Amman- 20 September, 2015
A memorandum of understanding between the Center for the Study of Natural and Cultural Heritage at GJU and the Petra Development Tourism Regional Authority (PDTRA) has been signed as a base for future cooperation in the study of the hydrology of Petra and the mitigation of floods there.
CSNACH is currently conducting a project to study the effect of ancient terracing practices on the hydrology of Petra. Because the implications of this work have profound implications on understanding how the Nabateans harvested water and controlled floods, the PDTRA is interested in learning if the ancient practices can be revitalized, and to what impact.
Thus, this MoU will allow access of CSNACH to the relevant data at PDTRA, and will ensure their logistical support as well as their support in the dissemination of the results. In turn, CSNACH will make their results available to the PDTRA and will help to formulate a hydrological management and flood mitigation plan that will build on the indigenous technology of the Nabatean civilization.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Emad Hijazeen, the deputy head of PDTRA and commissioner for the Petra Archeological Park and Tourism and by Professor Nizar Abu-Jaber, the director of CSNACH on behalf of GJU.