JITOA launches "Don't Mess with Nature" initiative

The initiative is organized to call for cleanup campaigns in touristic sites.

The first cleanup campaign in the initiative took place at the Zara/Dead Sea, hot springs area on Thursday, August 14, 2009. This kick off event is a preliminary action to build the capacity of the initiative and build a volunteer network while raising awareness and changing behavior among Jordanians to embrace an anti-litter culture.

The success of this campaign depends on active and ongoing public and private-sector partnerships in many parts of the Kingdom. The campaign was held in association with leading environmental and governmental bodies namely Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Municipalities, Development Zones Commission, Greater Amman Municipality, Rangers and Tourist Police, Jordan Environment Society, Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, local municipalities of Sweimeh and Al Shouneh.

This initiative involves a long term strategic plan to eliminate the trash visitors observe at and between touristic sites.

A key component of the plan is to change the culture to an anti littering mindset, working to change the behavior of Jordanians through environmental awareness campaigns supported by the media and the educational system.

More than 200 volunteers from different parts of the kingdom participated to clean up this particular area which were inspected and found to be one of the worst public touristic areas that is dreadfully suffering from piles of litter.

This Campaign does not only focus on cleaning the area from trash, but also raising awareness about the problem of trash that picnickers cause to the areas they love to visit, and also aims at activating the partnership of all sectors of the community to call for conserving nature and raise community awareness of environmental issues and to respect and value nature.

At the end of the campaign a draw was held on a number of prizes as an incentive and appreciation to all participants and volunteers for their valuable job. Sponsors of the campaign are ; King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center (KHBTCC), Kempinski Hotel I Ishtar, Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa, Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea, Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea, Grand Hyatt Amman Hotel, Development Zones Commission (DZC), Jordan Express Tourist Transportation Co. (JETT), Petra Moon Travel Services, United Travel Agency (UTA), Karma House Travel & Tourism, Discovery Travel & Eco Tourism, Petra Moon Tourism Services, Pro4 Total Events Solutions, Coca Cola, Nestlé Waters and The Media Partner Radio Amen FM and Al Ghad Newspaper.

On the other hand, this initiative is prepared to help local communities produce eco friendly products and handicrafts made from recycled material which will also create new job opportunities for them.

The committee that represents the partners of this initiative agreed on organizing other campaigns at two other pilot areas; Petra Archaeological Park and Dibbin Nature Reserve.