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Jordanian Environmental
Watch Program
Contents:
JEWP In Brief
By the beginning of the
year 2000, UJRC had established a specialized unit
for water and environment, known as the Jordanian
Environmental Watch Program (JEWP), for dealing with
local and regional environmental issues. This Watch,
considered as a forum for dialogue on policies
related to environment, is concerned with organizing
scientific conferences, seminars, workshops and
training courses as well as research, studies and
reports on the environmental situation and
conditions.
The importance of the
Jordanian Environmental Watch Program lies in the
need for a professional and independent tool that
can, on its own initiative, control and follow up on
the Jordanian environmental situation and discuss
various government policies in that regard. The JEWP
focuses on the following main environmental issues:
The water security problem; the right means to
manage water and provide drinkable water; the
adequate ways for preventing water pollution,
depletion of clean water, and minimizing air and
soil pollution and the use of insecticides and
fertilizers; in addition to other environmental
problems in Jordan. This requires contributing
towards setting comprehensive plans and policies to
environment protection and development, as well as
finding solutions and suggestions to deal with the
environmental issues and concerns. This is in
addition to raising and empowering environmental
public awareness. JEWP also set up a variety of
training and rehabilitating programs for activists
of Non-Governmental Organizations in order to
monitor and follow up on the environment situation
of Jordan. Within this regard, JEWP goals were
designed to comprise the following:
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Preparing of
studies, researches and working papers to be
presented at specialized conferences and
seminars; this would work for the development of
environmental policies and for the participation
in local and international activities.
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Contributing
towards the building up of legislations related
to the safeguarding of environment and natural
resources, as well as monitoring the advancement
in conforming these legislations and the
prospects of commitment towards implementing
them.
-
Following-up
and identifying the activities of other NGOs
working on environment, water, nature, and
cultural heritage, besides cooperating with the
concerned organizations in training and raising
of awareness.
- Building of
environmental databases and making them
available to decision makers to take sound
decisions on environmental protection.
- Holding
workshops, discussion sessions and roundtables
that shed the light on the hot environmental
issues on the local level, and exchanging
experiences and viewpoints and conforming
recommendations to be presented to the
specialized bodies.
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JEWP functions and
executes its activities within the framework of the
previously-mentioned mission and goals; while
following the techniques described below:
- Seminars and
Conferences.
- Workshops and
specialized meetings dealing exclusively with
hot environmental issues.
- Annual Reports.
- Training
Courses with special focus on observing and
monitoring the environmental situation.
- The Website.
- Periodical
translation of key international environmental
literatures.
- "Environmental
Papers"; a periodical newsletter concerned with
revising the environmental policies.
- The
environmental annual chronological report.
JEWP is directed by a
team that consists of a Coordinator and main
researchers, in addition to a number of research
assistants. It is supervised by a Scientific
Advisory Committee comprising environmentalists;
well-known for their experiences in environment, and
belongs to specialized public and private
environmental organizations as well as academic
circles. In addition, JEWP includes an executive
team that is in charge of coordinating between JEWP
activities and participants, and the Scientific
Advisory Committee.
The Advisory Committee
participates in the various activities conducted by
JEWP, as well as holding four annual meetings,
attended by the JEWP Coordinator, researchers and
the executive team in order to discuss and revise
the Watch agenda and set up future plans and
activities. Membership of the JEWP Advisory
Committee is voluntary, and herewith are the members
of the First Advisory Committee that was formed in
September 2001:
- Dr. Iyad Abu Moghli: Assistant resident
representative of the United Nations Development
Program (UNDP) - Amman.
- Eng. Khaled Al
Irani: Executive Director of the Royal Society
for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN).
- Eng. Ra'uf
Dabbas: President of the Jordan Friends of
Environment Society.
- Eng. Ramzi
Batayneh: Expert in Environmental Engineering
and Planning, part-time lecturer at graduate
studies department - University of Jordan.
- Eng. Shafiq
Younes: Expert in Environmental Engineering.
- Dr. Ali Abu
Ghanimeh: Associate Professor at the Faculty of
Engineering, University of Jordan.
- Dr. Mona
Hendieh: Associate Professor at the Jordan
University of Science and Technology (JUST).
- Dr. Ali Naqa:
Chair of Department of Water and Environment
Management - Hashemite University.
- Mrs. Laila
Hamarneh: Projects Manager - Arab Women's
Organization.
- Mr. Hani
Hourani: Director General of Al Urdun Al Jadid
Research Center (UJRC).
- Mr. Yassin
Zo'ubi: Director of Water Conservation
Directorate - General Corporation for
Environment Protection.
- Mr. Yanal
Abida: Director of Environmental Directorate -
Amman Chamber of Industry.
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JEWP Executive Team
-
Mr. Hani Hourani:
Director General of UJRC and researcher in
social development issues.
- Mr. Hussein Abu
Rumman: Executive Director of UJRC and
researcher in development policies.
- Eng. Azzam
Hamaideh: JEWP Program Coordinator.
This is in addition
to the translating, documenting, typing and graphic
design team.
JEWP Activities for the year 2005
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The
Establishment of a Network for Organizations of
Environment and Sustainable Development
Hosted by JEWP, thirteen organizations and
committees working in the fields of Environment
and Sustainable Development held a meeting at
UJRC conference room on June 19, 2005, in order
to study and discuss ways of laying correlations
among them within a flexible framework. The
discussants conferred on the identification of
the network and its goals, taking into account
that it would be considered as the general frame
that is capable of including all the
organizations, research centers and associations
working on issues of environment and sustainable
development, within its umbrella. The idea for
establishing this network came after JEWP's
inviting of all the concerned organizations to
crystallize suggestions for amending the
Temporary Law of Environment Protection.
