Image used for representation only
Doha, Qatar: Nature-based solutions (NbS) are vital for tackling climate and biodiversity and have risen sharply on the sustainability agenda as they can be transformed through nature tech into solutions that are scalable.
Speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of Qatar Science & Technology Park’s ‘Meet the Expert’ session, Dr. David Palandro, Vice President and Research Director for ExxonMobil Research Qatar (EMRQ) highlighted the crucial role of research and technology in powering Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to address environmental challenges and protect ecosystems.
Dr. David Palandro said, “We are looking at expanding our biodiversity enhancements nature-based solutions work which is looking at the building on the previously produced and expand it to a border area so we can better document the biodiversity here in country.”
The second project is about the constructed wetland. “With our partners we are developing reed in a box, and we are going to deploy the constructed wetland and treat Qatari specific wastewater stream to ensure that we have the opportunity to reuse that water,” he added.
Constructed wetlands are treatment systems that use natural processes involving wetland vegetation, soils and the associated microbial assemblages to improve water quality. The Mobile Constructed Wetland is a compact constructed wetland specially designed for enhanced aerobic zones surface constructed wetland type using artificial aeration to promote water reuse such as landscape irrigation, algae cultivation, aquaculture.
These research projects support the development and application of novel technologies related to NbS. The ultimate goal is to promote water security through water reuse.
He further said that these technologies that we are looking to do in Qatar have been used globally, not just by the oil and gas industry but by other industries also. The largest constructed wetland on the planet is currently in Oman and is being used by the oil and gas industry in terms of creating habitat maps using satellite remote sensing which has been done for past 30 or 40 years.”
What we are bringing to Qatar is the best available data, techniques and processes to make sure we are doing our best job to document the biodiversity, he added.
Speaking about sustainability Dr. Palandro noted, Qatar in terms of sustainability and nature-based solutions is very advanced. “There are excellent universities who are interested in working in this space. The opportunity that we have as an international oil and gas company, ExxonMobil, in terms of our research capabilities is that we can bring global expertise. Our experiences exist both here in Qatar but also outside of Qatar and the space for us to work together with universities, scientists and researchers that are here and share with them our best learnings from around the world.”
