The Earth Charter Celebration was organized by the Jordan Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD) and Earth Charter global initiative in partnership and funding of Ministry of Environment and IUCN ROWA and in cooperation with Talal Abu Ghazaleh Group.

The translation and production of those books is part of the Zarqa River Restoration Project implemented by Ministry of Environment and IUCN ROWA and funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). IUCN chose the Earth Charter celebration to launch those publications due to the relevance of the ecosystem management with Earth Charter’s principles. During the translation process, IUCN and the Ministry undertook a series of learning sessions with relevant stakeholders in Jordan from governmental and non-governmental organizations to agree on the technical terminologies in a participatory manner.

“We, like other world countries, suffer from the degradation of the ecosystem due to undisciplined human influences, the global financial crisis is an example of how environmental destruction cannot be compensated for with money, reflecting the need to apply the principles of this international document,” said HRH Princess Basma Bint Talal during the opening ceremony of the Earth Charter Celebration.

“Sometimes people complain that a healthy environment is a luxury – that we can’t afford to ‘protect and restore the integrity of the Earth’s ecological systems’ as the Earth Charter calls for. But how can the ecological integrity of the Earth be a luxury of it sustains our well-being? What we have to do is strive to make the idealistic practical,” said Mark Smith Head of the IUCN Water Programme and Coordinator of the IUCN Water and Nature Initiative (WANI). “Today, IUCN is very honored to launch the Arabic editions of three IUCN books: Flow, Pay and The Ecosystem Approach. These books are based on our experience and lessons learned from others on what works in practice, on how the idealistic can also be practical.” Added Smith.

“Earth Charter is no longer a mere declaration of principles and intentions, but an ethical reference for development and international cooperation. The Kingdom has exerted leading efforts to support the MENA Earth Charter since its inception 10 years ago,” said HE Faris Al Juneidi, Ministry of Environment Secretary General.

“The world today stands at a critical moment in which human beings should determine their role in preserving ecosystems. People should know that protecting the environment is not a luxury that the world cannot afford, but if we do not sustain our nature we cannot sustain ourselves,” said Peter Blaze Corcoran, Earth Charter Initiative Representative.

It is worth mentioning that the original English versions of Flow and Pay were published by IUCN global Water and Nature Initiative (WANI), whereas the original Ecosystem Approach was published by IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM). This scientific documentation emphasizes IUCN’s long experience in integrated water resource and ecosystem management, especially in light of the global challenges of water, food, energy and climate change. Apparently, the protection and sustainability of ecosystems in rivers, forests and natural resources has become one of the effective ways to combat climate change and contribute to poverty alleviation and providing populations with food and energy sources.

This celebration aims at raising the awareness about the Earth Charter Initiative "ECI" with a special focus on sustainability and education in the region, share experiences and methodologies about how to apply the Earth Charter in different fields related to sustainability and education and forge regional collaboration through the establishment of a Regional Network.

A number of key regional experts have participated in this event to showcase their success stories and experiences in implementing the Earth Charter principles in the region. The main principles of Earth Charter are; respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, social and economic justice and democracy nonviolence and peace.

Media team:

Rania Faouri, Communications Officer, IUCN Regional Office for West Asia
Mobile +962 777888522, e-mail rania.faouri@iucn.org Website: www.iucn.org/westasia  

Reema Al Hindi, Ministry of Environment Mobile: +962796903118 reema325i@yahoo.com
Website: www.moenv.gov.jo