The member organizations are: Jordan Environment
Society, Arabia for the Protection of Nature,
the Jordanian Friends of Environment Society,
the Friends of Earth Society, the National
Anti-smoking Society, the Royal Society for the
Conservation of Nature, Friends of Relics, the
National Society for Environment and Wild Life,
Horizon for Sustainable Development, Energy
Saving and Environment Sustainability Society,
Jordan Society for Sustainable Development, the
National Center for Agricultural Research, and
the Jordanian Environmental Watch.
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Consultation
Meeting on the Amending of the Environment
Protection Law
Hosted by JEWP, twenty figures representing
organizations and committees working in the
fields of Environment and Sustainable
Development, as well as UJRC's representative of
JEWP, held a meeting at UJRC conference room on
April 6, 2005. They revised the temporary
Jordanian Environment Protection Law of 2003,
suggested amendments and discussed them with the
Ministry of Environment, before deciding on
declaring officially a permanent law at the
Lower House of Parliament. Participants held
another meeting at UJRC on April 26, 2005, to
decide on the amendments that were put by
previously assigned delegates. As later, the
Minister of Environment entrusted JEWP of
selecting a number of representatives to attend
a private meeting with the ministry to discuss
the suggested amendments. JEWP held another
meeting on June 19, 2005, in which the
representatives were chosen, and the issue of
forming a network for organizations working on
the fields of Environment and Sustainable
Development was discussed.
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Panorama of JEWP Activities during the years
2000-2004
During the first two years of its establishment
(2000-2002), JEWP executed a series of 12
activities, which were focusing on two major topics.
The first topic was mainly of a general awareness
nature that focused on local and national issues.
The second was related to Jordan's preparations for
the holding of a World Summit on Sustainable
Development (Rio + 10).
As during the years 2003-2004, JEWP implemented a
major project on "Environmental Policies and
Sustainable Development" whose activities were held
all over Jordan. The first phase of the project was
implemented in 2003 through holding 10 Discussion
Sessions on issues concerning Justice, Environmental
Good Governance, Dry Lands, Youth, Rum and Aqaba
areas, Industrial Pollution in Zarqa Governorate,
Cement Manufacturing in Fuheis, Tourism, and
Poverty. The second phase was executed during 2004
through holding 10 Discussion Sessions that shed the
light on issues of Municipalities, Women
Organizations, Developing the Southern Region,
Informal Economy, Renewal Energy, Environmental
Development Projects, Environmental Societies, and
Poverty Alleviation.
Herewith is a comprehensive view for the activities
listed according to the year of accomplishment:
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Discussion
Session “Sustainability in Poverty Alleviation
Programs”, December 20, 2004.
This session was held in Madaba; at the Greater
Madaba Hall, under the patronage of the Mayor
Eng. Abdullatif Al Hadidi, who presented one of
the main papers. The other paper was presented
by Mr. Hussein Abu Rumman the Executive Director
of UJRC. The session discussed four main papers;
“Poverty in Jordan: Characteristics, Size and
Geographical Allocation” by Mr. Adnan Badran;
Director of Pricing at the Department of the
Statistics, “The Role of the Development and
Recruitment Fund in Alleviating Poverty” by Mr.
Samed Qudah; Director of the Rehabilitation
Department at the Development and Recruitment
Fund, “The Role of Associations and Social
Commissions in Poverty Alleviation and
Eradicating its effects” by Mr. Falah Al Qaisi;
Director of Princess Basma Development Center in
Madaba, “Sustainable Development and its
Contribution to Reducing Poverty” by Mr. Yahia
Sa'oudi; Advisor of the Minister of Labor. Many
significant recommendations were the result of
this workshop.
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Discussion
Session “The Non-Governmental Environmental
Associations and Environmental Governance”,
December 13, 2004.
This session was held in Jerash; at the Jerash
Municipality Hall, under the patronage of the
Mayor Mr. Walid Al Utoum. He presented an
opening paper beside the ones presented by Mr.
Mohammad Aref Leiho; Director of the Jordan
Environmental Society/ Jerash, and the other by
Mr. Hussein Abu Rumman; the Executive Director
of UJRC. The meeting discussed its three main
focuses in two sessions. The first focus was
discussed with a paper on “Environmental
Governance: Theoretical and Practical
Dimensions” by Mr. Hani Hourani; Director
General of UJRC. The second paper “The Extent of
the Parties’ Environmental Movement in
influencing Environmental Governance” was
presented by Eng. Jihad Abawi; Secretary General
of the Jordan Green Party, and the third paper
addressed the "Role of Media in disseminating
the Environmental Culture" by Mr. Mohammad
Sharif Al Jayyousi. A number of recommendations
were discussed and agreed upon.
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Discussion
Session "Sustainable Environmental Projects and
Their Role in Attaining Sustainable
Development", October 12, 2004.
This session was held at Al Hassan Cultural
Center, Greater Karak Municipality under the
patronage of the Mayor, Eng. Mohammad Al
Ma'aytah, who presented a paper at the opening
session, besides Mr. Hani Hourani, who presented
the second opening paper. Two working papers
were presented, the first was on “The Role of
Small Projects in attaining Sustainable
Development” presented by Mr. Munir Al Adgham;
the National Coordinator for the Small Grants
Program in Jordan. The second one presented
three pioneering environmental case studies on
“the Leading Projects between Theory and
Practice”, prepared by three sample
associations; Rakin Women Charitable Association
presented by Mrs. Sumaya Habashneh, Manshiet Abu
Hammour Cooperative Association presented by Ms.
Yusra Al Bustanji, and Abna’a Dhana and Qadesiah
Touristic Cooperative Association presented by
Mr. Maher Al Khasbah.
