Doha, Qatar: A mangrove expert from Thailand has been selected to serve as a consultant for a mangrove restoration project in Qatar, representing an important milestone in bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the field of sustainable development, the Royal Thai Embassy in Doha said in a press statement.
“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 added.
Through the facilitation of the Embassy, senior Qatari researchers recently undertook a five-day working visit to Thailand’s mangrove conservation sites, laying the groundwork for a mangrove restoration project in Qatar that will involve a Thai expert as a consultant.
The visit was organised by the Embassy in June 2026 in cooperation with the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Thailand’s principal agency for international development cooperation. Two senior researchers from Qatar University’s Environmental Science Centre (ESC) Prof Dr Jassim Al-Khayat and Prof Dr Vethamony Ponnumony visited Thailand’s coastal conservation sites, research centres, and government agencies responsible for marine and coastal resources. This visit marked the first major step towards deeper cooperation on sustainable development and mangrove restoration between Thailand and Qatar, the Embassy said.
“The foundation for this initiative was laid in 2025 through two Embassy-led visits by Thai experts to Qatar. The first visit was held from February 16 to 19, 2025 and included a seminar entitled, “Mangrove Conservation in Qatar: Towards a Practicable Action Plan,” co-hosted with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC), ESC, and Earthna Centre for a Sustainable Future on February 17, 2025 at Qatar Foundation,” it added.
The delegation also visited mangrove conservation sites, agricultural plantations, and eco-tourism locations in Al-Thakiraa nd Al-Ruwais to observe conservation efforts, exchange expertise, and explore potential areas for collaboration.
The second visit was held from April 22 to 23, 2025, and coincided with the Earthna Summit 2025, during which the Embassy, in collaboration with MECC, ESC, and Earthna, co-hosted a seminar entitled, “From Local to Global: Thailand’s Sustainability and Eco-Tourism Journeys”, as an official side event of the summit. The seminar highlighted Thailand’s sustainability frameworks, emphasising 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 the Earthna Village 2025 to showcase Thailand’s journey towards sustainable development through the display of upcycled and community products from Thai mangrove forests, highlighting the achievements of community-driven development.
