jordan pulse -

AMMAN
​In the presence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Potash Company (APC), Eng. Shehadeh Abu Hdeib, and the company's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Maen Nsour, the "Atheel Forest Sustainability Project in Fayfa Nature Reserve" was inaugurated today in the southern Jordan Valley/Dead Sea area. The project is supported by APC and implemented by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) in the southern Jordan Valley, aiming to help Atheel forests recover and protect the natural habitats of several bird species, including the Dead Sea sparrow and the Nubian nightjar.
​The opening ceremony took place at the reserve's management building, attended by the Chairperson of the RSCN Board of Directors, Batoul Al-Ajlouni, along with several board members, Director General Fadi Al-Nasser, and members of executive management. The ceremony featured a presentation on the project's objectives and tracks, followed by a tree-planting activity with the participants.
​The project encompasses field surveys to assess the distribution of Atheel trees, their health status, and natural regeneration levels, as well as studying the impact of grazing on vegetation and establishing recommendations for its regulation. It also includes strengthening field monitoring in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Royal Environmental Law Enforcement Department, alongside implementing awareness activities involving school students and local community members.
​Eng. Shehadeh Abu Hdeib, Chairman of APC, emphasized that the company's support for the Atheel Forest Sustainability Project is grounded in a steadfast institutional approach that places environmental protection and sustainable development at the forefront of the company's priorities and corporate social responsibility. He noted that the qualitative partnership with RSCN reflects the company's active commitment to safeguarding natural resources and unique biodiversity in and around its areas of operation.
​Eng. Abu Hdeib stressed that APC is keen to direct its programs toward qualitative initiatives that leave a long-term environmental impact and translate sustainability concepts into practical actions that enhance combating desertification and contribute to protecting sensitive ecosystems, reinforcing the company's pioneering role in balancing industrial development with environmental preservation.
​For his part, Dr. Maen Nsour, CEO of Arab Potash, affirmed that supporting the project falls within the company's environmental priorities in the southern Jordan Valley. He pointed out that the recovery of native vegetation in arid and saline environments represents a priority for protecting biodiversity, explaining that Atheel forests play an important role in the reserve by providing habitats for birds such as the Dead Sea sparrow and the Nubian nightjar, making their preservation part of protecting the species that rely upon them.
​Dr. Nsour added that the company directed its support to this project for the opportunity it provides to address pressures facing Atheel forests and assist them in restoring their natural regeneration capacity. He explained that the long-term value of this support lies in the forests' ability to continue serving as a habitat for birds and wildlife within the reserve.
​In turn, Batoul Al-Ajlouni, Chairperson of the RSCN Board of Directors, highlighted the importance of the project as a vital step in protecting ecosystems, restoring vegetation cover, and enhancing biodiversity in the region. Al-Ajlouni noted that the project reflects the significance of partnership between national institutions in supporting environmental efforts, commending APC's support and contribution to implementing projects with sustainable environmental impact that help protect natural resources for future generations.
​Fadi Al-Nasser, Director General of RSCN, emphasized the strategic partnership with the Arab Potash Company, praising the support provided by APC to implement the project, which reflects the depth of cooperation between the two sides and their shared keenness to support nature conservation efforts and ecosystem restoration. Al-Nasser noted that the project comes within RSCN's efforts to develop nature reserves and enhance the sustainability of their ecosystems through restoring Atheel forests, improving natural bird habitats, supporting biodiversity, monitoring programs, awareness, and community participation.
​Notably, Fayfa Nature Reserve is the lowest recorded wetland site registered under the Ramsar Convention, serving as a resting station for migratory birds between Africa and Europe. Approximately 40 bird species have been recorded there, most of which nest within the reserve.
​Source: Rum News Agency