"Enhancing Efforts for Water Accounting, Rainwater Harvesting, and Arab Coffee Production to Combat Climate Change"
Professor Dr. Khaldoun Al-Qudah participated in the Arab Water and Food Forum, held in Amman on November 24-25, 2025, under the title "Enhancing Efforts for Water Accounting, Rainwater Harvesting, and Arab Coffee Production to Combat Climate Change." The event was organized by the Arab Organization for Education, Culture, and Science (ALECSO) in collaboration with the Hashemite Fund for the Development of the Jordanian Badia. Experts and specialists in water, agriculture, and sustainable development from various Arab countries, along with participants from the United States, attended the forum.
The scientific papers presented at the forum covered a range of topics related to sustainable water management, with a focus on the concept of "water accounting." This approach involves a systematic and quantitative assessment of water supply, demand, and usage. The goal is to improve water efficiency in Arab countries, aligning with sustainable development strategies and addressing the challenges posed by climate change.
In his participation, Dr. Al-Qudah presented a case study titled "The Potential for Developing Rainwater Harvesting Techniques in Arid Regions." During his presentation, he highlighted the innovative historical methods employed by the Nabataeans in Petra for rainwater harvesting. Dr. Al-Qudah elaborated on how the Nabataeans developed a complex system to collect and store rainwater, which included building dams, reservoirs, and wells, as well as creating terraced farming systems to protect the city from floods and soil erosion.
According to Dr. Al-Qudah, these ancient engineering techniques offer sustainable solutions that can be adapted to modern challenges, particularly in arid regions facing water scarcity. He emphasized the importance of studying these ancient systems to draw lessons that can improve current water resource management and help mitigate the effects of climate change.
