Towards low carbon footprint from ecotourism activities and management effectiveness of Aqaba marine protected area in Jordan

A wide array of activities, harbour, transport, industrial, construction, tourism and resident, have been developing at an incredibly rapid pace along a very restricted area of coastline of 27 km and in an area of 350 km. The coral reefs of Aqaba, restricted to about 7 km of shoreline, designated as a marine protected area covering only 2.8 km? (280 ha) have been hemmed in by these developments and, on busy weekends and holidays, protected area staff can be overwhelmed by large numbers of visitors, divers, snorkelers, swimmers, glass-bottom boats, sport fishermen, etc.

By Royal Decree by H.M King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein on 8th December 2020, the property was included in the Jordan National Protected Areas Network as a Marine Reserve. The young institution and its partners developed the 5-year Aqaba Marine Reserve Management Plan, to be implemented over the time period 2022-2026 (AMRMP). In the light of the rapid developments in the area and the substantial direct pressures within its borders, the institution faces considerable challenges.

This project aims to, on the one hand, contribute to strengthen the capacity of the institution to face these challenges and, on the other hand, serve as a pilot project for the greening of the transport systems in Aqaba and raise awareness on the need for, and the benefits of, a reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions globally, nationally and locally. The project will prepare and layout the foundation for an efficient and well-managed marine protected area, including the definition of an appropriate IUCN management category, a well designed buffer zone, a well designed and applicable zoning plan, in addition to operational programmes that have that IUCN Green List Standard mainstreamed as a long term objective, and will eventually support the long term vision for the marine reserve as a potential Natural World Heritage Site.