Aqaba, Aug. 24 (Petra) -- The Jordan Society for the Conservation of Turtles and Tortoises (JSCT) took part in the world’s largest annual conference dedicated to tortoises and freshwater turtles, held recently in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and organized by the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA).

JSCT President Abeer Bilbeisi presented a scientific paper before international experts, scientists, and conservation activists, outlining the turtle species found in Jordan and the main threats to their survival in natural habitats.

She highlighted Bride’s Pool in northern Jordan as the country’s only natural habitat for the Eastern Spotted-Necked Turtle, warning of the dangers posed by drought and water scarcity to the species’ continuity.

Bilbeisi stressed that the JSCT continues to actively engage internationally through invitations from specialized organizations, bolstering Jordan’s standing on the global map of biodiversity conservation. She urged the international community to assume its responsibilities in protecting natural habitats and preventing the disappearance of ecosystems that support endangered species.

Marc Dupuis-Desormeaux, president of TSA, noted that the organization’s 23rd annual symposium brought together 315 experts and researchers from 15 countries, featuring wide-ranging knowledge exchange on the latest techniques and conservation efforts for tortoises and freshwater turtles.

On the sidelines of the conference, Bilbeisi joined a field visit to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, where she participated with other international scientists in releasing juvenile loggerhead turtles into the Atlantic Ocean a symbolic initiative underscoring the importance of international cooperation in protecting endangered species.

//Petra// AO

24/08/2025 16:08:33