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Workshop
"The Role of Renewable Energy in the Stability
of Sustainable Development Goals”, October 7,
2004.
This workshop was held in Mafraq, at the Greater
Mafraq Municipality, under the patronage of the
Mayor Dr. Yahia Al Khalaileh and in cooperation
with Mafraq Municipality and the Department of
Environment at Mafraq. Speeches were presented
at the opening ceremony delivered by the Mayor,
UJRC Director General, and the Director of
Department of Environment, Dr. Shehadeh Al
Gura'an. Four working papers were discussed
during the two sessions of the workshop. The
first session was entitled "Renewal Energy and
Sustainable Development" where the first paper
discussed “The Role of Renewal Energy
Applications in the Reservation of the
Environment” presented by Dr. Saleh Kharabsheh,
and the second paper focused on “The Role of
Alternate Energy in Enhancing Sustainable
Development” presented by Eng. Hayel Umoush. The
second session was entitled "Renewal Energy in
Jordan: the Theory and Application" in which two
papers were presented, the first focused on
“Technology and Economies of the Biological Gas
in Jordan” prepared by Eng. Hatem Ababneh, and
the second was presented by Dr. Adnan Shrai'ah
addressing a case study entitled “The Use of
Alternate Energy Sources in Saving Energy
Consumption”.
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National
Workshop "Towards an Effective Partnership
between the Parliament and Civil Society to
Enhance Sustainable Development", August 30,
2004.
Held under the patronage of the Minister of
Environment, Tourism and Antiques Dr. Alia'
Bouran, this workshop took place at Al Hussein
Cultural Center, Amman. The opening included the
presenting of papers by Dr. Yousef Al Shuraiqi;
Secretary General of the Ministry of
Environment, and a paper by the Director General
of UJRC, in addition to a paper on “Preliminary
Visions for Building Partnership between Civil
Society Organizations and the Parliament on
Sustainable Development” by Dr. Ibrahim Badran,
Philadelphia University. The focus of the first
session was “the Parliament Contributions to
Environment and Sustainable Development” in
which two papers were presented; “The
Contributions of the Health and Environment
Commission of the Lower House” by Ms. Hayat Al
Masimi; Member of Jordan's Lower House, and “The
Contributions of the Health, Environment and
Social Development Commission of the Upper House
towards Environment and Sustainable Development"
by H.E. Ms. Salwa Al Masri; the Jordanian
Senator. The second session focus was
“Environmental Legislations and their
Equivalence to Sustainable Development
Requirements” in which both Mr. Murad Khreisat
and the lawyer Mr. Mahmoud Kharabsheh presented
the main paper. The third and final session gave
the opportunity to both the Parliamentarians and
Civil Society representatives to present their
points of view through three main interjections
by Eng. Khaled Al Irani; Director General of
RSCN, Mr. Ahmad Al Koufahi; Director General of
the Jordan Environment Society, and Mr. Bassam
Haddadin, who discussed the partnership from the
Lower House point of view. This was concluded by
forming more sustainable recommendations for
partnership policies between civil society and
the parliament.
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Workshop.
“The Informal Sector and Sustainable
Development: a Special Insight into the Southern
Region”, June 28, 2004.
This workshop was held under the patronage of
Engineer Shehade Abu Hdeib, Director General of
the Southern Region Authority. It was organized
in cooperation with the Arab Bond for Culture
and Civilizations Bridging (Bait Al Anbat) at
the Edom Hotel in Wadi Musa. The opening
ceremony comprised participations by Eng.
Shehadeh Abu Hdeib, Mr. Ziad Tweissi, and Mr.
Hani Hourani. The workshop included three
sessions: Mr. Hussein Abu Rumman presented the
national report on the state of the informal
sector in Jordan, whereas Nasser Ahmad Kamel,
researcher at UJRC, explained the features of
the informal sector in the south of Jordan. The
second session included papers presented by Hani
Hourani, who presented a paper entitled “The
Informal Sector in Jordan and Sustainable
Development”. The workshop was concluded with a
roundtable session to discuss the final
recommendations, and was attended by
municipality presidents, governmental
representatives from Jordan's various
governorates and representatives of private and
public associations.
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Workshop
“Developing the Southern Region from the
Perspective of Sustainable Development”, June
20, 2004.
This workshop was held in cooperation with the
Dhana and Qadeseyya Residents Association at the
Hospitality House in the Dhana Reserve at Tafila
Governorate, southern Jordan. Three working
papers were presented at the workshop: “The
Variables Affecting Poverty in the Southern
Region of Jordan”, by Dr. Doukhy Al Hneity;
"Work Values System in Southern Jordan: Karak as
a Model", by Dr. Hussein Mahadeen, president of
Karak Cultural Forum and professor of Sociology
at Mu'tah University; "Environmental Tourism and
its Role in Local Community Development", by Dr.
Mohammad Wahib from Queen Rania Institute for
Remains and Tourism at the Hashemite University.
The opening ceremony included the presentation
of speeches for Dhana and Qadeseyya Residents
Association and UJRC. Attendees and participants
were invited to a tour to explore Dhana Reserve
and development structure.
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National
Workshop “The Citizen’s Environmental Rights”,
May 5, 2004.
Held in cooperation with the Human Rights
Program of UJRC, the workshop consisted of three
sessions. Dr. Mohammad Bani Hani, former General
Secretary of the Ministry of Water and
Agriculture, headed the first session. Mr.
