Amman:The Environment and Climate Committee of the Lower House of Representatives, led by MP Jihad Abawi, convened on Tuesday to examine the actions taken by the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) concerning the removal of trees from sidewalks and its subsequent environmental and urban effects.
According to Jordan News Agency, the meeting included participation from key figures such as Minister of Agriculture Saeb Khreisat, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Environment Omar Arabiyat, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Local Administration Mohammad Al-Amoush, and GAM Committee Chairman Ahmad Al-Malkawi.
MP Abawi highlighted the committee's vigilant oversight of the measures implemented by the authorities, focusing on identifying gaps and their impact on Amman's environmental and urban identity. The committee has proposed recommendations to harmonize safety and public services with the conservation of vegetation. These include creating a national guide for urban afforestation, conducting technical assessments prior to tree removals, favoring pruning over removal, establishing environmental compensation rules, and maintaining a database for urban trees, especially ancient and native species.
The attending lawmakers stressed the importance of maintaining tree cover while ensuring pedestrian and traffic safety. Minister Khreisat mentioned the Ministry of Agriculture's efforts in planting approximately 4 million trees, as part of a larger project to plant 10 million trees, to enhance green spaces nationwide.
GAM Committee Chairman Al-Malkawi clarified that sidewalks are integral to public roads and that municipal teams remove obstacles to facilitate pedestrian movement. He stated that trees should not be planted on sidewalks narrower than two meters. Al-Malkawi also noted that GAM uses engineering standards for sidewalk designs and that municipal teams have conducted a comprehensive survey, leading to the removal of around 60 trees. Furthermore, GAM is actively planting about 125,000 climate-resilient trees across Amman in collaboration with relevant ministries and institutions.
Omar Arabiyat from the Ministry of Environment emphasized the ongoing collaboration with GAM to protect the capital's environment and urban landscape. He warned against unregulated tree planting by individuals, which can harm the environment and public health by attracting pests.
Mohammad Al-Amoush from the Ministry of Local Administration highlighted the regulations governing sidewalk tree planting, which consider local conditions, pedestrian needs, and public safety to balance green expansion with ease of movement.
Omar Al-Shoshan, president of the Jordan Environmental Union, underscored the significance of establishing a greenbelt around Amman with native plant species. This greenbelt could help control urban sprawl, improve air quality, mitigate heat island effects, enhance biodiversity, and increase resilience to climate change.