Sustainable development is defined as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." (Brundtland Commission, 1987). Our sustainable development program emerged out of these words to ensure the best use of marine resources with respect to both the environment and the people.

The conflict of interest between environmental, social and economic needs is being addressed through the implementation of the concept of sustainable development. However, integrated and sustainable management of our coastal and marine resources lags behind when compared to the management of land resources. An urgent need exists for the establishment of integrated coastal zone management and strategic spatial planning of activities in the marine environment.

One of the most important policy challenges facing the country is the achievement of sustainable development. This program uniquely integrates natural, social and economic aspects into a comprehensive approach towards proper use of the marine environment.

• Gift Shop and Outlets at the AMP Visitors’ Center
  JREDS has a gift shop at the Aqaba Marine Park (AMP) Visitors’ Center in addition to some permanent and short-term exhibitions in various outlets in the country. Hand-made handicrafts by the women of Aqaba - as part of the income-generating project implemented by JREDS - are exhibited at the AMP Visitors’ Center gift shop. A variety of awareness tools, games and other environmentally-sound products are also available.
  
• The Glass Boat Sector Capacity Building in Aqaba
  The projects coordinated by JREDS and funded by USAID and the Global Environment Fund Small Grants Program (GEF, SGP) aim at upgrading the capacity of the glass boats and regulating and organizing the glass boat sector in Aqaba. Our goal is to improve the level of income generated by the individual glass boats, which in turn is an incentive for operators to cooperate in adopting environmentally-friendly practices, thereby safeguarding the local marine environment.
  
• Introducing Eco-Diving to the Diving Industry
  The diving business is becoming a significant industry in our region. Unfortunately, divers can cause unintentional harm to corals. To sustain our underwater environment, we introduced the Eco-Diving concept to Aqaba divers through the diving clubs and are working on putting together specialized awareness programs. Through their diving courses, our JREDS-SAC dive masters place a special focus on how to become an eco-diver.