INTERVI EW
OFQ : Our future looks increasingly uncertain. Where can we find reasons for hope? QAM: Countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt are making significant investments in environmental restoration, biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation. Across the MENA region, there’s growing awareness of the need for action and increasing interest in technological and nature-based solutions. Also Jordan is making real progress in environmental restoration, biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation. At the same time, climate finance must be used more effectively because funding alone is not enough. Projects need careful planning, strong implementation and measurable outcomes. Too often there’s a gap between expectations and actual results. New technologies, including artificial intelligence, can help improve planning and analysis. Ultimately, the key is to combine sound science, local knowledge and practical implementation. Despite the challenges, I remain optimistic. Every project, whether it focuses on dust storms, floods, biodiversity or water scarcity, contributes to a greater understanding of the risks we face and the actions we can take. For me, that is where hope comes from: knowing that better information can lead to better decisions and, ultimately, stronger and safer communities over the longer term.
interventions should take place and which communities are most vulnerable.
land remains stable or improves. We worked with local communities, combining geospatial analysis with workshops and participatory mapping to understand historical changes and help verify the degraded status of the identified areas. OFQ : What role does biodiversity play in climate resilience? QAM: Biodiversity and climate change are deeply connected. Healthy ecosystems help communities adapt to climate risks, while climate change can place enormous pressure on ecosystems. In Jordan, efforts have been made to identify key biodiversity areas and expand protected lands. One objective is to increase the amount of territory under protection and improve conservation outcomes. Jordan may not possess the same level of biodiversity as some larger countries, but the ecosystems that do exist are extremely valuable. Forest cover is very limited, representing less than one percent of the country. That makes conservation and restoration all the more important. Monitoring allows us to identify changes over time and respond before irreversible losses occur. GIS plays an important role by helping conservationists track habitat conditions, monitor species distributions and identify priority areas for restoration.
OFQ : Do you also help develop adaptation solutions?
QAM: My primary role is not to design solutions but to provide the information needed to support them. However, I often find myself joining discussions about possible interventions. I’m particularly interested in nature-based solutions because they can address climate challenges while simultaneously supporting ecosystems. There are many misconceptions about what nature-based solutions actually involve. In the Middle East, people sometimes assume that the answer is simply to plant trees. But successful restoration requires much more. We need to ask what species are appropriate, whether they are native to the area, how they will obtain water and whether they are compatible with local ecosystems and community needs. The same principle applies to engineered solutions. In flood-prone areas, practitioners often use “gabions” – rock-filled wire structures – designed to slow water flow and reduce erosion. These can be effective, but only if properly designed and integrated into the wider landscape. Budget also matters. The most effective solution is not always the most expensive one. What matters most is finding a solution that fits the local environmental conditions and community needs. OFQ : How important is community engagement in climate adaptation? QAM: Local communities should be involved from the start of the decision- making process, as they often know important details that cannot be found in reports or databases. They understand how places have changed over time, where environmental degradation has occurred and what factors have contributed to those changes. I experienced this during projects in Jordan that focused on achieving national Land Degradation Neutrality targets, i.e. commitments to balance land degradation with restoration and sustainable land management, so the overall amount and quality of productive
Jordan’s biodiversity is heavily dependent on its limited forest cover
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