Latin America (the
Vavilov centers). Most (if not all) Qatar agricultural
crops are introduced from outside. Minor crops,
underutilized species and wild species are important,
both nutritionally and culturally to many people.
Domestic animals supply directly or indirectly some
percent of total human requirements for food and
agriculture. Animal genetic resources have also been
contributing to food and agriculture. Genetic diversity
makes possible livestock adaptation to disease and
parasites, wide variations in the availability and
quality of food and water, and other limiting factors.
Animal production in Qatar is limited by water supply
since the amount of forage eaten by an animal is
controlled by the amount of water it takes in. Animals
have to cope either physiologically, behaviorally or
communally with three outstanding environmental
characteristics: Low overall possibilities of
production. Temporarily very favorable condition but
with low predictability. Highly irregular spatial
distribution of productive possibilities. Agriculture in
the country was once without serious insects, diseases
or pathogens. Traditional agriculture was dependent on
some landrace cultivars which were adapted, acclimatized
and co-existed with their pathogens. This trend started
changing recently when high yielding exotic plant
material was brought in albeit inadvertently, towards
introducing the possibility of new pests. The
productivity of new material was higher, but it has no
tolerance to common pests. Many insects, weeds, fungal,
nematode and viral pathogens and their races appeared to
have been introduced along with the plant materials.
Intensive use of pesticides has resulted in pests
control, reduced pest population but aggravated the
problem of certain insect vectors of disease.
The Supreme Council for the Environment and Natural Sanctuaries
The Council undertakes all environmental protection responsibilities. It augments and protects endangered wildlife and its natural habitat; formulates the general policies aiming to protect the environment and effecting sustainable development; monitors the current environment and wildlife-related protective procedures and practices; prepares the necessary drafts of legislation, regulations and decisions on the protection of the environment and operates a national environmental data base - alongside with other environment protection-related functions.
The council is formed of a deputy president and a number of experienced and environment enthusiast members and a secretary-general.
The employees of the council have the capacity to act as law enforcement officers in cases of contravention against the provisions of the council's law and its executing regulations and decisions.
The Supreme Council for the Environment and Natural Sanctuaries organizes nation-wide functions to control the desertification problem as Qatar lies in an arid region, where rainfall doesn't exceed 200 mm per year. The council is also seeking to preserve all land, marine and atmospheric environments. It launched a campaign to destroy the farms that did not abide by environmental and health rules and set up many compounds in which sound health and environmental prerequisites are available.
The Council prohibits trading or dealing in any endangered wildlife, either dead or alive. Such practices are only allowed by a license from the Council. Hunting of wild birds and animals is also strictly prohibited within the boundaries of natural sanctuaries, islands, cities and villages.
To preserve the resources of wildlife the council enforces the wildlife hunting law. This law organizes wildlife hunting and designates the times and places where hunting is ultimately prohibited, as well as the techniques of hunting and the penalties for violations.
The law allows wildlife hunting during the season from 15th September to the beginning of May each year, after which hunting is prohibited.
Hunters are under the obligation not to damage gardens, farms and plant cover; not to interfere or tamper with the life of wild birds, marine turtles, baby animals, wild eggs and nests either by taking possession thereof, damaging, moving or selling them. Such practices are only permitted for scientific research purposes. Even then, a special pre-arranged approval must be secured from the council.
As a committed member of Basel Convention since the 9th of August 1995, Qatar doesn't allow hazardous waste to enter the country as per the provisions of the convention, which stipulate that no waste materials should be buried in any Qatari territory without the approval of the Supreme Council for the Environment and Natural Sanctuaries. Efforts are underway to arrange storing the hazardous industrial waste materials in specialized treatment centers as of 2003.
Qatar marks environment day Feb, 26
Anticipating
Qatar's
national environment day on Feb, 26,
Qatar's
Supreme Council for the Environment and Natural Reserves
and the supreme Council for Family Affairs unveiled this
year's slogan of the event "Because we are concerned
about the environment".
