Qatar is intensifying its efforts to combat desertification and land degradation through a multifaceted environmental strategy aimed at safeguarding natural resources and expanding vegetation amid escalating climate challenges. The initiative aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030 and responds to pressures from climate change, water scarcity, and human activity that threaten biodiversity, food security, and sustainable development.
Situated in an arid region with limited water availability, Qatar has implemented a range of measures including afforestation programs, the cultivation of drought-resistant plants, use of advanced irrigation technologies, land rehabilitation, soil enhancement, and environmental monitoring via geographic information systems, drones, and remote sensing. These efforts are guided by the recently launched National Strategy to Combat Desertification 2025-2030, which seeks to achieve land degradation neutrality through stronger environmental policies, ecosystem protection, and sustainable resource management.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change leads national programs focused on ecosystem conservation, biodiversity protection, natural reserve management, and coordination of local and international environmental initiatives. Qatar is committed to planting 10 million trees by 2030 under the Green Middle East Initiative, having already planted more than 4 million trees. In 2025 alone, the Ministry cultivated nearly 20,000 native wild and coastal seedlings and produced over 31,000 additional seedlings at Al-Ghashamiya Nursery to support rehabilitation projects and increase vegetation cover.
Dr. Ibrahim Abdul Latif Al-Musallamani, Assistant Undersecretary for Protection and Natural Reserves Affairs, emphasized that the strategy aims to restore at least 30 percent of degraded habitats and increase protected terrestrial and marine areas to 30 percent of the country’s territory by 2030. Since 2019, the Ministry has rehabilitated 76 natural sites and gardens covering 16.72 square kilometers by planting native species, regulating usage, and erecting protective fencing, with plans to expand protection to 500 sites by the end of the decade.
Khalid Boujamhour Al-Mohannadi, Director of the Wildlife Development Department, underscored the vulnerability of Qatar’s desert ecosystem to high temperatures, low rainfall, and water scarcity, compounded by global climate change. The Ministry’s initiatives include controlling invasive species, restoring degraded lands, and propagating native flora, with an emphasis on public education and engagement involving volunteers, schools, and private sector partners.
Dr. Saif Ali Al-Hajri, Head of Qatar’s Nature Protectors Center, highlighted Qatar’s progress in transforming desert landscapes into greener spaces through governmental coordination, public awareness campaigns, and modern agricultural techniques. He pointed to expanded green spaces, afforestation drives, and the restoration of meadows and mangrove cultivation, which aid in greenhouse gas absorption and enhance environmental sustainability.
Qatar also participates actively in international environmental forums and climate negotiations and provides regional support via the Qatar Fund for Development. Events like the International Agricultural Exhibition and Expo 2023 Doha demonstrate the country’s commitment to addressing desertification and promoting sustainable development in line with its national vision and global environmental objectives.