Hussein Abu Rumman spoke in the opening session,
and the following papers were presented: “The
Environmental Statute is a Guarantee of Human
Rights”, by Dr. Abdul Elah Nawaysah, from the
faculty of Law at Mu'tah University;
"International Conventions and National Laws",
by the Lawyer Assem Rabab’a from the Earth and
Human Association for Support of Development;
“The International Constitution and Conflicts on
Water” by Dr. Mohammad Bani Hani. The second
session opened with a paper entitled “Humans
Environmental Rights between Political
Development and Sustainable Development” by Dr.
Osama Al Allousy, an expert in international
law. The journalist and researcher in
environmental media Mohammad Sharif Al Jayyousi
presented a paper entitled, “Media and
Environmental Human Rights”. The last session
focused on suggestions to formulate an
environmental human rights project.
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Workshop
“Women Organizations and their Role in Achieving
Sustainable Development”, April 12, 2003.
JEWP organized this workshop in cooperation with
the Charity Associations Union in Zarqa. Both
Saleh Al Khalaileh, president of the Charity
Associations Union in Zarqa and Hani Hourani
spoke at the opening ceremony. The workshop
included working papers submitted by Ms. Nadia Bushnaq, Director of the Center for Family
Awareness and Advising, and focused on "Women
Organizations and their Role in Achieving
Sustainable Development"; Dr. Abdul Salam
Talalweh, president of the Child's Charitable
Organization delivered a paper on "Attraction
and Repulsion Factors for Women Organizations";
and a case study was presented by Nadia Kharouf
from the Productive Women's Association,
entitled "The Rehabilitation and Conversion
Project of Marka Landfill".
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Discussion
Session "Municipalities and Sustainable
Development" March 24, 2004.
This session was held in cooperation with the
council of Greater Irbid Municipality at the
municipality hall. The opening ceremony included
speeches presented by Eng. Walid Al Masri; the
Mayor, and Mr. Hussein Abu Rumman. The session
included five presentations that focused on the
following topics: "The Status of Municipalities
in Jordan and their Role in Development"
presented by Hani Hourani, "Missions and
Challenges that face Municipalities in
Protecting the Environment" by Eng. Nidal
Samara; Director of the Environment Department
at Zarqa Municipality. The third paper was on
"The Experience of Irbid Municipality and its
Role in Environment Protection" by Dr. Walid Al
Masri; Mayor of Greater Irbid Municipality. Mr.
Ghazi Haddad; the Director of Irbid Chamber of
Industry, and Dr. Adnan Al Hayajneh; Associate
Professor of Political Science at the Hashemite
University commented on the papers.
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Discussion
Session “Poverty and Sustainable Development
Challenges in the Southern Region / Ma’an”,
December 10, 2003.
JEWP hosted this workshop in cooperation with Al
Hussein Bin Talal University. The opening
cession included speeches by Dr. Adel Tweisi the
University President, and by Hani Hourani; UJRC
Director General. The session addressed three
main topics: “Levels of Poverty and Development”
by Dr. Doukhy Al Haniti, “Poverty in Karak
(Field Study)” by Dr. Hussein Al Othman; Faculty
of Sociology at Mu'tah University, and “Poverty
and Social Life in Ma’an” by Dr. Mohammad Al
Tarawneh; Anthropology Institute at Yarmouk
University.
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Discussion
Session “Tourism Services Trends in Jordan:
Foreign Tourists’ Perspective”, January 8, 2003.
UJRC Conference Room. Osama Shihabi, an expert
in Jordanian tourism issues and lecturer at the
Hashemite University, presented the main
intervention in which he discussed tourists’
opinions of tourism services in Jordan.
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Discussion
Session "The Impact of the Cement Industry in
Fuheis City on Health, Environment and
Sustainable Development”, November 6, 2003.
JEWP conducted this workshop in cooperation with
the Municipality of Fuheis. It focused upon the
impact of the cement industry and petrol coal
emissions on the health of the people, the
environment, and the role of civil society
organizations in finding strategic solutions to
the pollution problem in Fuheis. Speakers were:
Hani Hourani, Adeeb Akroush, RSCN (Fuheis
Branch); Dr. Afif Ziadat, a member of the
Scientific Committee of the Jordanian
Environment Society (Fuheis Branch); Dr. Ahmad
Bdour, a consultant on Occupational and
Environmental Medicine at Jordan University of
Science and Technology; and Ziad Sweis,
Jordanian Environment Society (Fuheis Branch).
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Discussion
Session “Industrial Pollution in the Governorate
of Zarqa, and the Prospects of Applying
Environmental Assessment”, October 22, 2003.
JEWP, in cooperation with the Institute of Land,
Water and the Environment at the Hashemite
University in Zarqa, conducted this discussion
session. A paper was delivered on "Industrial
Pollution in the Governorate of Zarqa" by Dr.
Adnan Zawahra, head of the directorate of
Environmental Protection at Zarqa. Also
presented was a paper on "Zarqa Municipality's
Experience in Waste Management and Recycling" by
Eng. Nidal Samara, director of the Environment
at Zarqa. Two more papers were submitted, on
"the Impact of Industrial Pollution on
Historical and Cultural Sites" presented by Dr.
Mohammad Waheeb, Queen Rania Institute for
Antiquities and Tourism, and "the prospects of
applying Environmental Impact Assessments" by
Dr. Iyad Hussein, Institute of Environment at
the Hashemite University. The final paper was on
"The Environmental Management System and its
impact on Environment Protection" by Dr. Na'el
Al Mumani, Institute of Environment.
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Discussion
Session “Integration of natural resource
protection and community development in Wadi Rum
and Aqaba”, October 20, 2003.
JEWP, in cooperation with the Environmental
Commission at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone
(ASEZA), organized a discussion session on
protecting natural resources and developing the
local community in (ASEZA), with special focus
on Wadi Rum. This session was supervised by the
Environmental Commission, and was held in Aqaba
Marine Resorts. It was inaugurated by the
Commissioner of Environmental Affairs Dr. Bilal
Al Bashir. An intervention was made by Mr.
