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Environmental education[edit]

Prior to the millennium, there are very few documented efforts toward incorporating environmental education into the school system. In the late 2000s, Jordan implemented several environmental education programs in schools to assess the correlation between education and environmental practices of families in Jordan. [1]

Environmental education programs[edit]

  • The Royal Marine Conservation Society of Jordan (JREDS) gathered funds for the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to implement the Eco-Schools International Programme, specifically the Climate Initiative Programme. JREDS intended to expand the Climate Initiative Programme to all schools in Jordan within three years. The goal of the program is to empower and educate students in Jordan-specific environmentalism with the intention that this will spread to their families and change the way Jordanians interact with their environment. [2]
  • In Amman, students sent to Green Generation workshops held by the Call to Action Jordan campaign learned how to change household actions to improve at-home sustainability and were given “Energy Conservation Contracts”. The workshops provided a self-rating guide of sustainability to compare lifestyles before and after making changes. [3]
  • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) partnered with the Ministry of Education to support a program called the Earth Care Campaign, created by Swedish Life-Link Friendship-Schools Association founder Hans Levander. This program includes a 15-hour course with three parts: Culture of Care, Water for Life, and Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. [4]
  • The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) created a project in 2009 to show students why medicinal and herbal plants are important to protect and cultivate. [5] The RSCN Medicinal and Herbal Plant Project Educational Program has two parts:
    1. Educational Program in Mujib Nature Reserve
      • This part of the program focuses on building a traditional understanding of medicinal plants, their importance and uses, and community approaches to protection. The education takes place in the Mujib Nature Reserve, and provides many resources for students such as a herbarium with a plant press, a laboratory, garden, and guided field trips. [6]
    2. Integration of concepts into national curriculum
      • This aspect of the program is one of a five-part medicinal plant project designed to improve public health, work toward sustainable growth and development, and facilitate socio-economic development on a local scale. [7] The RSCN lists intended steps on their webpage.

USAID and environmental education[edit]

In a USAID study of Jordan’s environmental education programs, it was found that water issues were taught with more depth and frequency than energy issues. Concurrently, it was found that there was more focus on science in environmental education than social, political, and legislative implications, a finding that is contested within the educational system. [8]

USAID and environmentalism[edit]

United Sates Agency for International Development (USAID) primarily funds water services and supports eco-tourism in Jordan. Miyahuna (Jordan Water Company) received $30 million from the US to renovate water programs to be more effective and efficient, preventing water loss and inaccurate billing. At this point, Jordan’s water loss is around 37%, but is expected to drop to 25% once the renovations are in place. [9]

In November 2014, USAID joined with the ministries of tourism and labour, the Vocational Training Corporation (VTC) and the Higher Education Accreditation Commission as a first step toward cultivating the Pathways to Professionalism Scheme. This is intended to expand the tourism industry in Jordan though training all employees of hotels or other businesses with the intention of promoting all kinds of tourism, including eco-tourism. [10]

USAID has also partnered with the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, and over the past 20 years they have particularly focused on the Dana Biosphere Reserve in the Jordan Valley. RSCN worked with NGOs and families in communities to figure out how to best utilize resources. The goal is to focus on ecological sustainability while promoting economic growth. This ideology increased the economic base of Dana, allowing younger generations who left to find a more economically stable environment to return and become involved with the tourism industry. After some years working in Dana, the RSCN expanded eco-tourism programs to other reserves: Aljoun, Wadi Mujib, and Azraq Wetlands. [11] For a complete list of Jordan's nature reserves, see Nature reserves in Jordan.

Environment Minister Taher Shakhshir and US Ambassador to Jordan Alice G. Wells have met in the past to discuss what has been done via USAID to support Jordan’s environmentalism, as well as bring to attention the environmental stresses that have increased in recent years due to many factors, including increased refugee population, specifically from Syria. [12] Wells was cited as saying that “Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world," maintaining that it is important for Jordan to focus on water policy and efficiency because it is such a water-poor area. [13]

Current projects and aid[edit]

In the Workplace At Home Internationally
Established a network of energy engineers in Jordan, complete with training for the workplace [14] 2012 social marketing campaign to raise awareness of how much energy families and companies are using [14] Formed ties to US-based energy research groups such as the Colorado Public Utility Commission, Arizona Public Service, and Sacramento Municipal Utility District [14]
Provided technology for research purposes [14] Environmental education programs
Credited companies that invested in alternative energy sources [14]
Jordan Competitiveness Programme holds job fairs held in Amman aimed at recruiting people in workforce into ecological/sustainable projects [15]
  • Girls in Tech: empowering women and girls in the technological workplace, focusing on education
  • Linking Programme with Intel
  • Aimed to increase participation of women and youth in the workforce, especially in relation to eco-management and water resourcing

