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The Qur’anic Botanic Garden (QBG), a member of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), participated in the International Congress on Botanical Garden Education, held in Seoul, South Korea, over the period of June 9 to 13, 2025. The event was organized by the Korea National Arboretum (KNA) in collaboration with Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).
QBG showcased its pioneering educational initiatives and fostered international cooperation in the fields of plant conservation, scientific research, and knowledge exchange. The garden was represented by an official delegation led by Ms. Fatima Saleh Al-Khulaifi, Director of the Qur’anic Botanic Garden, and included Abdulrahman Al-Hammadi, Events and Social Media Specialist, and Mohamed Hassona, Horticulturist.
The congress brought together more than 1,600 experts from 51 countries. QBG hosted an interactive exhibition booth featuring live and preserved specimens of plants mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, as well as native Qatari flora. The booth also showcased educational materials and documents about Islamic agricultural heritage and the garden’s educational programs.
Mr. Hassona also delivered a lecture titled Where Heritage and Botany Meet which highlighted QBG’s vision and pioneering role as the world’s first institution dedicated to the collection, conservation, and cultivation of plant species referenced in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, and integrated approach combining environmental sciences with Islamic values.
During the event, organizers declared June 12 as the International Day of Education in Botanical Gardens—a global initiative aimed at strengthening international collaboration and raising awareness about the role of education in addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainability.
On the sidelines, the QBG delegation held several bilateral meetings with senior officials from BGCI and the Korean Agricultural Germplasm Information Center (KoAGI). Al-Khulaifi also met with His Excellency Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Hamar, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to South Korea, to explore opportunities for collaboration with Korean institutions and organizing joint initiatives.
This participation shows QBG’s ongoing efforts to reinforce its standing as a leading center for education and scientific research at both regional and international levels. It also reflects the garden’s mission to preserve the plant species mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, and promote environmental awareness rooted in Islamic values, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and Qatar Foundation’s vision of fostering a knowledge-based society.