Abdullah Abul Awali; Director of Aqaba
Aqua-Museum, who addressed the role of the
museum in sustaining natural resources of the
Gulf of Aqaba. In addition, five experts from
the Environmental Commission and Rum Reserve;
Dr. Mazen Khalil, Eng. Ahmad Jabri, Eng. Khaled
Abu Aisha, Dr. Salim Mughrabi, and Eng. Murad
Za'atreh, respectively discussed the issues of:
environmental impacts, development projects and
ways of reducing negative effects; plans and
programs for developing Wadi Rum
environmentally, economically, and
touristically; the comprehensive management of
the Gulf of Aqaba shores; replanting coral at
the Gulf of Aqaba; towards achieving sustainable
development; and finally, environment and
Sustainable Development.
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Discussion
Session "Youth and Environment", September 13,
2003.
JEWP held this discussion session under the
title "What Does Sustainable Development mean to
the Youth: their role and advantages", in
collaboration with Al Salt Center for Youth; an
affiliation of the Higher Council for Youth. The
workshop took place at the youth center in Salt.
The opening speeches were delivered by Ms. Amal
Dababseh; JEWP Coordinator, and Mr. Fayez Hyari;
Director of Salt Center for Youth. One of the
participating youth, Mu'ayyad Nsour presented a
welcoming speech on behalf of the participants
and stressed the main achievements and
activities of the Salt center, while Eng. Ra'ouf
Dabbas; Deputy Director General of the Friends
of Environment Society, presented the main
intervention and chaired the session.
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Discussion
Session "Comprehensive management of Dry Lands
and the Challenges of Sustainable Development in
Jordan", August 14, 2003.
JEWP organized this session at the Jordan
University of Science and Technology (JUST),
Northern Jordan. The opening session speeches
were by Prof. Mohammad Hailat; Dean of the
Faculty of Arts and Science, Dr. Mona Hendieh;
president of the Environment Sciences
Department, and Hani Hourani, UJRC Director
General. Four working papers and a video film on
"Desertification in Jordan" were presented
during the session. The speakers were: Dr.
Mohammad Ajlouni, (JUST), Mr. Nidal Ouran; the
National Coordinator of the National Strategy
for Desertification Alleviation, Dr. Kamal
Kheirallah and Eng. Baker Qudah, Ministry of
Agriculture.
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Reception in
honour of Dr. Iyad Abu Moghli, July 27, 2003.
In collaboration with the Royal Society for the
Conservation of Nature (RSCN), the Jordan Royal
Ecological Diving Society and the Friends of
Environment Society, JEWP organized a reception
in the honour of Dr. Iyad Abu Moghli, UNDP
assistant resident representative. This was held
on the occasion of his assignment to a new
position as president of an international
program on energy and environment in New York.
Dr. Abu Moghli lectured on the millennium
development goals and environmental governance.
Mr. Hani Hourani inaugurated the event with a
speech commending Abu Moghli’s accomplishments.
Dr. Hala Lattouf, general secretary of the
Ministry of Planning and a former colleague of
Dr. Abu Moghli, also addressed the attendees.
The reception ended with a speech from Eng.
Khaled Irani, RSCN Director General, who praised
Abu Moghli’s cooperation with Jordanian
environmental societies and his distinguished
support of numerous pioneer projects, such as
the Dhana Reserve. On behalf of the
participants, Dr. Isam Faqir; Director General
of Friends of Environment Society, presented a
commemorative souvenir for Dr. Abu Moghli.
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Roundtable
"Johannesburg Memorandum … Justice in a Fragile
World", June 4, 2003.
JEWP held this session at the Radisson SAS hotel
in Amman, under the title "Towards Sustained
Jordan 2020". It aimed at deepening awareness in
Jordan of Sustainable Development and boosting
the performance of NGOs working in the fields of
Environment and Sustainable Development. The
session began with displaying a video film on
the minutes of Johannesburg Summit, then Dr.
Haiman Agrawl from Heinrich Böll Foundation,
presented the key paper on the Johannesburg
Memorandum. Dr. Mona Hendieh and Dr. Oudeh Al
Jayyousi commented on the paper.
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Roundtable
"Jordan between Rio 1992 and Agenda 21:
Accomplished Tasks and Future Missions".
JEWP organized this roundtable under the
patronage of H.E. Dr. Abdul Razzaq Tubeishat,
Minister of Rural, Municipal and Environmental
Affairs, who said, in his opening speech, that
the consuming rationalization and protection of
natural resources are becoming insufficient for
protecting the environment. He showed that it
has become more necessary to provide job
opportunities, combat poverty, improve
educational and health programs, encourage
investment, and activate society efforts. Dr.
Fares Al Junaidi; Director General of the
General Institution for Environment Protection,
stressed the importance of cooperation and
collaboration between the various sectors in
Jordan to attain sustainable development. Dr.
Iyad Abu Moghli; UNDP Assistant Resident
Representative, discussed the "International
Preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable
Development WSSD… Where Now?" and overviewed
Jordan's achievements in preparing for the WSSD.
Eng. Ahmad Qatarneh; Head of Sustainable
Development Department at the General
Institution for Environment Protection,
discussed "the National Preparations for the
WSSD".
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Roundtable
"Jordanian Non-Governmental Organizations and
the World Summit on Sustainable Development:
Preparations and Expectations", July 15, 2002,
Days Inn Hotel, Amman. The main paper in this
meeting was presented by Eng. Ra'ouf Dabbas;
President of Jordan Friends of Environment
Society. He discussed the role of the Jordanian
NGOs in attaining sustainable development, and
criticized the weakness and insufficiency of
their preparations for the WSSD, despite its
significance as a major world summit on
environment and sustainable development, and
being a great opportunity for Jordan to discuss
its issues and concerns.