Secretary General of the SCENR, H.E Khaled Ghanim Al-Ali
and SG of SCFA, H.E Abdullah bin Nasser Al Khalifa told
a press conference today that the annual event will be
held this year for the first time in collaboration with
the supreme council for family affairs.
Building on previous successful events as wanted by the
Consort of the Emir H.H Sheikha Mouzah bint Nasser Al-Misnad,
chairperson of the SCFA, Abdullah bin Nasser Al Khalifa
said, the event aims at emphasizing that protecting of
our environment is a fundamental element in the overall
development efforts.
Talking on the same issue, H.E Khaled Ghanim Al-Ali said
that this year's slogan is a continuation of last year's
and the aim remains always the protection of the
environment as a public concern.
The objectives of observing the environment day include
raising
public awareness implanting environmental values, and
encouraging nationals and residents to participate
effectively in protecting the environment.
The State of Qatar is a peninsula located between 24o
27- and 26o 10- N latitude and 50o 45- and 51o 40- E
longitude. It is about 180 km long and 85 km wide,
covering an area of 11,437 km2. Qatar is surrounded on
three sides by the waters of the Arabian Gulf and
connected to the south by land to Saudi Arabia. The
landscape is generally flat to wavy with some prominent
hills. The land elevation ranges between 6m to 103m
above sea level. Rocky hills and sand dunes are mostly
found in the southern parts of the country. Saline
swampy mud flats are common along the coastal areas.
According
to its geographical location and climate, Qatar is
classified as a hot subtropical desert; very hot and
muggy between June and August and pleasant between
November and February. The average annual rainfall is 81
mm, average maximum temperature is 31oC and average
minimum temperature 22oC. The morning humidity averages
71% and the afternoon relative humidity 43%. Qatar is
affected by wind blown dust and occasionally sandstorms.
The country has no rivers or lakes, and besides the
rainfall received, the primary source of fresh water is
the ground water. Surface water is very limited; only
after a good winter rainfall, water may be seen in
depressions, Wadis and runnels for a short time.
Of
the terrestrial invertebrates, few species (only five)
of terrestrial annelids were reported, and even fewer
species of terrestrial molluscs are known. However,
arthropods including spiders, scorpions, centipedes,
ticks, isopods and mainly insects constitute the bulk of
terrestrial invertebrate diversity in Qatar. The class
Insecta dominates in relative density and diversity. The
ecological role played generally by terrestrial
invertebrates and particularly by arthropods as far as
energy transfer and recycling of organic material, is
major in the functioning and overall balance of the
delicate desert eco-systems of Qatar. Records of
arthropods in Qatar are limited. Few groups have been
identified and published in form of lists: (Abdu and
Shanmar, 1985; Abu Shama, 1997, 1999; Vine and Casey,
1992; Pittaway 1980). Studies of terrestrial vertebrates
have received little attention and the records available
are marred by many gaps. Reptiles of Qatar were
investigated by Mohammed (1988), who recorded 27 species
of turtles, lizards and snakes. More recently, El-Sherif
and Al-Thani (2000) published a list of Qatar reptiles
describing 29 species which comprised varieties of
Chelonids, Lacertids and Ophids. However, Amphibia of
Qatar have not been previously studied, only one record
exists; the green toad Bufo Orientalis (viridis) which
was recorded around the waste water ponds south of Doha
city (Kardousha, et al., 2001).
migratory birds. However, industrial and civil life
affected the life of birds both negatively and
positively. For example due to pollutants and civil
life, some species like Struthio camelus were extinct;
on the other hand, the increased cultivated area likes
palm farms and public gardens, the appearance of sewage
water ponds and efforts towards preservation of
ecosystems, have led to attraction of more migratory
birds to Qatar; some of them interbreed. There have been
few attempts to survey the distribution of terrestrial
mammals in Qatar. Kamel and Madkour (1984) recorded 6
species including one insectivore (Ethiopian hedgehog),
one lagomorph (Cape hare) and 4 rodents (lesser jerboa,
house rat, Baluchistan gerbil and Cheesman’s gerbil).
