Local community cleans up Ajloun nature trail

 Ajloun– Youth from the Ajloun area gathered along the Ajloun Nature Trail this week to learn about the economic value of the trail to the community and to clean it up. As they work on the trail, the youth will also learn why it is important to keep it clean. The cleaning campaign is taking place today and tomorrow, with the young Jordanians and local community members living along the trail working together to pick up litter over a 5km area. The campaign was organized by the USAID Jordan Tourism Development Project and Jordan Youth Commission (JYC) in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Ajloun Tourism Directorate, the Royal Society for Conservation of Nature (RSCN), Municipalities of Oyoun and Ajloun, Ajloun Governorate, Oyoun District, Ajloun Environment Directorate, the police department, the Royal Department for Environment Protection ‏and the civil defense. 

"As tourism in Ajloun depends on nature, it also relies on the people who maintain it," said H.E. Ali Al Azzam, Ajloun Governor. "We hope to see more of such initiatives taking place in the future," he added.

“In Ajloun we have been working closely with the local community to create memorable tourism experiences via the Ajloun Nature Trail, and a key element of these efforts is to ensure sustainable tourism so that benefits can continue into the future,” explained Mr. Ibrahim Osta, USAID Jordan Tourism Development Project Chief of Party. He added, “Today’s clean-up is an important learning experience for the community about the importance of this natural resource to them and the need for them to make sure it is well-maintained and kept clean so that others can enjoy and appreciate the beauty of the area’s nature and spectacular landscapes.”

“Our participation today aims to direct development efforts towards the Jordanian tourism sector and to preserve the forest and natural environment in our governorate and this will in turn help boost the Jordanian economy,” said Mr. Belal Smadi, JYC Coordinator in Ajloun. “This is part of JYC’s mission to encourage volunteer work and community service among Jordanian youth,” he added. He also thanked MoTA and the USAID tourism project for their support of this initiative.   

More than 100 young volunteers from the Ajloun area took part in the clean-up. The area covered starting from Eshtafena Park all the way down to the forest area of the Roman Park. It also included areas around tourism services along the trail, including the Rasoun Eco-Camp, the Calligraphy House, the Biscuit House and the Soap House, as well as 20 other tourism service providers supported by the USAID tourism project as part of the Ajloun Nature Trail development project. 

In this pilot initiative, volunteer youth will learn about the importance of protecting the environment for tourism and also experienced best practices in recycling waste materials collected from the trail. Volunteers will also take the opportunity to engage with local communities to share messages on how tourism can enrich their lives.

Basem Bani Murtada, a volunteer commented, “Keeping tourist sites clean is a patriotic duty and our participation is part of JYC tourism and environment activities in Ajloun.”

Prior to the clean-up, volunteers who took part attended a one-day orientation training to introduce them to the trail, provide clean-up tips and instructions and brief them about team work and planning. Today’s activities began with first aid and safety training by the Civil Defense Directorate, after which the clean-up began.

The 25-kilometer Ajloun Nature Trail trail passes through three villages within the Ajloun Governorate: Rasoun, Orjan and Ba’oun. The trail offers both natural and historical attractions, and also includes the Ajloun forest reserve, which contributes to the preservation of biodiversity in the region. The trail concludes at the impressive Ajloun Castle  .