Doha, July 19 (QNA) - A delegation from the Quranic Botanic Garden (QBG), a member of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), concluded a scientific visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, where it met with representatives from three leading regional institutions specializing in plant biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration to exchange expertise and establish partnerships that support plant conservation efforts and preserve the shared Arab botanical heritage.

The visit began with a tour of the Royal Botanic Garden Jordan (RBG), one of the region's leading institutions for the conservation of wild plants within and beyond their natural habitats. The delegation learned about the Garden's integrated approach to documenting its living collections, conserving seeds and threatened species, and propagating them in specialized nurseries to support ecosystem restoration. The QBG and RBG also exchanged botanical specimens, including herbarium and seeds of endangered species.

The delegation also conducted a field visit to Wadi Association for Sustainable Ecosystems Development, where they toured advanced nurseries dedicated to propagating native wild plant species in Al-Salt. Discussions focused on rehabilitating degraded natural sites and restoring vegetation cover through collaboration with local communities and relevant agricultural authorities in Jordan.

At the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Regional Office for West Asia (IUCN ROWA), the team explored the organization’s work across West Asia, particularly its programs and activities in Qatar. They also highlighted opportunities to enhance cooperation in dryland conservation, prepare Red Lists for threatened species, and organize restoration initiatives under the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

Commenting on the visit, Director of QBG Fatima Saleh Al Khulaifi stated: "We were delighted to learn from the pioneering experiences of the Royal Botanic Garden Jordan, Wadi Association, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature in plant conservation and ecosystem restoration."

"This visit is part of our efforts to fulfill the Memorandum of Understanding with the Royal Botanic Garden of Jordan and translate our partnership into practical initiatives that support the development of effective approaches to conserving plant biodiversity," she added. (QNA)