Doha: In cooperation with the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) announced the completion of development works in Al Wadi Park Natural Reserve in Al Wajba East.
The announcement took place during an event organised today, Monday, February 14, 2022, which included a tour around Al Wadi Reserve. The attendees then planted seeds of several Qatari wild plants at the reserve.
In an area of 102,000 m2 trees of local species such as Lycium Barbarum, Ziziphus Spina-Christi (wild sidr), Acacia Tortilis, Boswellia Sacra, Acacia Ampliceps, Albizia Lebbeck (Ficus), Jerusalem Thorn and other trees that fit the natural environment of Qatar were planted in Al Wadi Park Natural reserve.
Natural reserves maintain the existence of sustainable wildlife, develop environmental stability in natural areas, resist drought, protect soil from erosion and reduce carbon emissions.
The project works include the construction of 1.1 km pedestrian and bicycle paths and 1.1 km jogging paths, with the aim of encouraging sports activities within a natural and healthy environment.
Eng Saoud Ali Al Tamimi, Roads Projects Department Manager at Ashghal, talked about the key role of Al Wadi Park Natural Reserve in maintaining the ecological balance and protecting the wildlife and plants.
Eng. Muhammad Arqoub Al Khaldi, Chairman of the Supervisory Committee for the Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar, stated that the committee attaches great importance to wildlife and natural habitats, through preserving, developing and protecting the wildlife from extinction.
Eng. Fahad Al Otaibi, Head of Western Areas Projects at Ashghal's Roads Projects Department, stated that the main works that were implemented included enhancing green areas by planting 836 trees, while providing lines for the irrigation network. This is in addition to constructing a 1.5 km metal fence around the reserve and three gates to the North, South and East of the reserve to facilitate access to it. The reserve was also provided with benches for visitors, bicycle parking spaces, an advanced lighting system and two prayer areas.
Eng. Maryam Al Kuwari, Project Design Manager at the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar, said: “Pedestrian, jogging and bicycle paths were implemented without affecting the valley’s path and its rainwater stream, since more than 90% of the excavation works were carried out manually.”
Ali Talib Al-Hanzab, an Environmental Activist, said: "The natural reserve includes all kinds of Qatari wild plants, which tolerate high temperatures and saline soil. We hope to implement the project idea in all regions of Qatar. For our part, we will contribute to providing seedlings of Al-Arfaj, Al-Ramth, Al-Abal and Al-Markh and planting them at the beginning of next season.”
Al Wadi Park Natural Reserve project, in cooperation with the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar, is part of the Roads and Infrastructure Project in Al Wajba East (Package 1), which the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ began implementing in Q3 of 2020.
In addition to developmental works on the reserve, the project includes constructing a 17 km road network to enhance the traffic flow and provide a connection with future public facilities in the area. This is in addition to providing traffic safety elements, such as street lighting systems and poles, directional signs and road marking.
The project will also provide 34 km of shared pedestrian and cycle paths, and 2,570 parking areas.
As for infrastructure services works, the project includes a 14-km-long sewage network, a 16.6-km surface and groundwater drainage network, a 10.7-km TSE network, in addition to extending potable water pipes and connecting them to the main drinking water network.
The project serves 368 citizens’ subdivisions in Al-Wajba East. Project works are scheduled to be completed in Q2 of 2023, as the progress of works has exceeded 40% so far.
Within the framework of supporting local materials and manufacturers, the target is for the local component to reach 70% of the project's work. Materials such as lighting lamps, directional signs, sewage and rainwater drainage pipes, asphalt, and prefabricated manholes, in addition to concrete and steel reinforcement and other materials will be supplied from local Qatari manufacturers.