Jordan protected Areas & Nature Reserves

Dana Biosphere Reserve is the only reserve in Jordan that includes the three different bio-geographical zones of the country: Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian, and Sudanian penetration. As such, it is the most diverse nature reserve in the country in terms of habitats and species, hosting several vegetation types, including the Phoenician Juniper, evergreen oak, sand dunes, acacia, and rocky sudanian, among others. It is also home to the southernmost remaining forest community of Cypress Cupressus sempervirens. More than 891 plant species can be found within the reserve, three of which have only ever been recorded in Dana and nowhere else in the world. Their Latin names include the word ‘Dana’ in them.

Ajloun Forest Reserve covers an area of 12 km2 located in the Ajloun highlands north of Amman. It consists of Mediterranean-like hill country, ranging from 600 - 1100 m above sea level, with a series of small and medium winding valleys. Ajloun forest was first proposed as a protected area in the 1978 survey. Its ecological importance is represented by the Evergreen Oak vegetation type, which is typical of the northern highlands of Jordan. As part of the Mediterranean bio-geographical region of the country, it is dominated by open woodlands that account for a significant part of Jordan’s forested area, which does not exceed 1% of the country’s entire land area.

Shaumari Wildlife Reserve was initially created as a breeding center aiming to breed and reintroduce the globally threatened and locally extinct wildlife and specifically the Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx). In 1978, joined by international efforts, RSCN initiated the Arabian Oryx rescue operation after receiving 8 Oryx animals from the Phoenix Zoo, USA, into specially prepared breeding enclosures in Shaumari Reserve, in an attempt to return the Arabian Oryx to its native desert habitat. By 1983, this operation met its first success, after the release of 31 Arabian Oryx from captivity into their native habitats within the reserve. Shaumari Wildlife Reserve is now home to some of the rarest species of animals in the Middle East, such as Ostriches (Struthio camelus), Goitered Gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa) and Persian Onagers (Equus hemionus). RSCN has exerted great effort to help these animals rebuild their populations and reassert their presence within the safety of the reserve, protected from the hunting and habitat destruction that nearly wiped them out.

Azraq Wetland Reserve to conserve the uniquely precious oasis located in the heart of Jordan’s eastern desert, between a limestone desert in the west and a basalt desert in the east. It has an area of 74 km2. It is distinguished by lush marshland and natural water collections that form glittering pools and streams, giving Azraq its name, which is the Arabic word for ``blue``. In 1977, the Ramsar Convention declared Azraq Oasis and the adjacent mudflat (Qa) as a major station for migratory birds on the African-Eurasian flyway. A variety of birds flock to the reserve each year, stopping for a short rest along their migration routes, staying for the winter, or breeding within the wetland. The Azraq wetland is the only oasis in the Arabian Desert with a self-replenishing system that has allowed it to sustain itself throughout the years. In 2018, the reserve joined the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas.

Burqu Nature Reserve was established in the year 2018 and is located in in the North-Eastern Badia within Mafraq Governorate's borders. Its suggested northern borders are located around 12km's away from the Jordanian-Syrian borders, approximately 200 km's east the capital Amman, and north the international road connecting Amman and Baghdad. The reserve's suggested area is about 906 square kilometers, and its suggested borders are outside the boundaries of the municipal areas. Ruwaished Municipality region is considered the nearest municipal location to the suggested reserve with the distance of about 14 km's from the far north Ruwaished Municipality border.

Dibeen Forest northern Jordan. Dibeen Forest Reserve extends over 8.5 km2 of mountainous terrain, covering an area of pristine pine-oak habitat (Pinus halipensis-Quercus calliprinos). These Aleppo pines are some of the oldest and largest in the Kingdom, and are the defining characteristic of this landscape, representing the southeastern geographical limit of this forest type. Dibeen is the driest part of the world in which the Aleppo pines are known to grow naturally, with an average rainfall of around 400mm per year.

Fifa Nature Reserve is home to two important plant patterns: the salt plant pattern and the tropical plant pattern. Additionally, the reserve protects seven endangered plant and animal species, such as the Arak plant, lynx and hyena. Sudanese characteristics prevail throughout the reserve with its semi- desert system and high temperatures. The biodiversity of the flora and fauna has been able to survive the difficult conditions. The reserve is home to 4% of all plant species and 8% of the animal species in Jordan. In April 2017, the reserve was designated as the world’s lowest elevation Ramsar Site, lying at 420 meters below sea level. The reserve supports the endemic Richardson’s Killifish Aphanius richardsoni This species was common and wide distributed in both northern and southern parts of Dead Sea at both western and eastern sides.

Many carnivores inhabit the various vegetation zones in Mujib. The Caracal, a medium sized cat with black and white ear tufts, lives in rocky wadis. It is a powerful and agile hunter with great jumping power, known to catch flying birds in its paws. Mujib is also an internationally important passageway for migratory birds. Huge numbers of White Storks passed through every year starting from August, Black Storks, Buzzards, Honey Buzzards, Levant Sparrow Hawks, and much more. The globally threatened Lesser Kestrel breeds in the reserve every spring. The breeding population reaches sometimes 0.1 % of the globally estimated population. At least nine species of birds of prey are known to breed in the reserve, significantly Bonelli’s eagle, Short-toad Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, and Barbary Falcon.

Yarmouk Forest Reserve is located within the Mediterranean biogeographical zone, which provides a warm climate in summer and a cold one in winter with an average rainfall of 400-600 mm / year. The reserve has four vegetation types: Deciduous oak forest , fresh water vegetation types, Mediterranean non-forest and Cultivated Aleppo Pine. The rapid assessment surveys show that there are 546 plant species, among them: Deciduous Oak, which is the national tree in Jordan, Atlantic Pistachio, White Willow, Oriental plane, Orchid Anatolian and Aleppo Pine. Fauna rapid assessment shows 18 recorded mammalian species, among them: Arabian Gazelle, Stone Marten, Rock Hyrax, Egyptian, Jungle Cat, Asiatick Jackal. Also 100 Bird species were recorded which count for 27% of Jordan’s bird population: Avifauna: Kestrel, Chukar, Sand Partridge, Moorhen, Hoopoe, Syrian Woodpecker, Collared Dove and Bee-eater. Also 19 herpetofaunal species were recorded at Yarmouk Forest Reserve, among them the Green Toad and the Palestinian Viper. The main challenges in the reserve are: Overgrazing, soil erosion, wood cutting, hunting, expansion of agricultural lands and random tourism, RSCN is preparing an integrated management plan to meet this threats in a participatory way with local communities.

Dahek desert reserve is considered a museum of geological in Jordan which including assorted terrains and natural sculptured which it's rare in the world and you can see like it in Brazil and Egypt only. Dahek is an ideal viewpoint, within a safe viewing experience that minimizes environmental impact, to see significant geological formations of white chalk cliffs and stunning landscapes. Wadi Dahek is named after the Arabic word Dahek that means a person who smiles, for its resemblance to a wide smile of white chalky teeth against the backdrop of the Black Desert. Dahek shows evidence of an ancient sea; 55 million years ago, this area was covered by Tethys Ocean. Geology and fossils show evidence of its ancient marine life, such as shark teeth. Dahek’s remoteness makes it an ideal spot for observing the moon and stargazing.