FAO and Ministry of Environment Launch a project to promote cultivation of local species in Jordan

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Ministry of Environment launched today a project to promote the cultivation of local species to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect biodiversity in Jordan.

In line with the agreement signed by the parties, FAO conducted an inception workshop to acquaint stakeholders and project partners with the scope and outlines of the project, in addition to covering the implementation strategy and work plan.

The workshop was held in the presence of the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and a group of selected stakeholders and government partners.

FAO Representative in Jordan, Eng. Nabil Assaf, said, “This year, FAO will be working to increase forest productivity and profitability for local communities through this project. The project will target 100 hectares as part of afforestation activities and will target three communities in a comprehensive capacity-building program to provide communities with the necessary knowledge to protect and save Jordan’s forests. It will also guide communities in valuing forest products by benefiting from them. by utilizing FAO’s knowledge and experience in the forestry sector, the project will work alongside our government counterparts as we all share common priorities to protect and enhance the role of forests in Jordan.”

The representative of the Minister of Environment said that Jordan has signed many international environmental agreements, the most important of which is the International Convention for the Protection of Biological Diversity, in addition to signing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. He added that these projects are evidence of continued efforts and approaches aimed at protecting lands from drought, adapting to the effects of climate change, and sustaining natural elements.

For his part, the representative of the Minister of Agriculture stressed on the importance of preserving the forest wealth in Jordan, including the Carob tree, which is considered a drought-tolerant species and is grown in natural environments. These trees are a habitat for local plants and animals. Supporting carob value chains will contribute to a better understanding of this product and thus support the improvement of communities’ capacity and knowledge about carob, which will positively impact their livelihoods.

This project is fully funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization, and activities will begin in May 2024 until December 2024. The project will be implemented in northern and central part of Jordan in sites to be selected based on the FAO technical support in collaboration the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture. The surrounding local communities will be trained to use and market products derived from forests and indigenous species, and the role of youth and women in such opportunities will be encouraged.