Qatar Al Reem Declaration date: 2007 Ecological characteristics: Surface area: 118,888 ha Administrative division: Supreme Council for the Envi- The Reserve constitutes one single land management unit, ronment and Natural Reserves the Al Reem Biosphere Reserve. The landscape in the Re- serve is generally flat to wavy with some prominent hills Human activities: and the stark-relief mesas of the Zekreet peninsula. Land elevation ranges between 0m to 60m above sea level. Sa- Major contemporary activities by local inhabitants of the line swampy mud flats are common along the coastal Reserve include farming, tending herds of camels and areas, while rocky elevations and gravel plains are mostly flocks of sheep and goats (being one of the main compo- found in the inland parts of the reserve. Notable features nents of economic development in the country, the agri- include elevated limestone formations (the Dukhan anti- cultural sector in the Qatar is getting a lot of attention from cline) along the west coast under which lies the Dukhan oil the government, which has been working hard to remove field. The Reserve has no rivers, and other than occasional natural obstacles that impede horizontal extension of agri- rainfall, the primary source of fresh water is fossil ground culture by supporting farmers and encouraging national water. Surface water is very limited and may be seen in investments in the agricultural sector), artisanal fishing, depressions and wadis for a short time only after a good small-scale trade and commerce, and working in the petro- winter rainfall. At present the Reserve is home to a bree- leum industry (since the 1950's oil has rapidly transformed ding center for native Gazelles and Oryx, and has pionee- Qatar into a developing country). Several small coastal red reintroduction programmes in the Country. The Re- villages are home to the fishing communities, while the serve offers unparalleled research opportunities for sustai- majority of the pastoral/farming communities are located nable development and use of arid lands. Potential investi- in the northeast of the Reserve. The petroleum industry is gations include the use of saline water for irrigation of ha- based in Dukhan, at the extreme southwest, and up parts of lophytes as animals’ fodder, zonation for sustainable gra- zing, camel farming and culturally sensitive tourism, the Zekreet peninsula and all of the Al Ghariyah peninsula. among others. Communities residing within the Reserve have managed to preserve many of the cultural and religious traditions of the past, while experimenting with modern technology to fur- ther their agricultural and pastoral traditions. Large rotary boom water feeders and modern pumping systems bring fossil groundwater to irrigate alfalfa and other fodder ma- terials, while modern veterinary centers promote health and survivorship of traditional camel and goat herds. Bree- ding centers are reintroducing native fauna such as the Oryx and Gazelles, alongside modern oil and gas pumping stations. Contact information: Khalid G. Al Ali PO Box 7634 Doha Qatar Tel.: (974) 443 7171 Ext. 303 Fax: (974) 441 5246 www.qatarenv.org * Details found on this information sheet are derived directly from the UNESCO website and are not a communication from the biosphere reserve. .