Amman – The U.S. Department of State selected the Petra National Trust, a Jordanian NGO dedicated to the preservation and protection of the World Heritage Site of Petra, to receive an Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation grant in the amount of $83,700 to rebuild the ancient Nabatean dam in the Wadi al-Jarra area of Petra. Reconstruction of the dam will reduce water erosion damage to the Treasury building and courtyard area and protect visitors from the devastating impact of floodwaters.

The Department of State established the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation in 2001 to underscore American interest in the preservation of cultural heritage worldwide. The Fund has supported more than 550 projects in more than 100 countries and has contributed more than $20 million. In 2010, U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide submitted a total of 192 proposals to the Ambassador’s Fund; seven in the Middle East and North Africa region were selected.

The U.S. Embassy in Amman congratulates the Petra National Trust for receiving this award.