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Roundtable
"Proposing Sustainable Development Indicators
for Jordan", June 24, 2002,
Amman. This roundtable discussed: the Indicators
of Sustainable Development, the significance of
initiating national indicators for Jordan, and
whose responsibility is that? In addition, the
meeting compared sustainable development
indicators between a number of countries around
the world, besides giving special focus to the
means of conforming these indicators. The key
paper presented was by Dr. Ramzi Batayneh, from
the General Cooperation for Environmental
Protection (GCEP).
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Roundtable
"Environmental Policies in Jordan and
Sustainable Development", June 3, 2002,
Orchid Hotel,
Amman. The main paper at this roundtable was
presented by Eng. Khaled Al Irani; Director
General of (RSCN). The recommendations stressed
major issues such as: the need for a specific
definition for Environmental Policies in Jordan,
the need for holding a national forum to discuss
the preparations for a new environmental Law,
the need for constitutional training, the need
for giving more focus to the National Agenda and
considering it as the plan of action for the
21st century, in addition to enhancing the role
of the General Cooperation for Environmental
Protection to act as an umbrella for all actions
and activities concerning environment and
sustainable development.
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Discussion
Session "The Right to a Clean Environment", June
5, 2002,
UJRC Conference Room. JEWP organized this
roundtable in cooperation with the Human Rights
Program of UJRC, and on the occasion of the
Environment day on June 5 of every year. Dr.
Ramzi Batayneh; the expert in the Environmental
Policies, presented the key paper.
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Discussion
Session "What is after Agenda 21", February 17,
2002,
Marmara Hotel, Amman. JEWP organized this
session as a complementary action to its efforts
for preparing for (WSSD), which is to be held in
Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 2002. The
session included a contribution for Dr. Iyad Abu
Moghli; UNDP Assistant Resident Representative,
which focused on introducing the National
Agenda, what Jordan achieved to attain
sustainable development, and what Jordan is
supposed to accomplish after announcing the
National Agenda.
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Discussion
Session "The Role of Civil Society Organizations
in Jordan and Palestine in Achieving Sustainable
Development", January 5, 2002,
Orchid Hotel, Amman. JEWP organized this session
with the collaboration of the United Nations
Environmental Program in West Asia, and the
Center for Sustainable Development in Iran. The
session focused on supporting the CSOs pursuance
of sustainable development in Jordan and
Palestine, from Rio De Janeiro Forum for
Environment and Sustainable Development in 1992,
to the preparations for WSSD that was held in
Johannesburg in September 2002.
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Debate
session "Environmental Politics: exploring
theoretical perspectives", September 24, 2001,
UJRC Conference
Room. Dr. Ramzi Batayneh, from the General
Cooperation for the Environmental Protection
(GCEP), presented the main paper. The meeting
that was held with the participation of
environmentalists and experts, discussed the
relationship between politics and environment on
the national and international levels, and what
had made environmental issues a global concern
and a topic on global and national agendas.
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Discussion
session "The national preparation mechanism for
the World Summit on Sustainable development",
July 25, 2001,
Marmara Hotel, Amman. The session was held
within the framework of preparations for the
World Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, in
September 2002. It stressed the importance of
combining national efforts to prepare for this
summit, with the participation of different
environmental organizations in Jordan. Three
main presentations were given by: the UNDP
representative in Jordan, the coordinator of the
National Committee for the Conservation of
Nature, and the Director of Sustainable
Development at GCEP.
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Discussion
Session "The Nuclear Accelerator for the
Synchrotron Laboratory", February 7, 2001,
UJRC Conference
Room. This session was held in cooperation with
JEWP and the Jordan Friends of the Environment
Society. The session focused on the issue of the
accelerator that was to be established in Allan
municipality, at Princess Rahma College, an
affiliation to Balqa’a Applied University. The
session discussed the state of the accelerator,
its features, characteristics, benefits, the
significance of such an advanced scientific
project in Jordan, and its role in promoting
scientific development in the country. The
public’s reactions and points of view towards
the accelerator were discussed at the session.
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Discussion
session "The legislative administrative
framework required for establishing Ministry of
Environment", September 5, 2000.
JEWP organized this session after the Royal call
for the establishment of a Ministry for
Environment, and the assigning of a special
committee to set the legislative and managerial
grounds to establishing the ministry. The
committee had announced its welcome to receiving
suggestions and recommendations from the
environmental experts, and accordingly, JEWP
submitted the session outcomes and
recommendations to the ministerial committee
in-charge.
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Debate
session "Hazardous waste shipment", December 12,
2000.
This session was held in cooperation with JEWP
and the Land and Man Organization in Support of
Development, and discussed the shipment of
hazardous waste that entered Jordan and created
a major concern for all sectors of society. In
addition to discussing the case of the shipment
concerning its features, quantity and
governmental actions taken, the debate discussed
its impact on the health and environment, and
the legislative procedures taken on the national
and international levels to deal with the waste
shipment, and the actions taken to ensure
Jordan's cleanness of these wastes.
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JEWP "Environmental Papers" Newsletter 2000-2004.
