Amman, Jan. 24 (Petra) - Minister of Environment Ayman Suleiman on Saturday sponsored tree-planting activities in Al-Hasa District to mark Arbor Day, in cooperation with the district’s Agriculture Directorate and with active participation from the local community and the head of the Al-Hasa Municipality Committee, aimed at promoting community engagement in afforestation and reforestation efforts.
During the visit, Suleiman reviewed the environmental conditions in the area, stressing the importance of raising environmental awareness and strengthening the sense of shared responsibility toward natural resources, in line with the partnership-based approach to environmental protection and expanding green cover.
He also visited the Al-Hasa afforestation project, a joint initiative between the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, spanning nearly 400 dunums along approximately 14 kilometers of the desert highway. The project is irrigated using treated wastewater from the phosphate residential city treatment plant, reflecting efforts to ensure the safe and sustainable use of water resources in afforestation projects.
In the same context, Suleiman inspected the Martyr Colonel Saed Al-Maaytah Forest Project, another joint initiative with the Ministry of Agriculture. Covering around 1,250 dunums and comprising more than 40,000 forest trees, the project is considered one of the key national initiatives contributing to environmental improvement and combating desertification.
The tour also included a visit to the "Juthoor" (Roots) project, one of the Royal Initiatives, where the total planted area has exceeded 25,000 dunums. He paid particular attention to "Juthoor 3," which includes more than 180,000 forest trees, as part of national efforts to expand green spaces and enhance ecological balance.
Suleiman affirmed that these projects fall within the National Afforestation Program implemented by the Ministry of Environment, with support from the Environmental Protection Fund and in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, municipalities, and local communities. He stressed the importance of ensuring sustainability through continuous technical follow-up, the use of safe water sources, and strengthened environmental awareness.
He added that Arbor Day represents a national occasion to renew commitment to environmental protection, noting that the ministry will continue implementing high-quality afforestation projects that help address climate change impacts, improve quality of life, and promote environmental culture among citizens.
//Petra// AF
