Amman, May 27 (Petra) – Ministry of Environment on Tuesday launched the “Preparation of the National Biodiversity Financing Strategy and the 7th National Report” project.

Implemented in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Jordan, the project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The inauguration was attended by HRH Princess Basma bint Ali, Chair of the National Biodiversity Committee.

Talking at the launching ceremony, Minister of Environment, Dr. Muawieh Radaideh, said Jordan is one of the “first” countries to begin protecting the environment and natural resources.

In this context, he said Jordan has signed numerous international environmental agreements, mainly the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which it ratified in 1993 to protect biodiversity and ensure the “sustainable” use of its components.

The project, he noted, was kicked off, in conjunction with the global celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity, which is celebrated on May 22 annually, as 2025 theme is: “Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development.”

Radaideh underlined the need to conserve nature and its resources to achieve sustainable development by working to change production and consumption behaviors, implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, and initiatives and projects that support livelihoods, ensure food security, and achieve sustainable development.

Noting biodiversity protection as a national priority, he said the ministry is working to align national environmental goals and plans with this global framework and seeks to mobilize the necessary financial resources for nature conservation within “innovative” financing tools and “effective” partnerships.

The project aims to assess the current spending situation in all relevant sectors and identify funding needs for implementing the National Biodiversity Strategy, which would develop the national financing strategy and its implementation plans, he pointed out.

For her part, UNDP Resident Representative in Jordan, Randa Abu Hassan, said the project’s role “goes beyond financial planning, but rather opens up broader horizons for public-private partnerships.”

Jordan, she noted, possesses a “rich” natural heritage as its sustainability requires “innovative” financing tools and smart investments, embodied by UNDP’s partnership with Ministry of Environment.

According to a ministry statement, a national consultative workshop was held on the sidelines of the event with representatives from relevant participating partner agencies to tackle mechanisms for developing a financing strategy.

The project, which runs until 2027, falls within the framework of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), a global program launched by UNDP and the European Commission to support countries in strengthening financial management of biodiversity and bridging the financing gap in ecosystem conservation, she indicated.

The project, which aligns with UNDP’s message that equitable financing, responsive to current needs, is critical to achieving sustainable development, protecting biodiversity, and enhancing ecosystems.
//Petra// AG
27/05/2025 18:30:40