Amman, 4 June 2006 - On the occasion of the World Environment Day and the International Year of Deserts and Desertification, Ministry of Environment in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme will officially launch tomorrow Monday, 5 June 2006, Jordan’s National Strategy and Action Plan to Combat Desertification.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2006 as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification with the view to raise public awareness of the issue and protect the biological diversity of deserts as well as the traditional knowledge of those communities affected by desertification.

Jordan’s launch of its strategy on this day comes also in line with the theme of this year’s World Environment Day “Don’t Desert Drylands”.

Financed by the Government of Jordan, UNDP Jordan Office and the Drylands Development Center (DDC) of UNDP, the Strategy and the Action Plan will help the country in implementing successfully the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. 

The Strategy has been prepared in a participatory and bottom-up approach in all stages.  The action plan will be integrated into the national development policies and thus contribute to efforts for eradication of poverty, improving the livelihood of affected communities, and achieving sustainable development. 

The event will include government officials, parliamentarians, environmentalists, representatives of the international community, the private sector, academia, NGOs and the media.