- Title: Environment group plants trees to help Jordan's farming sector
- Date: 13th March 2017
- Summary: BAYUDA, BALQAA, JORDAN (MARCH 10, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS UNLOADING TREE SAPLINGS FROM A TRUCK VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS PASSING THE TREES DOWN TO EACH OTHER DIRECTOR OF THE ARAB GROUP FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATURE, RAMI BARHOUSH, PASSING TREES ALONG (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF THE ARAB GROUP FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATURE, RAMI BARHOUSH, SAYING: "The goal of the campaign is in line with the objectives of the association, which promotes the sustainability of the Arab people, especially in our country, and to ensure food security. These villages must be able to combat poverty, combat hunger, and combat the lack of resources in light of the difficult circumstances the country is going through. Each household should have enough fruits and vegetables to sustain them through the rigours of life." VARIOUS OF BARHOUSH CARRYING AND PASSING ALONG TREES MAN CARRYING TWO TREE SAPLINGS / PEOPLE PLACING TREES ONTO TRACTOR PEOPLE PLACING TREES ON THE TRACTOR TRACTOR DRIVING AWAY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF THE ARAB GROUP FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATURE, RAMI BARHOUSH, SAYING: "We have always had a positive response and effective interaction from the locals in the villages we go to. However the challenges lie in finding water tanks for irrigation, or setting up irrigation systems. There are also challenges in preventing shepherds or sheep from reaching the trees, so issues that are connected to the local community." VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS UNLOADING TREES FROM THE TRACTOR VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS PLACING TREES AND SHRUBS ON THE GROUND TREES AND SHRUBS TO BE PLANTED AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER AND VOLUNTEER WITH THE GROUP, ANEESA NEEMAT, SPEAKING TO OTHER VOLUNTEERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER AND VOLUNTEER WITH THE GROUP, ANEESA NEEMAT, SAYING: "The initiative provides food for the household. Families can also sell or manufacture the surplus, thereby economically benefiting them. In addition to this, we are reinforcing the social role of the agricultural sector. Many people have strayed away from this sector in recent years, so we are trying to return families to their farming roots." VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS PREPARING TO PLANT TREES VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEER DIGGING THE GROUND VARIOUS OF A VOLUNTEER CARRYING A TREE SAPLING TOWARDS PLANTING SITE VOLUNTEER REMOVING TREE SAPLING FROM ITS CONTAINER VOLUNTEER PLACING THE TREE INTO THE GROUND VARIOUS OF A VOLUNTEER DIGGING INTO THE GROUND VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS AT WORK VOLUNTEERS GATHERED IN A SCHOOL IN THE AREA OF BAYUDA, IN BALQAA GOVERNORATE SIGN THAT READS (Arabic): BAYUDA, 7 NEIGHBOURHOODS, 426 HOMES, 4,676 TREES
- Embargoed: 27th March 2017 12:07
- Keywords: agriculture Jordan farming trees
- Location: BAYUDA, BALQAA, JORDAN
- City: BAYUDA, BALQAA, JORDAN
- Country: Jordan
- Topics: Environment,Nature/Wildlife
- Reuters ID: LVA00167SJLN9
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:A group of young volunteers are working to turn Jordan into a green oasis by planting trees in homes and farms around the country.
The volunteers are members of the 'Arab Group for the Protection of Nature'.
Founded in 2003, the group aims to protect the environment and the natural resources of Arab countries against hazards including deforestation and conflicts in the region.
Their latest target was the village of Bayuda, some 35 km northwest of Amman, where they planted 6,200 trees in 500 homes, overshooting their initial goal of 4,000 trees.
Director of the group, Rami Barhoush, said one of the association's main aims is to provide villages with tools that enable them to combat hunger and poverty.
"The goal of the campaign is in line with the objectives of the association, which promotes the sustainability of the Arab people, especially in our country, and to ensure food security. These villages must be able to combat poverty, combat hunger, and combat the lack of resources in light of the difficult circumstances the country is going through. Each household should have enough fruits and vegetables to sustain them through the rigours of life," he said.
But the major obstacle they face is water supply.
"The challenges lie in finding water tanks for irrigation, or setting up irrigation systems. There are also challenges in preventing shepherds or sheep from reaching the trees, so issues that are connected to the local community," said Barhoush.
Dozens of volunteers and locals of all ages took part in the campaign.
One participant, agricultural engineer Aneesa Neemat, said the movement will have social as well as economic benefits.
"The initiative provides food for the household. Families can also sell or manufacture the surplus, thereby economically benefiting them. In addition to this, we are reinforcing the social role of the agricultural sector. Many people have strayed away from this sector in recent years, so we are trying to return families to their farming roots," she said.
The organisation says they have planted over 2.2 million trees and benefited 23 thousand farmers in Jordan and Palestine since its founding. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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