Ammon News - HRH Princess Basma Bint Talal, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD), Monday patronized the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between JOHUD and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

The MoU aims to provide a general framework to boost joint cooperation in the conservation and protection of nature and enhance natural resources, including biodiversity in Jordan. the MoU is focused on nature, sustainability, waste management and prevention of pollution, all of which are within programs and activities implemented by (JOHUD).

During the signing ceremony at the Queen Zein Al Sharaf Institute for Development, Her Highness commended UNEP's efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change in Jordan and assist official agencies to carry out their obligations under the Paris Agreement on climate change, noting UNEP's role in the Arab region through providing technical assistance and transfer of expertise.

Princess Basma said that the memorandum and action plan incorporated into it underline the UNEP's commitment to working with all partners in the region to reach the aspired-for goals to preserve the environment and work with all partners and parties towards achieving this goal.

She said JOHUD is keen to work with the UNEP and related authorities to implement all initiatives that would serve the environment and nature and the sustainability of its components, noting in this context, the importance of communication, coordination and networking between governments, the private sector, academia, civil society institutions and individuals, including youth, to ensure a better environment.

For his part, UNEP Representative and Regional Director for West Asia Sami Dimassi said the UN Environment Program, that this partnership with JOHUD, aims to support the UN Decade on Ecosystems Restoration, laying down the frameworks for cooperation and joint action for nature, sustainability, waste management and reduction of pollution, and engaging with stakeholders and sciences to contribute to mitigating the impact of climate change.

He said that the UN Program aspires, through this partnership, to set a regional model to highlight the key role of NGOs in supporting countries to face ecosystems degradation, preserve the limited natural capital for the safety of their economies, the well-being of their people and preserve their heritage and culture.

Dimassi thanked HRH Princess Basma, for her continued support for the environmental agenda through her membership of the Global Advisory Board of the United Nations Decade for Ecosystem Restoration.