Intensive attendance on the second day of the Houbara Bustard bird production course organized by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
For the second day, the Foreign State Reserves Office at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, in collaboration with the ‘Rawda Al-Faras Center for Houbara Bustard Breeding,’ organized a training course on the principles of Houbara Bustard production (Level 1) for citizens interested in producing this type of birds. The course took place at Building No. 15 in Katara Cultural Village.
The course witnessed a significant attendance of around one hundred trainees and continued from May 28th to May 31st. It was presented by a distinguished group of experts from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in the field of Houbara Bustard production. On the second day of the course, the experts delivered a series of lectures on the stages of embryo development in houbara bustards, egg incubation, and its characteristics.
In this context, Mohamed Nahar Al-Jifali Al-Nuaimi, the Director of the Foreign State Reserves Office at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Head of the Rawda Al-Faras Center for Houbara Bustard Breeding, emphasized the significant attendance that the course received on its second day. He highlighted that this course is the first of its kind in this field. He also mentioned that the Rawda Al-Faras Center has undergone significant development during the past year and a half, enabling it to provide such courses. He further stated that after this qualification, the center will organize several specialized courses in the upcoming periods.
Mr. Mohamed Al-Nuaimi also stated that the trainees will be followed up with after completing the course, by providing them with the necessary support. This comes in line with the ministry’s keenness to increase Houbara bird production in the Qatari environment. He emphasized that the support will be in the form of providing medical supplies, vaccinations, feed, artificial insemination devices, and egg incubators. Additionally, some producers may receive actual Houbara’s themselves as part of the support.
The Director of the Foreign State Reserves Management mentioned that the center provides the produced canaries to support local competitions and tournaments related to hunting and falconry, such as Al-Qalail and Al-Marmi.
He also mentioned that the center aspires to organize several courses in the upcoming period, encompassing all aspects of Houbara production, as this species is endangered. Additionally, they are working on organizing workshops on other aspects related to production.
Mr. Hamad Yaqoub Al-Rumaihi, Assistant Director of the Foreign State Reserves Office, affirmed that this course aims to provide the fundamentals of Houbara production to beginners in the field as well as environmental activists. He mentioned that the course offers comprehensive information about this bird to all the trainees, whose number reached approximately 100 individuals. Furthermore, the course contributes to the protection of houbaras from illegal hunting practices that lead to their extinction.
Mr. Hamad Al-Rumaihi further clarified that the State Reserves Office works throughout the year to aid and provide consultations to anyone interested in learning about houbara production methods and conservation. He emphasized that this course will not be the last, and there will be upcoming courses within the same framework.
Mr. Mohammed Ali Al-Muhannadi, Assistant Director of the Foreign State Reserves Office, expressed his delight with the significant turnout for this groundbreaking course. He noted that the large attendance reflects the increased awareness among Qatari citizens about the importance of the environment and the preservation of its biodiversity. He emphasized that the houbara bustard is one of the local bird species facing multiple threats.
During a press statement on the sidelines of the course, he highlighted that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is making significant efforts to preserve the local environment and all the living organisms inhabiting it. He pointed out that this course, as part of those efforts, will contribute to expanding the base of individuals interested in environmental affairs in Qatar.
In a parallel context, Mrs. Shaima Al Mahmoud, Assistant Director of the Foreign State Reserves Office for Administrative Affairs, confirmed that this course was specifically designated for men due to the high demand from Qatari citizens to enroll in it. She mentioned that the ministry will organize a course for women in the upcoming period, if there is sufficient registration from women for the upcoming courses. She emphasized that the interest in this local bird is the responsibility of every individual in the Qatari community.
Shaima Al Mahmoud further explained that the course aims to raise awareness among those interested in establishing private farms for houbara production. It covers the fundamental principles, basic requirements, and production techniques. She noted that the course has been equipped with various devices and technologies specialized in houbara production. The trainers provide hands-on training to the participants on using these devices and techniques, which helps familiarize them with all aspects of houbara production and the advanced methods used to enhance production.
