Editing Geography of Qatar (section)

==Wildlife==
{{Main|Wildlife of Qatar}}
===Flora===
[[File:Palm tree cluster near Umm Bab beach.jpg|thumb|Wild [[date palm]]s growing near [[Umm Bab]] in western Qatar]]
{{Main|Flora of Qatar}}
Although most of the country consists of [[sand]] [[desert]]s, a small part of the country houses different [[vegetation]] zones, where trees, reeds and shrubs like [[tamarind]], [[phragmites]], and [[Mace (spice)|mace]] can grow. These regions are mostly to the east, near the coast. The inherent limiting factor for vegetation growth is water availability. Certain geographical features partially alleviate this [[water scarcity]], such as [[Depression (geology)|rawda]]s, which are large depressions found on the soil surface and which help recharge the aquifers.<ref name="macumber223">{{cite conference|last1=Macumber|first1=Phillip G.|url=https://www.academia.edu/26738311|title=Water Heritage in Qatar|book-title=Cultural Heritages of Water: Thematic Study on The Cultural Heritages of Water in the Middle East and Maghreb|conference=UNESCO World Heritage Convention|publisher=UNESCO|website=academia.edu|page=223|year=2015|access-date=21 February 2019}}</ref> As these sites constitute the most easily obtainable sources of shallow groundwater, they are also among the areas most abundant in wild vegetation.<ref name="macumber226">{{cite conference|last1=Macumber|first1=Phillip G.|url=https://www.academia.edu/26738311|title=Water Heritage in Qatar|book-title=Cultural Heritages of Water: Thematic Study on The Cultural Heritages of Water in the Middle East and Maghreb|conference=UNESCO World Heritage Convention|publisher=UNESCO|website=academia.edu|page=226|year=2015|access-date=21 February 2019}}</ref>

In the south, where groundwater is exceedingly scarce, vegetation can found growing in [[wadi]]s (dry river valleys) fed by run-off from nearby hills and in rawdas.<ref name="macumber227">{{cite conference|last1=Macumber|first1=Phillip G.|url=https://www.academia.edu/26738311|title=Water Heritage in Qatar|book-title=Cultural Heritages of Water: Thematic Study on The Cultural Heritages of Water in the Middle East and Maghreb|conference=UNESCO World Heritage Convention|publisher=UNESCO|website=academia.edu|page=227|year=2015|access-date=21 February 2019}}</ref>

===Fauna===
[[File:A mountain goat at Haloul Island.jpg|thumb|260px|A mountain goat at [[Halul Island]]]]
{{Main|Fauna of Qatar}}
There are 21 species of mammals that have been recorded in Qatar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enature.qa/kingdom/mammals/|title=Mammals database|publisher=Qatar e-nature|access-date=21 February 2019}}</ref> Larger terrestrial mammals such as the [[Arabian oryx]] and [[Arabian gazelle]] are protected animals and are held in nature reserves.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Casey|first1=Paula|last2=Vine|first2=Peter|title=The heritage of Qatar|url=https://archive.org/details/heritageofqatar00vinerich|url-access=registration|publisher=Immel Publishing|year=1992|pages=[https://archive.org/details/heritageofqatar00vinerich/page/103 103]|isbn=978-0-907151-50-0 }}</ref> The Arabian gazelle is the only native gazelle species to Qatar and is locally referred to as 'rheem'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://awwp.alwabra.com/?p=1211|title=Arabian Goitered Gazelle (Reem)|publisher=Al Waabra Wildlife Preservation|access-date=21 February 2019}}</ref> 

Qatar's territorial waters in the [[Persian Gulf]] are rich in marine life. [[Sea turtle]]s nest en masse on the coastline from [[Fuwayrit]] to [[Ras Laffan]]. The Ministry of Environment (MME) carries out routine patrols of nesting areas to ensure their conservation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276027234|title=Qatar Turtle Management Project: Inception report|website=researchgate.net|last1=Rees|first1=Alan F.|last2=Zogaris|first2=Stamatis|last3=Papathanasopoulou|first3=Nancy|last4=Vidalis|first4=Aris|last5=Alhafez|first5=Ali|publisher=Ministry of Environment (Qatar)|date=April 2013|access-date=21 February 2019}}</ref> [[Dugong]]s are known to congregate off the country's coasts. In the course of a study being carried out in 1986 and 1999 on the [[Persian Gulf]], the largest-ever group sightings were made of more than 600 individuals to the west of Qatar.<ref name="sillitoe">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vR4fAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA280|title=Sustainable Development: An Appraisal from the Gulf Region|author=Paul Sillitoe|publisher=Berghahn Books|page=280|date=1 August 2014|isbn=978-1-78238-372-7}}</ref>