The "Environmental Papers" newsletter: A
periodical series of papers regarding environmental
policies issued by the Jordanian Environmental Watch
Program (JEWP) of Al Urdun Al Jadid Research Center
(UJRC). Twenty issues of the Environmental Papers
were publicized during the years 2000 – 2004. In
addition, a special issue was devoted to covering
the Johannesburg Summit of 2002, in corporation with
the "Civil Society Issues" newsletter of UJRC.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 21. "The
outcomes of Four Discussion Sessions held during
the last quarter of 2004";
This issue, released in December 2004, consists
of the proceedings of four discussion sessions
on renewable energy, environmental projects,
NGOs, and poverty alleviation, and their
relationship with sustainable development. This
is in addition to the key environmental news
during the period of October – December 2004,
and a specialized article on "Environmental Good
Governance between Theory and Practice".
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 20. "The
outcomes of Three Discussion Sessions held
During the third quarter of 2004”
This issue, released in September 2004, contains
the proceedings of three discussion sessions on:
the parliament and civil society, developing the
southern region, and the informal sector, while
stressing the relationship between the mentioned
issues and sustainable development. Also
mentioned are the key environmental news at the
national level during the period of July –
September 2004.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 19. "The
outcomes of Ten Discussion Sessions held be JEWP
during 2003"
This issue coincides with the launching of the
second phase of JEWP project of “Environmental
Policies and Sustainable Development Debates”.
This issue documents the discussion sessions’
proceedings that were held in 2003, which form a
follow up to the Johannesburg Summit 2002.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 18. Special
edition of the "Civil Society Issues" magazine
on "Johannesburg Summit 2002"
JEWP prepared this special edition on the Second
Earth Summit, Johannesburg 2002, in cooperation
with the "Civil Society Issues" magazines of
UJRC. This issue includes the national, Arab and
international preparations for the World Summit,
in addition to a number of articles and
documents related to sustainable development and
to the summit.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 17. "What is
after the National Agenda 21"
This issue includes the proceedings of a working
session organized by JEWP on this subject on
April 16, 2002 at UJRC. This issue follows up on
the accomplished preparations for the WSSD.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 16. "Role of
Civil Society Organizations in Jordan and
Palestine in achieving sustainable development"
This edition, issued in English, includes the
proceedings of a discussion session that was
organized by JEWP in January 2002, and sheds the
light on obstacles that prevent attaining
sustainable development in Jordan and Palestine.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 15. "The Role of
Arab Youth in Protecting the Coastal
Environment''
This issue includes the meetings of the First
Youth Gathering organized by the Directors of
Youth and Sports for Aqaba Governorate in
cooperation with the Arab Union for Youth,
between December 22 and 29, 2001, in Aqaba, with
the participation of 54 young men and women
representing nine Arab countries. This issue
also includes paper summaries on environmental
issues presented by participating Arab
delegations.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 14. "the
Expected Environmental Impacts of Establishing
Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority"
Issued in English, this paper analyzes the
potential impacts on Aqaba region after turning
Aqaba into a Special Economic Zone. The paper
discusses the expected advantages and impact
through three main focuses: the social and
economic settings, the natural environment, and
the transformation impact on infrastructure.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 13. "From
Seattle to Doha: The Environmental Portfolio of
the WTO"
This paper discusses the environmental chapter
of the World Trade Organization, by following up
on the predisposition to support globalization,
as was apparent in Seattle during the 3rd WTO
Ministerial Conference, through to the 4th
Conference in November 2001, in Doha. The paper
explains the links between trade, environment
and development, while also illustrating the
main criticisms. It also discusses the threats
of widening global trade liberalization on
environment and sustainable development.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 12. "Politics
and the Environment: The Theoretical Framework";
This paper incorporates the proceedings of the
Discussion Session of the Jordanian
Environmental Watch that focused on issues
related to Politics and the Environment. Topics
discussed include: the relationship between
politics and the environment at a local and
international level, why environmental issues
have become international issues, and why are
environmental issues so high on the agenda,
locally and internatio
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 11. "Jordan and
the Arab world in the environmental
sustainability index 2001"
This paper contains a translated summary of the
results of the World Economic Forum for
Sustainability Indicators in 2001. The study
survey applies the Sustainable Development
Indicator, which is the numerical measurement of
the progress a country has made in the process
of sustainable development, to a list of 122
countries.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 10. "The
Methodology of National Preparatory Activities
for the Johannesburg Summit – 2002"
This paper incorporates the proceedings of the
Discussion Session of JEWP on the National
Preparatory activities for WSSD due in
Johannesburg in September 2002. During this
session Jordan's achievements in sustainable
development since 1992 until today were
discussed, in addition to the tasks that still
need to be completed prior to the forthcoming
Summit of Rio+10.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 9. "An
Information Guide on the World Summit on
Sustainable Development (Rio + 10)";
This paper, presented in English, describes the
development of the international environmental
management methodologies, within the framework
of the UN, which were unleashed during the
Stockholm Conference on Human Environment in
1972, until the Earth Summit (Rio 1992), in
addition to the numerous International
Environment Declarations.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 8. "The
International Environmental Policy from
Stockholm 1972 to Rio 1992, and Agenda 21"
This paper discisses a book entitled "The
International Environmental Policy" by Dr.
Jassem Al Hassan. The book examines the status
of the global environment following the 1992 UN
Environment and Development Conference in Brazil
(Rio de Janeiro), and concentrates on means to
save the globe through presenting different
countries’ viewpoints in this regard.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 7. "The Future
of Climatic Change and the Scientific, Political
and Economic Implications of USA's withdrawal
from the Kyoto Protocol";
This paper discusses the scientific, economic
and political implications of USA's withdrawal
from the Kyoto Agreement for the decrease of
Carbon emissions by the year 2012. The paper
also analyzes Climatic Change, in addition to
the chronological series of International
Agreements that serve to limit this phenomenon.