The Gulf is an extremely shallow sea, having a mean
depth of only 35 meters with the deepest point about100
meters near its entrance at the strait of Hurmuz. Near
to the delta of Shat Al-Arab, at the northern end of the
Gulf, the water is very shallow and off the delta there
are extensive tidal mud flats. Along the northern
Iranian coast is the central deeper part ranging from
75-100 m. The floor of the gulf lies entirely within the
depth range normally considered as belonging to the
continental shelf.
marine
invertebrates. Available biological and ecological data
on marine biota of the Arabian Gulf are scarce, with
some coastal areas receiving more attention than others;
some critical marine habitats, coral reefs, inter-tidal
salt marshes, mangroves and sea-grass beds, have been
recognized (Basson et al., 1977; Barratt, 1984; price,
1985; Al-Ansi, and Al-Khayat, 1999). A review of the
available literature reveals that macro-invertebrates of
the intertidal, sub tidal and deep waters of Qatar have
received considerable attention recently. Jones (1985)
wrote some notes on intertidal and shallow sub tidal
fauna and flora species in Ras Laffan to the north of
Qatar. Mohammed and Al-Khayat (1994) reported the common
marine intertidal Mollusca at the east and west coast of
Qatar. Al-Khayat (1997) produced a comprehensive list of
Mollusca species (246 spp.) along the Qatari EEZ. The
general features of the intertidal and sub tidal benthic
habitats of the north east and west of Qatari waters are
well documented (Al-Khayat and Al-Khayat, 2000; Al-
Khayat, 1997, 1998, 1999).
the
richest fishing grounds are situated to the north east
of Qatar where the catch consists primarily of various
carangids (jacks), sweet lips, emperors and snappers,
together with lesser quantities of goatfish, shark,
groupers, barracudas, thread fins, lizard fish and
rabbit fish, (Vine and Casey 1992).
production
and food security. Of the large numbers of crops, only
30 crops “feed the world”. These are crops that provide
95% of the dietary energy (calories) or protein. It is
important that the diversity within the crops is
conserved, made available for use and managed wisely.
Agricultural biological diversity is essential for
global food production and livelihood security, as well
as sustainable agriculture. All major food crops have
their origins and centers of diversity in the tropics
and sub-tropics of Asia, Africa and Latin America (the
Vavilov centers). Most (if not all) Qatar agricultural
crops are introduced from outside. Minor crops,
underutilized species and wild species are important,
both nutritionally and culturally to many people.
Domestic animals supply directly or indirectly some
percent of total human requirements for food and
agriculture. Animal genetic resources have also been
contributing to food and agriculture. Genetic diversity
makes possible livestock adaptation to disease and
parasites, wide variations in the availability and
quality of food and water, and other limiting factors.
Animal production in Qatar is limited by water supply
since the amount of forage eaten by an animal is
controlled by the amount of water it takes in. Animals
have to cope either physiologically, behaviorally or
communally with three outstanding environmental
characteristics: Low overall possibilities of
production. Temporarily very favorable condition but
with low predictability. Highly irregular spatial
distribution of productive possibilities. Agriculture in
the country was once without serious insects, diseases
or pathogens. Traditional agriculture was dependent on
some landrace cultivars which were adapted, acclimatized
and co-existed with their pathogens. This trend started
changing recently when high yielding exotic plant
material was brought in albeit inadvertently, towards
introducing the possibility of new pests. The
productivity of new material was higher, but it has no
tolerance to common pests. Many insects, weeds, fungal,
nematode and viral pathogens and their races appeared to
have been introduced along with the plant materials.
Intensive use of pesticides has resulted in pests
control, reduced pest population but aggravated the
problem of certain insect vectors of disease.
The Supreme Council for the Environment and Natural Sanctuaries organizes nation-wide functions to control the desertification problem as Qatar lies in an arid region, where rainfall doesn't exceed 200 mm per year. The council is also seeking to preserve all land, marine and atmospheric environments. It launched a campaign to destroy the farms that did not abide by environmental and health rules and set up many compounds in which sound health and environmental prerequisites are available.