The investigation “Green Too Can be deadly: Honey Mesquite Tree” by journalists Salam Freihat and Mamdouh Al-Hanahna, fellows of the 100 Watt project by ARIJ, won first place in the best reporting on climate change and the environment category at Qarib Journalism Awards 2023.

The investigation documents the story of the “Honey Mesquite Tree”, which is among the ten worst species that are alien to the ecosystem of Jordan, despite those trees’ overwhelming spread in the southern and northern parts of the Jordan Valley, where they have negatively impacted people’s lives, farmers and their water security.

Salam and Mamdouh expressed their gratitude after winning the award because the competition was fierce with nearly 100 reports and investigations from four Arab countries (Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq). For them, it is an incentive to continue their professional journalistic work with greater energy and passion. They stressed that the motivation behind completing the investigation was their belief in this idea, their desire to make it reach the largest possible number, in order to achieve its impact, and to put pressure on the government to begin taking the necessary measures to reduce its negative impact on biodiversity in Jordan.

The investigation was completed last year with ARIJ’s support, and it is one of the outcomes of the second phase of the 100-watt fellowship trainees. The 100-Watts Project is a project launched by ARIJ with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jordan, and it is the first project of its kind in the Arab region.

Read the investigation in English: here.