General Information » Environment » Environmental Issues

The Supreme Council for the Environment & Natural Reserves (SCENR, www.qatarenv.org) was set up in 2000 with the purpose of protecting the environment, conserving endangered species of wildlife, and protecting their natural habitats. With the continuing population growth and the country’s massive investment in hydrocarbon industries, Qatar’s environment is clearly under threat. These threats include spillage of oil, gas and hazardous chemicals, and production facilities damaging the marine environment. However, while Qatar currently has no national parks or protected areas officially designated for nature conservation, the SCENR and the gas and oil companies do have programmes in place to monitor the local environment and minimise their impact on it. Qatargas achieved ISO 14001 certification (for environmental protection and management) in 2000, and Qatar Petroleum has initiated schemes to conserve Qatar’s mangroves and protect the sea turtle population.

Qatar is a signatory to a number of environmental conventions, including the Bio-diversity Convention and the 1969 Kuwait and 1971 Brussels conventions.