Aqaba, July 26 (Petra) - The inclusion of the Aqaba Marine Reserve (AMR) on UNESCO’s World Heritage List "marks the beginning of a new era" focused on shared responsibility and resource sustainability, a senior environmental official said on Sunday.

Nedal Ouran, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority's (ASEZA) Commissioner for Environment and Public Safety, told Petra that the Prime Minister's recent visit to the site signals political backing for Jordan’s sustainability and environmental campaign.

The listing brings Jordan’s UNESCO tally to eight. The AMR is the Kingdom's first "purely natural" listing; its seven counterparts comprise six cultural landmarks, like Petra, Umm el-Jimal, Umm ar-Rasas, and the Baptism Site, and one mixed site, Wadi Rum.

Managing the reserve carries immense weight, Ouran said, adding that ASEZA and AMR's management are well-equipped, drawing on more than a decade of experience managing Wadi Rum and collaborating with overseers at other heritage sites.

Clear operational plans are already underway to ensure effective management and maintain the reserve's world-class standing. Ouran attributed the achievement to a broad collaborative effort involving local fishermen, glass-bottom boat operators, divers, research centers, environmental police, security forces, and international organizations.

//Petra// HA