Agricultural research in Jordan[edit]

Agricultural research in Jordan stems from several places, including universities and private entities, but the only government-sanctioned group actively researching is the National Center for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer (NCARTT). In 2003, USAID made up 6% of NCARTT's agricultural research funding. With headquarters just outside Amman, NCARTT uses roughly 50% of Jordan's agricultural research funding. NCARTT has a focus on human resource development, though they are known to have a low salary cap which discourages experienced researchers from participating in their programs. [16]

Many institutions of higher education are likewise involved in agricultural research through funding research centers or educating students about resource management/conservation practices. These research institutions are also funded by USAID. [16]

Importance of agricultural research in Jordan[edit]

Jordan's economy is primarily dependent on the service industry such as tourism and banking, while the agriculture sector made up roughly 2% of Jordan's GDP. Because Jordan experiences difficulties with securing natural resources pertinent to agricultural development, such as water, agricultural research points to areas that need development in order to maintain that sector of Jordan's economy. With fluctuating resources, environmental conservation approaches in Jordan are directed toward resource conservation. [16]

History of agricultural research in Jordan [16][edit]

  • 1950s: Began constructing research institutions in the Jordan Valley
    • Transferred to the Department of Scientific Agricultural Research in 1958
  • 1970s: Department of Scientific Research and Agricultural Extension created
    • Most research began in the 1970s when institutions of higher education and other organizations had ready facilities, funding and training
  • Ministry of Agriculture restructured in 1980s, creating NCARTT
    • Funded by National Agricultural Development Project (NADP), which was supported jointly by USAID and the Jordan Government

For contextual history of Jordan in relation to agriculture, specifically water, see Water supply and sanitation in Jordan.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Dalgamouni, Rand (October 15, 2010). "Environmental education campaign to start next week". The Jordan Times. The Jordan Times. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  2. ^ Lawrence Helke, Susan (24 June 2009). "New initiative seeks to make schools more environment friendly". The Jordan Times. The Jordan Times. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  3. ^ Kheetan, Thameen (5 June 2009). "Youths to hold families accountable for conserving energy, environment". The Jordan Times. The Jordan Times. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  4. ^ "UNESCO hosts presentation of the ESD Earth Care School Campaign 2010-2014". UNESCO. UNESCO. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  5. ^ Malkawi, Khetam (2 December 2008). "Protection of medicinal herbs to be incorporated in school curricula". The Jordan Times. The Jordan Times. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Medicinal and Herbal Plants Project / Educational Program". The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature. RSCN. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  7. ^ "Medicinal and Herbal Plants Project / Educational Program". The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature. RSCN. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  8. ^ Namrouqa, Hana (24 June 2010). "Energy, environment education 'lacks depth'". The Jordan Times. The Jordan Times. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  9. ^ Namrouqa, Hana (Jan 29, 2015). "$30 million USAID grant to boost water supply efficiency". The Jordan Times. The Jordan Times. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  10. ^ JT (Nov 24, 2014). "USAID scheme helps improve quality, service of tourism industry". The Jordan Times. The Jordan Times. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  11. ^ Sullivan, Kathy. "Jordan's Natural Bounty Becomes a Boon for Locals and Tourists". USAID.gov. USAID. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  12. ^ Petra (Oct 13, 2014). "Jordan, US discuss environmental challenges". The Jordan Times. The Jordan Times. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  13. ^ Namrouqa, Hana (Jan 29, 2015). "$30 million USAID grant to boost water supply efficiency". The Jordan Times. The Jordan Times. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  14. ^ a b c d e "ENERGY RESOURCES MANAGEMENT". USAID.gov. USAID. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  15. ^ Ghazal, Mohammad (Feb 25, 2015). "USAID programme activities to promote jobs in green technology". The Jordan Times. The Jordan Times. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  16. ^ a b c d Beintema, Fardous, Alrusheidat, Nienke M., Abdel Nabi, Jamal. "Jordan" (PDF). IFPRI. AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INDICATORS. Retrieved 4 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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