April 25, 2016 – The Ford Motor Company Conservation and Environmental Grants programme today announced 18 recipients who will share US$100,000 to support their ongoing projects aimed at protecting the environment utilising various innovative methods.
The Grants programme, which helps grassroots level projects dedicated to environmental causes, announced winners from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. For the first-time in the initiative’s history, the Ford Grants was extended to Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco in 2015.
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From Lebanon, the Ford Grants initiative awarded a total of US$12,500 for natural environment conservation and environmental engineering. The Green Hand Organisation (GHO) submitted its project called Green Hand Botanical Garden (GHBG) – Iris Sofarana Conservation Garden. It is the first botanic garden in Lebanon involved in conserving floral diversity both in its natural habitat and species transplanted into another suitable environment to proliferate and propagate. In particular, the project aims to conserve endangered floral bulb species including Iris sofarana – an endemic plant found only in Lebanon. GHO intends to raise awareness through interactive workshops among students, environmental NGOs, private sector and municipalities. With the grants received, GHO will use the US$7,500 fund awarded by Ford Grants to cover costs of identification and collection of species, equipment and tools and training.
The Development for People and Nature Association (DPNA)’s project called My Environment, My Home aims to educate the public on the importance of waste sorting at source. The project is being implemented at Ein Zaarour summer camp in Jezzine wherein waste bins, plastic shredders, waste compactor and compost bins will be provided. DPNA will use the US$5,000 Ford Grants to help purchase sorting waste bins, compost bins, hydraulic baler press, plastic shredder and protective umbrella.
“For the past 15 years, the Ford Motor Company Conservation and Environmental Grants have actively supported various grass-roots level environmental projects in the region. It is our hope that through this programme, we have helped make a difference in the communities where we serve our customers,” said Jim Benintende, president, Ford Middle East & Africa. “We commend the selfless efforts of all Ford Grants recipients and their continued commitment in conserving their local environment,” and are pleased to see that the majority of the 2015 winners have dedicated their work in awareness projects to educate their communities about the importance of conservation.”
The recipients of the 2015 Ford Motor Company Conservation & Environmental Grants are:
OMAN
Biosphere Expeditions: Capacity building in civil society in marine conservation in the Sultanate of Oman. Award: US$7,000
SAUDI ARABIA
-Abdulaziz Alagaili, Zoology Department, King Saud University: Can you help me find a place to hide? Alternative roosting sites for insectivorous bats in Saudi Arabia. Award: US$10,000
-Ghada Al Bakr: Part 1: Ammar in the deep sea / Part 2 Wild Animals in KSA – Learn and Colour / Part 3: Play with the environment. Award: US$5,000
LEBANON
-Green Hand Organisation (GHO): Green Hand Botanical Garden (GHBG) – Iris Sofarana Conservation Garden. Award: US$7,500
-Development for People and Nature Association (DPNA): My Environment, My Home. Award: US$5,000
JORDAN
-The Children’s Museum Jordan: Development of a new biodiversity exhibition at the Children’s Museum. Award: US$10,000
-Hikaya Center for Civil Society Development: Radio Al Najah – Generation for the environment. Award: US$5,000
-Hanan Qundil: Payback – Rad Al Jameel. Award: US$10,000
EGYPT
-Khalid Ghanem: Asila. Award: US$5,000
-Marwa Halmy: Gardening using endangered species as a means to preserve species. Award: US$2,500
-Usama Fatthalla A. Mohammed: Conservation of globally endangered dragon tree and capacity building of rangers in Elba mountain park. Award: US$5,000
TUNISIA
-DiversEarth: Marabout: Environmental conservation vectors in North Africa “Sacred Sites of Conservation”. Award: US$3,000
-Taoufik Bettaieb: Phytoremediation of soil contaminated by heavy metals using industrial plants. Award US$2,500
ALGERIA
-Djnoui Nasraoui: Feqara Irrigation System. Award: US$7,000
-Bentaiba Abderrahmane: Warda. Award: US$2,500
MOROCCO
-The Moroccan Association of Microbial Biotechnology and Protection of Natural Resources: Contribution to environmental preservation and to improve living and hygienic conditions in southern oases of Morocco. Award US$5,000
-Abdelaziz Benyahia: Preservation of Argan Trees. Award US$4,000
-L’Association des Enseignants des Sciences de la Vie et de la Terre (AESVT): Exp’Eau (Exhibition and education on water protection). Award US$4,000