Friends of the Environment Centre

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Friends of the Environment Centre (FEC) is an environmental organization established in 1992 in Qatar with the goal of promoting environmental awareness and developing conservation initiatives. [1] As of 2015, the organization is chaired by Saif Al Hajari. [2]

Contents

History

The organization was formed in 1992. [3]

Activities

The FEC has taken an active role in raising local awareness of the negative effects associated with tobacco smoking. Methods employed include organizing international conferences [4] and preparing studies detailing its economic, health and environmental effects. [5]

An annual event known as A Flower Each Spring is organized by the FEC to promote environmental awareness. [6] During the event, numerous field trips and fairs are held with the aim of acquainting participants with Qatar's local fauna. [7] The inaugural edition took place in 1999. [8]

In November 2012, a conference known as the Children's Conference on Climate Change (C4) was jointly launched by the FEC and Kainat Foundation. Operating in a similar manner to Model United Nations, the purpose of the event was to provide a platform for youth to discuss environmental problems and solutions. [9]

FEC, in partnership with South African company Sasol, launched the Qatar e-Nature application for smart phones in December 2013. Initially, the application only contained a database of the flora, birds and insects present within the country. Its database was updated in November 2014 to cover local mammals and reptiles. [10] In April 2015, the application was conferred the "Best Arab Government Smart Application" award at the Smart Government Awards. [11]

It was announced in May 2015 that the organization had released the first-ever field guide to birds in Qatar. The book contains information and depictions of 323 bird species that appear in the country. [12]

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References

  1. ↑ "Qatar - Friends of the Environment Centre". Bird Life International. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  2. ↑ "Friends of Environment Centre, Sasol honoured". The Peninsula. 8 June 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "The Millennium Development Goals in State of Qatar 2015" (PDF). The General Secretariat of the Planning Council. 2005. p. 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 December 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "Middle East Tobacco Update - Sample Issue". Info-Prod Research (Middle East) Ltd. 16 June 1999. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "No tobacco law or mere ink on paper". topcigarettesonline.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "FEC to launch eco event tomorrow". Qatar is Booming. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  7. ↑ "Qatargas supports 'a flower each spring' programme". Qatargas. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "'A Flower Each Spring' programme kicks off in Al Khor today". Gulf Times. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  9. ↑ Ramy Salama (16 November 2012). "Children call for efforts to combat climate change" (PDF). Qatar Tribune. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  10. ↑ "Sasol and FEC Update Qatar e-Nature App with Reptiles & Mammals". Zawya. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  11. ↑ "Qatar e-Nature app picks up an international accolade". The Peninsula. 6 April 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  12. ↑ Ade Long (28 May 2015). "New book and mobile app to guide people's interest in nature of Qatar". Bird Life International. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
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