QBG Strengthens Regional Collaboration in Plant Conservation

DOHA - A delegation from the Quranic Botanic Garden (QBG), a member of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), has concluded a scientific visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, where it met with representatives from three leading regional institutions specialising in plant biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration.

The visit was aimed at exchanging expertise and establishing partnerships that support plant conservation efforts and help preserve the shared Arab botanical heritage, reinforcing QBG's growing role in regional and international collaboration on biodiversity protection.

Visit to the Royal Botanic Garden Jordan

The visit began with a tour of the Royal Botanic Garden Jordan (RBG), one of the region's leading institutions for the conservation of wild plants both within and beyond their natural habitats. The delegation learned about the Garden's integrated approach to documenting its living collections, conserving seeds and threatened species, and propagating them in specialised nurseries to support ecosystem restoration.

As part of the exchange, QBG and RBG also swapped botanical specimens, including herbarium samples and seeds of endangered species, deepening scientific cooperation between the two institutions.

Field Visit to Wadi Association

The delegation also conducted a field visit to the Wadi Association for Sustainable Ecosystems Development, where they toured advanced nurseries dedicated to propagating native wild plant species in Al-Salt. Discussions there focused on rehabilitating degraded natural sites and restoring vegetation cover through collaboration with local communities and relevant agricultural authorities in Jordan.

Engagement With IUCN West Asia

At the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Regional Office for West Asia (IUCN ROWA), the QBG team explored the organisation's work across West Asia, particularly its programmes and activities in Qatar. The discussions highlighted opportunities to enhance cooperation in dryland conservation, prepare Red Lists for threatened species, and organise restoration initiatives under the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

Building on QBG's Conservation Mission

The Jordan visit builds on QBG's expanding portfolio of conservation partnerships. Earlier this year, the Garden signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Royal Botanic Garden of Jordan during its Third International Forum, aimed at enhancing collaboration in scientific research, knowledge exchange, technical consultancy, workshops, and symposia on plant conservation. At the same forum, QBG received international accreditation as a "Conservation Practitioner" from Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), becoming the first botanic garden of its kind in Qatar and the second in the Middle East to earn the distinction.

QBG, which is the first garden of its kind in the world to exhibit the plants mentioned in the Holy Quran and the authentic Sunnah alongside the native flora of Qatar, runs a comprehensive conservation programme combining in-situ conservation (preserving plants in their natural habitat) and ex-situ conservation (preserving them outside it). Through its nurseries and scientific and community-based programmes, the Garden has continued to expand the propagation of wild and domesticated plants, recently distributing 5,000 native trees and wild plants to support Qatar's vegetation cover.

QBG aims to serve as a global centre for sharing knowledge, education, and research related to plant resources, fostering intercultural dialogue and integrating plant conservation with modern scientific methods. Its mission aligns with the vision and objectives of Qatar Foundation and the Qatar National Vision 2030.