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Ammon News -
By Jessica Watkins

AMMONNEWS - In a region faced with chronic water shortages, Jordan could become a leader in the Middle East for promoting biodiversity and sustainable agriculture. This was the message delivered by HRH Princess Basma bint Ali and Tariq Abu Taleb, patron and Executive Director of the Royal Botanical Garden in Jordan respectively, at a press conference hosted by the French Ambassador Corinne Breuze on Tuesday.

The event, which took place at the Intercontinental Hotel, Amman, marked the launch of the “Green Corridor” Initiative in Jordan, supported the French Fund for Charitable Activities. It was attended by the Jordanian Minister for Environment, the Director the Jordan Valley Water Authority and ambassadors from over 60 countries, in addition to representatives of the Ministries of Education, Water and Agriculture.

Drawing inspiration from “la Grande Mureille Verte” project, running between Senegal and Djibouti, which was developed by Mme Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2004 for her contribution towards sustainable development, democracy and peace, the Green Corridor initiative aims to combat desertification, loss of water resources, and improve agriculture and livestock for rural populations.

In a short presentation on the achievements and future goals of the Botanic Garden, HRH Princess Basma explained the importance of preserving native species of Jordanian plants that have become endangered, whilst also encouraging human communities to develop new sustainable means of agriculture. Similarly, Tariq Abu Taleb confirmed that the new initiative was based on a principle of planting millions of native trees along the corridor, which could survive without much water, restore soil fertility, and eventually bring greater rainfall. He also gave details on the Community Based Rangeland Rehabilitation project that supports rural communities in developing micro-agricultural projects.

Taleb stressed that the project is currently in the planning stage, and detailed reports regarding the land situated along the Green Corridor line are currently being compiled, to include the socio-economic conditions of its inhabitants and their current agricultural and cultivation practices.

The project initiators are seeking a range of financial, technical and voluntary assistance, and a conference will be held on 13 June for those ministries, embassies and companies in Jordan who will fund the initiative. It was indicated that support for this project will help Jordan to fulfill its international environmental commitments to the Tokyo Protocol.