Aqaba: The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) organized a training program focused on the propagation and restoration of native and medicinal plants at ASEZA's nursery. This initiative was conducted in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Jordan and in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Garden.
According to Jordan News Agency, the program, held on April 5 and 6, is a part of the Enhancing Biodiversity and Resilience in Aqaba's Coastal Ecosystem (EmBRACE) Project. It gathered women from the local community and women's associations in Aqaba and coincided with the UNDP's 50th anniversary in Jordan.
UNDP project manager Jafar Omari explained that the program blended theoretical knowledge with practical application. Participants were introduced to wild plant species and their significance, nursery systems, tool use, as well as growing media and mixing ratios. They also received hands-on training in soil preparation, container filling, seed sowing and treatment, seedling care including irrigation, fertilization, and thinning, and ultimately transplanting.
The training is part of efforts to promote nature-based solutions and strengthen local capacities to restore vegetation cover and protect biodiversity in Aqaba. It was conducted under the "Protecting marine biodiversity in Aqaba project," funded by the Canadian government. This project aims to restore degraded natural habitats and native plants in Aqaba, enhance their resilience to climate change, and support the sustainability of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.