It looks into the reasons that failed The Hague
Conference and the major disagreements between
the USA and the European Union. Also covered are
the conclusions of the Report by the Joint
Government Committee of Climatic Change in
February 2001, and the most important impacts of
climatic change on the Middle East region.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 6. "The
Environmental Portfolio of the Jordan-USA Free
Trade Agreement"
This paper, published in English, presents a
complete analysis of the Environmental Portfolio
of the Free Trade Agreement between Jordan and
the USA which was signed on October 24, 2000,
and discusses its impact on the Jordanian
Environment in nine sectors. The paper concludes
that implementing this Agreement would result in
an expansion of investment and commercial
activity, which in turn would lead to more
exploitation of the natural resources and an
increase in pollution and waste products.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 5. "The Nuclear
Accelerator for the Synchrotron Lab: A Science
Facility presented to Jordan by UNESCO"
This edition comprises the proceedings of a
session at the Hot Environmental Issues Forum
that was held at UJRC, in collaboration with
JEWP and Jordan Friends of Environment Society.
Discussions revolved around the nuclear
Accelerator, and the precautionary measures that
should be taken to prevent any dangers erupting,
in addition to the local community's attitude
towards the establishment of the Accelerator,
particularly the residents of Allan village.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 4. "The
Hazardous Waste Shipment: Israeli Hazardous
Waste Enters the Jordanian Territories";
This edition contains the proceedings of a
dialogue session of the Hot Environmental Issues
Forum, which was held in collaboration with
JEWP, and the "Land and Human to Advocate
Progress". Discussions revolved around the issue
of the Hazardous Waste Shipment which entered
Jordan from Israel, whilst analyzing its impact
on public health and safety, and the legal means
of preventing the occurrence of similar
episodes. Moreover, the role of the media and
the Jordanian environmental organizations was
discussed, in addition to the role of the
Customs in detecting such shipments and how they
should be returned to the country of origin.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 3. "Development
and the Environment: the impact of Globalization
and Free Trade on the Environment in Jordan"
This edition contains the paper presented at the
first Jordanian Conference on Environment and
Development, organised by the Union of Jordanian
Geologists, November 5-7, 2000. This paper
discussed the impact of liberalizing
international trade and globalization on the
Jordanian environment in particular, and defined
the anticipated impacts of Jordan / USA FTA,
Jordan's accession to the WTO and the Joint
Partnership between Jordan and the EU.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 2. "The
Environmental Media in Jordan and the Challenges
of the 21st Century"
This edition includes a working paper that was
presented at the first Jordanian conference on
Environment and Development, which was held on
October 29-31, 2000, and organized by GCEP. This
working paper discussed the status of the
environmental media in Jordan, by illustrating
the most important media and environment
activities, and analyzing the articles on
environmental issues that were published in the
daily newspapers during September.
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Environmental Papers, issue no. 1. "The Ministry
of Environment in Jordan: The required Legal and
Administrative Framework for the establishment
of a Ministry of Environment";
This edition comprises the proceedings of the
Discussion Session organized by JEWP on
5/9/2000, during which the need for a Ministry
of Environment was discussed, in addition to the
administrative and legislative frameworks
required for the establishment of this new
Ministry.
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This is the first
Annual Report on the State of the Environment in
Jordan, and the first attempt by an NGO to assess
the environmental situation of Jordan in a
comprehensive, objective and independent manner, in
addition to the concerns challenges and policies
encountered. Prepared by Bater Wardam and Amal
Dababseh, this report was scientifically revised by
a group of key experts and specialists in the
environmental concern and representing private and
academic sectors.
Tackling all the various components related to the
environment and water during the year 2000, the
report, which was prepared in Arabic with a summary
in English, falls in 250 pages. The report consists
of three Phases that describe the environmental
state in Jordan and the key environmental events
that took place during 2000, in addition to defining
a number of Jordanian organizations and institutions
working in the field of Environment.
Phase One of the report consists of Ten chapters
discussing issues of: Natural Environment in Jordan,
the administrative and legislative structure for
Environment Protection in Jordan, Management of
Water Resources, Wild Life and Biological
Diversification, Agriculture and Use of Land,
Industry, Energy and Mineral Resources, Air
Pollution, Environmental Tourism, Seaside, Wild Life
and Hazardous Wastes, to conclude with an insight
for the Future of the Environment in Jordan.
Phase Two contains a comprehensive view of the key
environmental developments and events in Jordan
during 2000; Whereas Phase Three consists of a guide
for the Jordanian organizations working in
Environment, and introduces around 35 various
environmental organizations and institutions.
The importance of this report comes from its
coinciding with the official launching of the
National Agenda 21; the National Strategy for
Sustainable Development. The publication of this
report also consents with the recommendations and
plans of action of the National Agenda 21,
especially those related to the significance of
issuing such reports on an annual basis to discuss
the State of Environment and Sustainable Development
in Jordan, as well as the dissemination and
documentation of environmental information and
providing relevant information to all concerned
parties.
Since 2000, the Jordanian Environmental Watch
Program has been depending on Al Urdun Al Jadid
Research Center support for its activities and
publications, as one of its programs. As a result,
JEWP has attained ability and has accumulated
experience to implement its activities and issue its
publications.
JEWP’s first annual report "The State of the
Environment in Jordan – 2001/2002" was publicized
with the support of the Heinrich Böll Foundation/
Germany.
JEWP organized the dialogue series on sustainable
development entitled "The Road to the World Summit
on Sustainable Development 2002", with the support
of the Heinrich Böll Foundation/ Arab Middle East
Office.
Your support for the Jordanian Environmental Watch
Program will make it possible for JEWP to accomplish
the goals and objectives of its establishment.
To Become One Of The JEWP Donors:
it would be our pleasure to receive your e-mails at
ujrc@ujrc-jordan.org
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