A Qatari delegation of senior officials from Qatar University, Qatar Foundation, Shell-Qatar, Qatar Energy and Environment Research Institute, Qatar Foundation Qur’anic Botanic Garden Project, Qatar Science and Technology Park and other institutions has visited Unesco biosphere reserves in Germany.
During the 10-day visit, the scholars visited three cities – Bonn, Hamburg and Berlin and four Unesco biosphere reserves in order to deepen bilateral ties in the field of biosphere reserves, nature conservation and botanical gardens.
In addition to visit to the German coastal, terrestrial and river nature reserves, the group had several political meetings, among others with the German Unesco Commission in Bonn, high-level representatives of the German Federal Foreign Office and representatives of the Qatari embassy in Berlin.
The trip was offered on the initiative of the German embassy in Doha and the Unesco Doha Office. It was funded by Unesco and Germany’s Visitor’s Programme.
The German Ambassador to Qatar, Angelika Storz-Chakarji, said: “We are pleased that we could invite this group of Qatari stakeholders from various environment-related sectors to Germany. Germany has a world-renowned profile in environmental management and boasts 38 Unesco World Heritage Sites. I am happy the Qatari delegation could gain first-hand impressions of many of them during the trip.”
Unesco’s ecological sciences adviser to the Arab region, Dr Benno Böer, said: “At Unesco we are extremely happy about this important element aiming at international friendship and inspirations into environmental best practices. A majority of female candidates participated. This is a significant support promoting women’s capacity in science-based environmental management.”
