Aqaba, Sep. 15 (Petra) – The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Jordan and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Regional Office for West Asia signed a cooperation agreement with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) to advance marine ecosystem conservation under the "Resilient Coral Reefs in the Gulf of Aqaba" program.

The agreement forms part of a six-year (2024–2030) initiative implemented by the UNDP in cooperation with the ASEZA. The program seeks to conserve coral reef ecosystems, strengthen scientific research, build local community capacity, and develop innovative financing mechanisms to promote a sustainable blue economy in Jordan.

The ASEZA Commissioner for Environment and Public Safety, Nidal Oran, said the agreement reflects Royal efforts to advance scientific research, protect the marine environment, and develop a blue economy through the Aqaba Sea and Ocean Center, which serves as a key hub for coral reef protection and natural heritage preservation in partnership with local communities.

He noted that the agreement will deliver environmental, social, and economic assessments to update the ASEZA’s core coral reef database. It will also produce policy papers and economic studies highlighting the reefs’ role in fisheries, tourism, coastal protection, and carbon sequestration, helping attract new environmentally focused investments.

The UNDP Resident Representative in Jordan, Randa Aboul-Hosn, underlined the program’s role in protecting biodiversity, empowering communities, and supporting sustainable financing for the Gulf of Aqaba. She added that the initiative aligns with Jordan’s
commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and other national and international climate and marine protection frameworks.

Regional Director of the IUCN Regional Office for West Asia, Hany Shaer, said the agreement follows the inclusion of the Aqaba Marine Reserve on the IUCN Green List of Protected Areas and represents the culmination of years of integrated work at the policy level to strengthen governance and improve management effectiveness.

//Petra// AJ

15/09/2025 22:06:38