Jordan, home to Petra and Jerash, is to promote eco-tourism by opening a new nature training centre for guides and rangers.

The centre will educate tour guides about the importance of eco-tourism and conservation, which can then be passed on to visitors on luxury Jordan holidays.

Climate change and large visitor numbers all impact on the historical monuments and the new rangers and guides will be able to explain the vast conservation work that goes into preserving them.

The decision to build the new training centre was made by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature and will open in 2012.

Rand Jammal, spokesperson for the organisation, told The Jordan Times that construction should be completed at the end of 2012 with the first intake of students commencing in 2012.

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