oa Native plant landscaping and species selection to promote sustainability and biodiversity in Qatar

The State of Qatar has chosen to pursue the path of sustainable development, making it the focus of the Qatar National Development Strategy. Given the large scale industrialization and the limited land availability, the urban environment will be crucial in maintaining native species. Current landscaping practices in Qatar are heavily reliant on introduced species that require extensive irrigation and modified soils in this hyper-arid desert environment. We provide an analysis of the dominant landscaping plants currently in use, including both the costs and benefits of the use of such plants. We also provide solutions by outlining options for the use of native plants in landscaping in Qatar. This includes the architectural, social and aesthetic aspects of the native species as well as the physical requirements such as water availability and soil demands.