Biological and Environmental Sciences department (DBES) at Qatar University (QU) marked Biological Diversity International Day to increase understanding of the importance of maintaining the environment's balance and achieving sustainable development goals, particularly after raising global factors such as climate change, pollution, and overexploitation of natural resources as causes of biodiversity loss.
Many scientists around the world, including the Biological and Environmental Sciences department (DBES) at Qatar University, are focusing on inventions and studies to find the best way to conserve biological diversity.
Prof. Mohammed Abu-Dieyeh, Acting Department Head at Biological and Environmental Sciences, he made a point of emphasizing the university's position in preserving natural resources. "The mission of QU is to promote any science, academic programs, courses, and scientific activities that preserve living and non-living natural resources," he said. Despite the fact that the campus is being increasingly urbanized, QU is one of few universities that allocate large land areas inside the QU Campus as natural protected areas.
Prof. Mohammad Al-Ghouti, Professor of environmental sciences, said “Qatar's national biodiversity policy seeks to foster biological diversity protection and environmental balance, as well as the sustainable use of natural resources and equitable distribution of biodiversity benefits. Excessive use of natural resources is one of the leading causes of biodiversity loss around the world, since it wastes natural resources and threatens the environment.”
"Qatar environmental sustainability strategy is one of the most important pillars of the national strategy that aims to achieve sustainable development in various aspects to achieve environmental balance and curb excessive exploitation." Prof. Al-Ghouti adds.
Dr.Fatima Al-khayat, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, said about the importance of preserving biodiversity for the next generations: "Preserving biodiversity is a shared responsibility that means preserving the heritage and wealth of the nations, because of its economic importance. And with the acceleration of human activity that invades many natural environments and threatens wildlife, which results in an imbalance in the ecological balance. That is why we should preserve the biological heritage remains for the next generation. Through, establishing seed and gene banks, and appropriate environment for endangered native organisms."
Dr. Radhouane Ben Hamadou, Associate Professor of Environmental Science, said: " Life on earth is driven by a variety of species, estimated to be currently around 10 to 15 million, all interconnected between each other in a way or another. Biodiversity is about the diversity of different living things one can find in a system in a specific area is related to the diversity of different living things."
He adds: "the more significant microorganism, plant, insect and animal species there are in one area the greater the biodiversity and the healthier the ecosystem will be. The food and water we consume, the air we breathe, the energy that drives our life, so our health and wealth are all supported by a variety of species, providing us an infinite number of services, supporting life and making Earth the only living planet. Any loss of a species means losing a function within the environment, means losing a service to humans."
Dr. Yousria Soliman, Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences, said: "The causes of biodiversity loss are Multiple, but the most important is the destruction of habitats due to overexploitation and urbanization. Pollution is another threat to biodiversity, especially those pollutants cross the borders of countries through airs and ocean currents affecting broader regions. Global warming and climate change are on the list of causes for biodiversity loss. The average global temperature will likely rise 2 degrees Celsius by 2050, which will lead to rising sea levels of about 30 cm, leading to the disappearance of thousands of plants and animals."