Preserving Natural Habitat & Preserve Nature and Herritage

Extra: Evokation 2:

Preface: The Phoenician Juniper is an ancient tree, can live up to 2000 years, or so the natives told me. It never can have termites. It’s like a red ceder tree, goes with the red city and the pink birds. It was the food in winter for the natives, kept them from winter ailments, as they ate its fruit and used it leaves, twigs and wood. It is an antiseptic, treats kidneys, arthritis, & even ch***ra, typoid..etc.The men burnt its twigs for perfumes and aromatherapy. It was said gin and wine were made from its wood – hence the name genevrier. This tree was made to be free and under the sun, it likes to be alone – in open areas, and needs clean air , or die...it has therefore become increasingly rare.

The locals are fighting to find funding to restore this tree, and the hovering pink birds above, against the rose-red stones horizon and display this to tourists within the Unesco-heritage protected terrain.

Another ancient miracle portrayed itself in the form of an old mill run by water. it needs renovation to display the ancients skills in harnessing natural resources for energy.

My second socio-economic idea is: to save near-extinct plants in the southern desert and valleys, and all the bio-diversity that is associated with preserving the nature habitat near the rose-red stone-carved historical city of Petra, with its unique rose robin-like birds and bio-nieches.

Petra one of the world’s wonders covers 250,000 donums, is rich in fona and flora, plants diversity, that is dwindling. Many rare plants and shrubs are dying, such as: the Black Iris, the Phoenician juniper, Kharroub, etc. (I don’t know all the names in English).

What is needed is to spread awareness, help the plants to grow and multiply, train reservation staff to deal and preserve these plants, make studies as to reasons and dangers facing them, encourage hotels and communities to plant these plants, with their landscaped projects. The project can be done by fencing 3 areas of about 50 dunums (smaller than a hectare) within petra heritage area, grow them in nurseries and spread them in Wadi Mousa city, while involving local communities, and spreading awareness. The project should have impact on the tourism and preserving on of natures unique areas

This project also embeds a demo of renewable energy, by restoring old mills that is more than 90 years old and work by water – dating back to the ottoman empire, this will also boost the history and tourism of the south. It will also employ locals and become a model for students studying alternative energy. Another project I stopped short in helping due to funds was Wadi Araba’s bee-hives project, costing $ 5,000 per hive, for 30 hives, would sustain the locals of Wadi Araba – a natural place for bees.