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AMMAN – The Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding to boost cooperation in environmental protection and sustainable development.
The agreement sets a framework for joint efforts in scientific research, environmental education, and public awareness, while also promoting data sharing, project coordination, and the development of environmental planning tools, according to a PDTRA statement.
The signing ceremony was attended by PDTRA Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Fares Braizat, IUCN Regional Director Hani Shaer, and IUCN Commissioner for Sustainable Development Fatima Hilalat.
During the meeting, the two sides went over potential areas of collaboration, emphasising the importance of knowledge exchange and institutional capacity-building to support biodiversity conservation and sustainable regional growth.
Braizat highlighted the value of international partnerships in achieving a balance between conserving natural resources and advancing economic and social development.
He said that the agreement would help build local capacity and expand access to global expertise.
Shaer praised the authority's efforts to protect Petra’s unique environment, calling the city a “leading example of development that integrates environmental sustainability with cultural heritage preservation.”
Hilalat noted that the agreement represents a “major” step towards launching sustainable environmental initiatives in Petra, reinforcing the authority’s ability to manage natural resources effectively.