QBG celebration features live video footage from around the garden

THE Qur’anic Botanic Garden (QBG), the first garden in the world to exhibit all 60 plant species mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, Hadith and Sunnah, marked 12 years since its inauguration with a special online event featuring QBG’s team with exclusive live video footage from around the garden in Education City, including its Botanical Conservation Center and Botanical Museum. The event was moderated by Houssameldeen Khalafalla, newsroom specialist, Qatar Foundation (QF).

Fatima Al Khulaifi, director of QBG, kicked off proceedings with an opening speech highlighting the numerous successes and milestones that QBG has witnessed since its establishment. In addition, speaking in real time from the garden’s Botanical Museum, Abdulrahman

Al Hammadi, QBG events and social media specialist, elaborated on QBG’s many educational programmes and initiatives.

His colleague Assistant Researcher Ahmed ElGharib addressed the audience live from QBG’s Herbarium and Seed Bank Unit in its Botanical Conservation Center, outlining the importance of environmental preservation. Mohamed Hassona, QBG horticulturist, also presented viewers with home gardening and seed propagation techniques from QBG’s Plant Nursery.

QBG was inaugurated over a decade ago during Ramadan on September 17, 2008, by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of QF, who marked the opening by planting the garden’s very first tree, the Sidra tree, the symbol of QF.

Since its inauguration, QBG has emphasised Islam’s rich tradition of environmental conservation and evolved into an active and constant contributor to Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030). As part of its Ghars Campaign,

QBG pledged to plant 2,022 trees in the lead up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The campaign is well on track for successfully completing the challenge, with close to 2,000 trees already planted.

QBG has been a powerful influence in cultivating a shared sense of responsibility towards the environment in school children of all ages through its impactful and interactive oung Botanist, Food Security, and Fun and Learn educational programmes and initiatives, which focus on environmental sustainability and conservation. QBG has also organised an array of educational field trips and workshops, where students have been able to gain both theoretical and practical knowledge about modern agricultural techniques used in Qatar and other countries.

In addition, QBG regularly holds campaigns, events, fairs and exhibitions, as well as horticultural and educational programmes for the public that encourage both home gardening and natural resource preservation. For example, last month QBG held an interactive webinar on the indispensable efforts undertaken to conserve the flora and ecosystems of the Arabian Peninsula.

Commenting on QBG’s anniversary, Khulaifi said, “Today’s anniversary marks an important day for QBG and its dedicated team. It’s amasing to look back and see how many milestones we have achieved since our establishment back in 2008, and there is much to be proud of.

“The public has really engaged with us, and the support we have received for our online events throughout the recent challenging months of COVID-19 is deeply satisfying. In addition to our many successful events, programmes and campaigns, we have established fruitful partnerships and collaborations with important local and international stakeholders, including ministries, banks, and other botanic gardens around the world.”

Additionally, in a bid to support the Environmental Development pillar of QNV 2030, protect ecosystems and empower community members to be active contributors to these efforts, QBG recently launched its free-of-charge Home Garden Phone Helpline’. The initiative enables the public to pose any home gardening questions directly to QBG experts by calling

974 3091 8519 every Monday from 9am to 12.30pm, and every Wednesday from 12.30pm to 2.30pm. QBG is a member of QF.