QBG celebrates 12 years since inauguration with live video footage from around garden.
The Qur’anic Botanic Garden (QBG) celebrated its 12th anniversary 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, which moderated by Qatar Foundation Newsroom Specialist Houssameldeen Khalafalla, was kicked off by an opening speech from Fatima Al-Khulaifi, Director, QBG highlighting the numerous successes and milestones that QBG has witnessed since its establishment in 2008. Al-Khulaifi noted the importance of the occasion.
It’s amazing 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, programs, 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.
Speaking in real time from the garden’s Botanical Museum, Abdulrahman Al-Hammadi, QBG Events & Social Media Specialist, elaborated on QBG’s many educational programs 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 is the first garden in the world to exhibit all 60 plant species mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, Hadith, and Sunnah. It was inaugurated during Ramadan on 17 September 2008, by HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, who marked the opening by planting the garden’s very first tree, the Sidra tree, the symbol of Qatar Foundation.
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 Young Botanist, Food Security, and Fun and Learn educational programs 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.
QBG also regularly holds campaigns, events, fairs, and exhibitions, as well as horticultural and educational programs for the public that encourage both home gardening and natural resource preservation. Last month, QBG held an interactive webinar on the indispensable efforts undertaken to conserve the flora and ecosystems of the Arabian Peninsula.
QBG recently launched its free-of-charge ‘Home Garden Phone Helpline’ 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. The initiative enables the public to pose any home gardening questions directly to QBG experts by calling 3091 8519 every Monday from 9 am – 12:30 pm, and every Wednesday from 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm.
QBG is a member of Qatar Foundation. More information on its upcoming events, competitions, and activities can be found on its social media channels on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.