By Hana Namrouqa AMMAN – A farm in the Mujib Biosphere Reserve has started producing organic crops and herbs with the aim of providing a model that encourages water-efficient techniques and the use of chemical-free fertilisers in agriculture. Spread over 10 dunums, the model farm is cultivating medicinal herbs and vegetables, and is considered a […]

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By Marie Dhumieres BEIRUT: A forest fire prediction system aimed at providing authorities and the public with a tool to reduce forest fires was launched Thursday by an environmental organization and the American University of Beirut. “Once a fire breaks out, there is not much you can really do,” said Sawsan Bou Fakhredine, the director […]

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Outstanding Single Story First Place “In Middle East, Coalition Aims to Ease Tension Over Water Resources” by Fred de Sam Lazaro, Correspondent; Nicole See, Producer/Editor; Tom Adair, Videographer; and Patti Parson, Managing Producer; PBS Newshour. From the judges: Excellent and well-told story — in words and images — of water as yet another obstacle to […]

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By Taylor Luck AMMAN – The Kingdom is months away from announcing the winning bidder to construct the country’s first nuclear reactor as anti-nuclear activists vowed to step up their protest activities. Officials are expected to announce the name of the selected reactor vendor in November, according to Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Khaled […]

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By Marie Dhumieres BEIRUT: A plant only observed once in Lebanon over a century ago and considered an extinct species was recently rediscovered in the nature reserve of Jabal Moussa by a team of French botanists. “This is an important discovery because we thought that this species, which only existed in Lebanon, had disappeared,” said […]

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Finance Ministry says five plants will together supply 75% of country’s drinking water by 2013 Associated Press The Israeli Finance Ministry says it has granted a license for the country’s fifth desalination plant, to be built in the coastal city of Ashdod. The Mekorot water utility will build and operate the $423 million plant. It […]

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By Hana Namrouqa AMMAN – The Cabinet has approved the declaration of Kheyouf in Balqa Governorate as a special conservation area (SCA) due to its ecological significance and integration of nature protection with development. The Kheyouf area, which is part of Zarqa River’s lower watershed, located to the west of the King Talal Dam, was […]

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AMMAN (JT) – The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCA-Jordan) has released an invitation for pre-qualification for contractors to undertake water and wastewater networks projects in Zarqa Governorate. “The pre-qualification phase aims to identify competent companies capable of efficiently executing these projects according to the highest technical standards mandated by MCA-Jordan,” Chief Executive Officer Kamal Zoubi said […]

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August 09, 2011 12:17 AM By Brooke Anderson TYRE, Lebanon: Maher Abu al-Ainein says that 20 years ago life as a fisherman was good. Today, he says the depletion of marine life, as a result of pollution, bad fishing practices and no government control, is putting his livelihood at risk.“ Like my father and grandfather, […]

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By Hana Namrouqa AMMAN – The Water Authority of Jordan on Wednesday discovered an illegal water pipe diverting drinking water from the Kafrein Dam to several farms in the Jordan Valley. The illegal pipe was installed earlier this month and has been diverting the entire output of the Kafrein Dam Desalination Plant that is designated […]

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August 10, 2011 12:35 AM By Marie Dhumieres BEIRUT: Half-a-century ago, over one-third of Lebanon was covered with forests. Now, they cover just 13 percent. Located in a small forest in Ramlieh, a quiet town in Mount Lebanon, the Mediterranean Forest Development and Conservation Center of Lebanon has been fighting an uphill battle against forest […]

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Gustavson Associates, commissioned to perform quick survey appraisal for Energy, submits results pointing to a 50% prospect for some 270 million barrels in area between Netanya and Ashdod Mishel Udi, Calcalist The result analysis of a survey conducted in the Gabriella license area between Netanya and Ashdod raises the likelihood of finding oil, Calcalist has […]

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UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams says ‘neither of them are looking for a scrap on this… On the contrary they think they can de-conflict it’ Reuters Published: 08.10.11, 13:11 / Israel News Lebanese and Israeli leaders believe they can avoid conflict over their disputed maritime border despite rival claims to potentially gas-rich Mediterranean […]

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By EVA LEVIN/NO CAMELS 08/10/2011 17:15 Globe Light and Water Systems has developed a new standalone light fixture that relies solely on solar energy, rather than on gov’t-run power plants. Talkbacks (2) Eva Levin writes for No Camels. The giant structures line most of our major roads and have become an integral part of the […]

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It is not yet clear whether the document will apply to proposed solutions for one of the area’s biggest problems: the threat that Dead Sea Works’ evaporation pools will flood the hotels on the sea’s shoreline. By Zafrir Rinat After many delays, the National Planning and Building Council finally approved a policy for the Dead […]

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Ministry says only national effort can handle center’s needs. By Zafrir Rinat The Environmental Protection Ministry is working on a plan to construct a huge recycling plant that would handle a significant portion of central Israel’s municipal waste. The plan stems from the ministry’s conclusion that neither local authorities nor private investors are likely to […]

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By Hana Namrouqa AMMAN – The Ministry of Environment has finalised the country’s first digital eco-map, which shows that the central region generates 68 per cent of solid chemical waste in Jordan. The digital eco-map is a database that lists all chemical plants in the Kingdom to monitor industries’ compliance with environment and health safety […]

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By Hana Namrouqa AMMAN – Gazelles are believed to have become extinct in Jordan due to hunting and the destruction of their natural habitat, according to an ecologist. The Kingdom used to be home to different kinds of gazelles, but spotting one in the wild nowadays has become a rare occurrence, Ehab Eid, coordinator of […]

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New treatment plant hopes to end the deluge of sewage being pumped into the sea every day. For years Gaza’s sewage system has been close to collapse. Beaches along the Strip’s 40km of coast are heavily polluted by waste being pumped directly into the sea – 14,000 cubic metres of it per day. The people […]

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