The Qur’anic Botanic Garden has launched the African Women’s Diplomatic Garden, a first in the country, in celebration of Qatar Environment Day.

To mark the event, a tree-planting ceremony was held on February 26 in the presence of ambassadors from 10 African countries, members of the African Women’s Diplomatic Group, and senior Qatari dignitaries, as well as local community leaders.

Ms. Fatima Saleh Al-Khulaifi, Project Director, QBG, said: “Qatar has dedicated a day to spreading greater awareness of the need to protect our environment, and today’s special tree-planting ceremony is an example of QBG’s commitment – as part of Qatar Foundation’s wider mission – to promote environmental values in Qatar and support an important pillar of our national vision.

“We hope through the African Women’s Diplomatic Garden to highlight the importance of uniting globally around the common goal of environmental conservation. We also look forward to strengthening our cultural relations with the countries represented here and working together to cultivate the garden.”

Launched in the QBG Pilot Garden at Education City, the African Women’s Diplomatic Garden is part of QBG’s Ghars tree-planting campaign, and aims to highlight the importance of green conservation initiatives in Qatar. Emphasizing a global sustainability message to conserve the environment, the garden incorporates a variety of saplings representing several African countries, including Mali, Djibouti, South Africa, and  Senegal.

President of the African Women’s Diplomatic Group, Mrs. Anika Moosa, spouse of His Excellency the Ambassador of South Africa in Qatar, said: “It’s a pleasure to be a part of this ceremony organized by Qur’anic Botanic Garden and show support for their work, and that of Qatar Foundation. The planting of trees signifies life, as trees support the environment. In keeping with the Ghars initiative, the African Garden is a means of building that relationship through the planting of trees and ‘greening’ the environment.”

Mrs. Moosa added: “The Qur’anic Botanic Garden, being affiliated to Education City, plays such an important role in advancing education in this country to leave an everlasting legacy. Planting these trees is a symbolic gesture to ensure that Africa remains a part of that legacy and has a presence in the garden. We are also pleased at the opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations and we hope it will represent a garden of friendship between Africa and Qatar, with all 54 African countries represented eventually.”

The launch, which also featured cultural shows from Africa and Qatar, concluded with a tour of the QBG Botanical Museum, which displays photographs, murals and Islamic inscriptions.

To date, over 1,800 trees have been planted as part of the Ghars campaign, which aims to cultivate  2,022 trees by the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. QBG – a member of Qatar Foundation – also engages the local community through diverse year-round education activities designed to encourage responsibility and respect toward the environment, promote the value of planting trees in the Islamic religion, and preserve Qatar’s natural resources and botanic diversity.

SOURCE: ALBAWABA