Desert Bloom CC in cooperation with Disi Women’s Cooperative and Seeds of Peace (URI CCs) hosted the PeakED Living Lab in Jordan as part of the “Environmental Involvement and Education for Young Entrepreneurs and Volunteers Project (PeakED)”. The lab explored the environmental and cultural heritage of mountain regions.
The lab commenced in Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where participants examined the Nabataean civilization’s rock-cut architecture and water management systems. Petra is nestled within a basin surrounded by steep sandstone cliffs and mountains providing a significant defensive advantage to its inhabitants. Experts highlighted conservation challenges like erosion and climate change, emphasizing the necessity of sustainable preservation efforts.
On the second day, the group ascended Jebel Umm ad Dami (1,854m), Jordan’s highest mountain, exploring Wadi Rum’s desert ecosystem. Along their ascent, they observed resilient flora, desert wildlife, and the ancient Nabataean dam. At the summit, panoramic views underscored the region’s geological and environmental significance.
Local Bedouins shared their profound connection to the mountains, portraying them as protectors and storytellers. “The mountains offer us shade, guidance, and a link to our ancestors,” noted a Bedouin elder from Al Sultana Camp.
The third and fourth days highlighted Bedouin women’s environmental and cultural initiatives, led by the Disi Women’s Cooperative Association in Wadi Rum. The cooperative champions economic empowerment, traditional crafts, and environmental restoration. Participants joined local women in planting endangered native trees, including Ghadha and wormwood, to combat desertification.
Discussions with Bedouin women illuminated the vital role mountains play in their daily lives, from water resources to medicinal plants. “Each mountain carries a story, and each plant has a purpose,” a cooperative member explained.
The PeakED Living Lab emphasized the importance of integrating local knowledge into global sustainability efforts.
The PeakED project is an EU-funded initiative coordinated by Innovation Hive, Greece, in collaboration with project partners: Development organisation of local authorities of the perfecture of Larissa S.A (Greece), Balkan Bridge EOOD (Bulgaria), WELL GROW (Greece), DANMAR COMPUTERS SP ZOO (Poland), and Desert Bloom (Jordan).
