Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) is working to provide ecotourism in protected areas, said an official.
“We are working closely with Visit Qatar to bring ecotourism activities like hiking, walking, and sports into our protected area enabling people to enjoy the nature,” said Director of Wildlife Development Department at MECC, Yousef Ibrahim Al Hamar.
Speaking to The Peninsula at a recent event, he said a detailed plan listing the targeted protected areas and activities is expected to be announced this year.
“We have a plan. Very soon we will have many activities related to ecotourism. You cannot open any area unless you know its effect on the people and the environment. This is very important for balancing eco-tourism and the environment,” said Al Hamar.
He said the Ministry recently introduced ecotourism activities in protected areas like Ras Abrouq. “Ras Abrouq is one of our protected areas where we received first experience of hosting ecotourism activities this year. Another protected area is Khor Al Adaid which has been receiving visitors for many years,” said Al Hamar.
He said that the idea behind hosting ecotourism activities in protected areas is to enable people to enjoy nature for their health and wellbeing.
Qatar has established many nature reserves and conservation areas to protect and maintain ecological systems. The MECC is preserving these nature reserves, maintaining their environmental components and proposing conservational policies, programmes and activities.
The protected areas include Al Reem Reserve, Al Sheehaniya Reserve, Al Mashabiya Reserve, Al Thakhira Reserve, Al Eraiq Reserve, Al Wusil Reserve, Khor Al Adaid Reserve, Al Rafa Reserve, Sunai Reserve, Um Al Amad Reserve, Um Qarn Reserve and Irkaya Farm among others.
To promote ecotourism, MECC in coordination with Visit Qatar organised several activities Ras Abrouq Reserve last month. The Reserve is home to rare species of wildlife and plants, making it one of the most prominent natural landmarks in the country and a primary destination for eco-tourism.
Ras Abrouq represents a successful model of eco-tourism, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy experiences that combine entertainment, education, and learning about Qatari heritage while maintaining the beauty of nature and the integrity of the ecosystem.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change for its efforts in supporting eco-tourism by facilitating the organisation of events in nature reserves and wilderness areas. It is committed to providing the highest standards of sustainability and high-quality services without causing any harm to the reserve or the plants and animals that live there.
Misfir Cave – Dhal Al Misfir is one of the major ecotourism sports in Qatar. Misfir Cave is located in central Qatar, south of Rawdat Rashid. The rocks in and around the cave are made up of marine sediments that formed in a warm, shallow sea about 40 to 50 million years ago.
The age of the cave is unknown but must be younger than the rocks that host the cave. Inside the cave you can see two main sections of rock: the Damman Formation and the Rus Formation.
The base of the Damman Formation is characterised by a “marker bed” called the Rujm Aid. The term “marker bed” is used for a section of rock that is easily recognized in a visible exposure, such as along a cliff or in a cave.
