| The Royal
Society for the Conservation of Nature has been working since its
establishment in 1966 on the protection of natural resources from
regression and the environment from pollution. Over seven natural
reserves have been established throughout the past 30 years, They are:
Public awareness
programs such as Afforestation and the control of hunting are made
to ensure the protection of Jordan's most valuable natural
resources.
Jordan was the first country in the Middle East to adopt a national
environmental strategy, with help from the International Union for
the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). A national strategy was completed
in 1992 presenting specific recommendations for Jordan on a
sectorial basis, addressing the areas of agriculture, air pollution,
coastal and marine life, antiquities and cultural resources, mineral
resources, wildlife and habitat preservation, population and
settlement patterns, and water resources.
The Ministry of
Agriculture has a diverse set of responsibilities related to environmental
conservation and health. The Ministry also manages 18 grazing reserves, while
delegating responsibility for 7 wildlife refuges to the Royal Society for the
Conservation of Nature (RSCN). In addition to protecting wildlife habitats and
populations, the RSCN has also conducted extensive ecological studies in
accordance with the latter mentioned recommendations from the (ICUN). These were
presented as a set of guidelines for the establishment of 12 natural reserves
representing 16 wildlife habitats.
Shumari
Reserve:
The Arabian Oryx,
a large straight-horned antelope which had been extinct in Jordan since the
1920's, and in the Middle East since 1972, was reintroduced here in 1978. The
breeding program has been a success, and after introducing eight heads to Jordan
in 1978, the Kingdom now hosts 170 Arabian Oryx. Over 130 of these live in the
Shumari Reserve, together with other endangered animal species. A large number
of migratory and resident birds rest at Shumary at different times throughout
the year, while the park hosts a resident Ostrich population on a permanent
basis.
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Azraq
Wetland Reserve:
The Azraq Wetland
Reserve is home to over 350 species of birds, half of which are migrant and stop
in the reserve during their annual trip between Europe and Africa. Indeed,
Jordan's Department of Environment cites the park as "of international
importance for migratory birds". This wetlands area is rich in animal and plant
life and is semi-covered by aquatic plants such as typha and tamarix. Wolves,
red foxes, striped hyenas, Asiatic jackals and several species of insects and
reptiles, including five very poisonous snakes, live in the area.
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Wadi
Al-Mujeb Reserve:
Several
endangered species of fauna inhabit the area, as do ibex, Arabian gazelles,
leopards, foxes, wild boar and a variety of fish and birds.
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D'ana
Reserve:
D'ana was founded
in 1990, providing a rugged wild life reserve in which numbers of specific
species would be protected. Among the reserve's most important fauna are ibex,
mountain gazelle, red fox, badger, wolf and jackal. The reserve is also
important for bird-life, as it has a wide variety of tree cover. The illustrious
D'ana project was launched to revitalize the natural habitat and foster the
reserve's numbers of wildlife. D'ana is a wildlife reserve with a difference in
that man has resided there for 6,000 years. Evidence of Paleolithic, Edomite,
Nabatean and Roman occupation has been found. It is hoped that the small village
of D'ana can be kept uncluttered by modern gadgets.
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Wadi
Rum Reserve:
The RSCN is
working to conserve the indigenous wildlife, including a herd of Arabian Oryx
and a variety of plant species, some of which are rare, as well as archeological
relics and cave paintings which are over 8,000 years old.
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Zubia
Reserve:
Foxes and hedge
hogs are some of the species protected at Zubia. The roe deer was recently
reintroduced to its original habitat at Zubia, and similar plans are in the
works for the Persian Fallon Deer, a rare species which inhibited Zubia over 110
years ago.
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Aqaba Marine Reserve:
The Gulf of Aqaba
is home to 268 known species of Fish and 127 types of Coral. In comparison, the
state of Hawaii's coastal waters contain 45 varieties of Coral, while Bermuda
hosts some 15 types.
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