FAO marks Arbour Day with tree planting event

AMMAN — The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) on January 15 celebrated Arbour Day by planting trees  to contribute to  afforestation efforts.

The organisiation also visited the Seed Bank, Nursery & Herbarium at the Royal Botanic Garden (RBG), according to a statement from the FAO.

The event was hosted by HRH Princess Basma Bint Ali, the founder of the Royal Botanic Garden and FAO Regional Goodwill Ambassador for the Near East and North Africa.

About 80 students from two different schools participated in the event, planted trees and visited the Seed Bank, Nursery & Herbarium. The students were also familiarised with the definition of agrifood systems and with different types of plant species.

Princess Basma said that this event “embodies the existing partnership” between the RBG and institutions working in sustainable agriculture, such as the Ministry of Agriculture, FAO and academic and educational bodies. 

Students’ participation in afforestation efforts strengthens their belonging to the land and increases green spaces, so that they become “messengers of agriculture, the environment and biodiversity”, Princess Basma added.

Agriculture Minister Khalid Hneifat emphasised the ministry’s contribution to afforestation through its plans to increase forest cover in the Kingdom, adding that the ministry has started the Qatraneh project, which extends over 2,200 dunums, and has started planting 35,000 trees this season. Several projects will also be implemented in cooperation with the Public Security Directorate to plant trees in the Swaqa forest. Another forest has also been planted in Maan, and another along 150km of the desert in 2022, the minister said.

FAO Representative in Jordan Nabil Assaf said: “Forests play a key role in restoring ecosystems with the aim of a better life for all. Forests are our key partners for achieving the objectives of the 2030 Agenda, combating desertification, achieving food security and improving livelihoods.”

The FAO supports the Government of Jordan by enhancing the seedling production in nurseries, increasing planting density in the northern and central part of Jordan, the statement said. The global agriculture organisation also enhances and consolidates existing entities specialised in forestry and rangeland through providing new technologies, assets and technical training.  

It also supports the government in shifting towards a "green national economy", in a country suffering from dwindling forestation, estimated at 88,000 hectares, which equals less than 1 per cent of its overall area, the FAO statement said.