QF’s Earthna rebuilding Qatar’s mangroves to combat climate change

Doha, Qatar: In the harsh heat and arid landscapes of Qatar, survival depends on adaptation and the country s biodiversity is uniquely suited to the...

Doha, Qatar: In the harsh heat and arid landscapes of Qatar, survival depends on adaptation — and the country’s biodiversity is uniquely suited to these challenging conditions.

From tenacious desert plants like the Kaff Maryam, or Mary’s Palm (Anastatica hierochuntica), which can stay closed and dry for years to protect its seeds, to mangrove trees that flourish in coastal waters, life in Qatar’s ecosystems is a delicate balance of endurance and resilience.

Yet even the most robust ecosystems are vulnerable to environmental pressures. To help protect them, Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, in collaboration with partners, has undertaken a five-year mangrove restoration project aimed at safeguarding critical coastal habitats and expanding the native Avicennia marina mangrove cover. The initiative combines scientific research, community engagement, and hands-on restoration to ensure the long-term resilience of this vital ecosystem across the region.

Senior Biodiversity Specialist and Mangrove Restoration Project Manager at Earthna, Sara Abdul Majid said, “Mangroves are unique because they are the only trees in Qatar that can survive in the intertidal zone, flooded with seawater twice a day.

“While most trees cannot tolerate saline conditions, mangroves have adapted by filtering out most salt at the roots and releasing it on the underside of their leaves. These adaptations help them cope with salt. Mangrove forests also serve as nursery grounds for fish and invertebrates, providing structural complexity, food, and essential sediment and nutrient cycling.