Manama: A project that seeks to enhance awareness about birds has been launched in Qatar by environment activists.
Targeting mainly students and young generations, "My Country's Bird" by the Friends of Environment Centre (FEC) is mainly about environmental awareness and teaching the new generation in Qatar about the importance of birds, Dr Elsadiq A Bashir, Director of Qatar Bird Project told Qatari daily The Peninsula.
"This is an annual event which highlights one local bird. For 2012, we are focusing on house sparrow," Elsadiq said.
All schools will be involved in the project, conducting a slew of events and activities for the students on creating awareness on bird conservation which is critical to biodiversity, he said
Among the activities to be held in schools are lessons that will be integrated to teach students how to feed birds and how to follow their nesting behaviour, research, essay writing, and art activities.
According to the daily, the newly launched project highlights Qatar's dedication to taking care of birds and wildlife.
Shaikha Jawaher Bint Hamad Bin Suhaim Al Thani donated $1m to establish the Hima Fund to provide grants to conserve Hima, an Arabic term that refers to a land protected from grazing and tree cutting, and Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in the Middle East, the daily said.
Dr Elsadiq, who acts as coordinator of Hima Fund, said the fund is geared toward protecting endangered birds in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait and Palestine.
