Thailand and Qatar are deepening environmental cooperation after expert exchanges laid the groundwork for a restoration project focused on Qatar’s mangrove ecosystems.
Qatar and Thailand are deepening cooperation on sustainable development after a Thai mangrove expert was selected as a consultant for a mangrove restoration project in Qatar, the Royal Thai Embassy in Doha said.
The embassy described the appointment as an important milestone in bilateral cooperation between the two countries in sustainable development.
“This progress did not happen by chance. For more than a year, the Embassy has worked to position Thailand as a trusted partner for Qatar on environmental sustainability, laying the foundation for practical collaboration that benefits both countries,” the embassy said in a press statement.
The development followed a five-day working visit to Thailand by senior Qatari researchers, organised by the embassy in June 2026 in cooperation with the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Thailand’s principal agency for international development cooperation.
Prof Dr Jassim Al-Khayat and Prof Dr Vethamony Ponnumony, two senior researchers from Qatar University’s Environmental Science Centre (ESC), visited Thailand’s coastal conservation sites, research centres and government agencies responsible for marine and coastal resources.
The visit laid the groundwork for the mangrove restoration project in Qatar, which will involve a Thai expert as a consultant. The embassy said it was the first major step towards deeper cooperation between Thailand and Qatar on sustainable development and mangrove restoration.
The initiative began taking shape in 2025 through two embassy-led visits by Thai experts to Qatar.
The first visit took place from February 16 to 19, 2025 and included a seminar titled “Mangrove Conservation in Qatar: Towards a Practicable Action Plan”, co-hosted by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC), ESC and Earthna Centre for a Sustainable Future on February 17, 2025 at Qatar Foundation.
The delegation also travelled to mangrove conservation sites, agricultural plantations and eco-tourism locations in Al-Thakira and Al-Ruwais to observe conservation efforts, exchange expertise and explore potential areas for collaboration.
A second visit followed from April 22 to 23, 2025, coinciding with the Earthna Summit 2025.
During the summit, the embassy, in collaboration with MECC, ESC and Earthna, co-hosted a seminar titled “From Local to Global: Thailand’s Sustainability and Eco-Tourism Journeys” as an official side event.
The seminar presented Thailand’s sustainability frameworks, with an emphasis on its globally recognised eco-tourism models, environmental conservation efforts and community-driven development initiatives, according to the press statement.
The embassy also organised an exhibition at Earthna Village 2025, showcasing Thailand’s journey towards sustainable development through upcycled and community products from Thai mangrove forests and highlighting the achievements of community-driven development.
This post is republished from The Peninsula.
