News

Aqaba , 20 October 2010 –In Aqaba, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) has funded a project for “Glassboat Marine Pollution Reduction: Boat Renovation And Maintenance Centre”. This project aims to reduce the marine pollution and marine habitat destruction on the coasts of Aqaba through the renovation and upgrading of the current functioning glass boats. The project of 50,000 USD has facilitated the renovation of 80 glass boats and helped mobilize an extra 500,000 USD and secure the required land to establish this maintenance centre. Contributing agencies include Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, Jordan River Foundation (Qudurat), Aqaba Development Company, USAID (Siyaha II) and The Royal Marine Conservation Society of Jordan (JREDS).

The maintenance centre was inaugurated under the patronage of HE Mr Mohammad Saker, Chief Commissioner of Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority , in the presence of the Resident Representative of the UNDP, Mr Luc Stevens and the National Coordinator of SGP, Mr Munir Al Adgham, on Wednesday the 20th of October 2010.

The UNDP Resident Representative expressed his appreciation for the launch of this maintenance centre which aims to reduce marine pollution in Aqaba.- , Mr. Stevens moreover expressed the importance of Aqaba to the SGP, due to its unique location, marine biodiversity and its short shoreline.

In Aqaba the SGP has funded a total of 10 projects dating back to 1995 and provided grants to different partners, like The Red Crescent Social Centre, the Jordanian Marine Scouts, the Princess Basma Community Development Centre, the only known marine conservation society in Jordan (the Royal Marine Conservation Society in Jordan – JREDS) and finally the Glass boat sector. These projects mainly work on conserving the marine biodiversity of Aqaba, capacity building and sustainable environmental practices.

This project contributes to a national effort that will organize and improve the performance and efficiency of the glass boats, and minimize land based pollution. Consequently it will encourage others to adopt environmentally friendly practices and further increase the levels of income generated by glass boat owners.