Amman, April 5 (Petra) -- The Ministry of Environment said its third State of the Environment report, recently released for the 2015–2022 period, serves as a comprehensive national reference reflecting the country’s environmental reality through a transparent methodology that monitors challenges, pressures, and their impacts while documenting existing and planned national responses within an integrated institutional framework.

The ministry stated that the report, especially regarding the land and soil sector from 2015 to 2022, highlights challenges related to land degradation and declining agricultural productivity. It presents a factual scientific analysis aimed at emphasizing the impact of various environmental pressures. These include urban expansion, changing land use patterns, economic activity, and climate change effects, while also highlighting ongoing national efforts to tackle these issues.

It added that the report presents a balanced account of the national response trajectory, noting that the period saw the implementation of a range of institutional and legislative measures. These include the development of policies and regulations supporting soil conservation and sustainable land management, the establishment of protected areas, the promotion of environmental initiatives, and the adoption of sustainable urban planning approaches to curb unplanned expansion and protect agricultural land. The measures also include expanding the application of environmental impact assessments for development projects to help regulate land use and limit degradation.

The responses also encompassed strengthening sustainable agricultural practices to preserve soil fertility and improve the efficiency of natural resource use, alongside enhancing prevention and response measures for forest fires by boosting institutional readiness, improving coordination among government entities, and developing implementation plans at ministerial and governorate levels to reduce forest and grassland fires.

The ministry said national efforts have extended beyond the report’s timeframe through the implementation of qualitative programs and initiatives aimed at enhancing land sustainability. Chief among these is a national initiative to plant 10 million trees over 10 years, within the framework of the national climate change policy and the global biodiversity framework, as well as efforts to combat land degradation and desertification for 2023–2030. The initiative represents a long-term program to rehabilitate forests and expand green cover.

These efforts also include the "Roots" initiative, stemming from the Economic Modernization Vision, which aims to plant one million forest and fruit trees to combat desertification, enhance vegetation cover, improve land and soil quality, and reduce degradation.

The ministry said these initiatives complement programs to rehabilitate degraded land and promote its sustainable management, strengthening ecosystem resilience to climate change and supporting the sustainability of natural resources.

It stressed that national responses in the land and soil sector are aligned with the Economic Modernization Vision, which places environmental sustainability at its core through sustainable resource management, combating desertification, expanding afforestation and improving land-use efficiency, thereby balancing economic growth with environmental protection.

The ministry said that, under directives from Minister of Environment Ayman Suleiman, preparations will begin for the fourth State of the Environment report covering 2023–2026, with publication scheduled for 2027, as part of continued institutional efforts to monitor environmental conditions and develop data-driven national responses.

It added that the executive program for the Economic Modernization Vision for 2026–2029 includes a range of programs and projects addressing the challenges identified in the State of the Environment report, particularly in the land and soil sector, with the aim of enhancing natural resource sustainability, improving land management efficiency, and strengthening the kingdom’s capacity to adapt to climate change.

The ministry said the report is not intended to present challenges in isolation but rather reflects a national approach based on transparency and integration in diagnosing and addressing environmental conditions, stressing that Jordan is continuing to implement practical and sustainable responses to protect land and soil and ensure their long-term sustainability.

//Petra// AF