Qatar should plant more trees and plants, say locals
A number of citizens have called on the government to intensify its efforts to plant more trees in residential and public areas, as well as along main streets and external roads citing the environmental and health benefits of afforestation.
Local Arabic daily Arrayah reported that the citizens also emphasised that having more trees helps control searing temperatures during the summer season and reduces the amount of dust that could be hazardous to people.
They also pointed out that the greening of streets, roundabouts, and other major thoroughfares have been neglected.
One of their suggestions was the establishment of an afforestation project that would be supervised by specialised experts.
But concerned authorities told Arrayah that the government is “exerting hard efforts” to plant more trees in public areas and along the streets, including the transformation of idle spaces into forest parks.
They also stressed that beautification and afforestation are among the factors that add to the “urban renaissance in the State of Qatar.”
Call to trim tree branches for road safety
Citizens have called for the launching of a beautification campaign that involves the trimming of tree branches, among others, for road safety and the availability of more parking spaces.
According to concerned citizens, pedestrians are sometimes forced off the pavements by large trees or long branches, which put people at risk of being hit by passing vehicles.
Others complained that the thick, long branches of unmaintained trees have invaded private properties or have stretched towards busy roads, becoming a safety hazard.
The beautification campaign also calls for the trimming of bushes and tree branches to clear more parking spaces.
One citizen pointed out that municipalities should co-operate with each other to identify critical areas such as Al Hilal, Nuaija, and Al Matar, among others.
Gulf Times | Photo by Stewart Lacey
well the greywater will keep being processed regardless of whether its used to water greenery or not...and is being let back into your flush tank and the car washes and in other countries into rivers and seas too; in any case, be part of the solution and not the problem i say.
All trees give off oxygen. Treating dirty water also costs money and resources as well as moving it to where it is used. I would like more green too especially in built up areas like Al Sadd etc. But so much water is wasted here, that has to be processed first.
maintain open spaces in all areas. don't convert all open spaces in to buildings.
This is a nice opportunity for all citizens and expats to get together and run a "GO GREEN" drive to plant more trees. This way we can help government and also have a greener environment.
If we can form a small initiation group here then we can approach concerned authorities and help them out. Also, we should think about planting trees which offer greater shade once fully grown...Like Gulmohar..and Trees with bigger leaves because they tend to give more shade, for ex Fig Tree has very big leaves and Plants that give more oxygen (don't know the exact names).
If there is any good Botanical Team available here in Qatar we can have them layout a list of trees that can grow next to each other by offering mutual growth benefits. For ex: In some countries, in between Tall trees they grow smaller trees which doesn't require too much sunlight and also need support.
Let's get our hands dirty in soil...and experience the Joy of digging the soil...smelling the water soaked soil on our hands and clothes...:)
well they seem to be listening, i live in hilal and just yesterday, they came and cut away all the trees hanging over the roads and into our homes, painted all the speed humps and are now resurfacing some bumpy roads as we speak; and hey marycatherine, the huge amounts of 'greywater sewage' qatar generates should be plenty enough to irrigate the greenery..if they do it right, it won't even smell :-)
And where is the water to maintain the greenery to come from?
As a side note, Remove signage and other obstructions to visibility at any intersection - they are placed by those who fail to recognize the importance of being able to see oncoming traffic.