Flora

Spring is the high season for Jordanian flora, and from February to May many regions are carpeted with a dazzling array of flowering plants. More than 2000 species of plants grow in Jordan, and the variety of the country’s topography and climate is reflected in the diversity of its flora. Most of these species, however, depend heavily on the winter rains. When there is a warm, dry winter–as in 1984–many flowers either fail to appear or are considerably reduced.

Jordan's national flower, the Black Iris.

The highlands of Jordan host forests of oak and pine, as well as pistachio and cinnabar trees. Olive, eucalyptus and cedar trees thrive throughout the highlands and the Jordan Valley. Jordan’s dry climate is especially conducive to shrub trees, which require less water. Species of shrubs can be found throughout all the geographical regions of Jordan.

Flowers. آ© Zohrab

Fauna

One can find about 70 species and subspecies of mammals, along with 73 reptile species, in Jordan. The dry climate has limited amphibian species to only four families. About 20 species of freshwater fish are found in Jordan’s rivers and streams, while around 1000 species of fish are known to exist in the rich waters of the Gulf of Aqaba.

Birdlife

Jordan also possesses a large and varied assortment of birdlife. This can be traced, once again, to the variety of habitats found within the country–from mountains forests to desert oases, from high cliffs to sweeping deserts, and from deep gorges to broad wadis. Two distinct types of avifauna can be found in Jordan: those species which stay year-round, and migratory visitors.

Spur-winged Plovers in Safi. آ© Jad Al Younis, Discovery Eco-Tourism

At the junction of the Mediterranean and Arabian faunal regions, Jordan lies on one of the world’s major bird migration routes, between Africa and Eurasia. Before the water levels of the Azraq Reserve were depleted over the past ten years, up to 200,000 birds–including spoonbills, white pelicans, egrets, terns and gulls, to name a few–would congregate there at one time during the migratory season. The numbers of migrants have decreased as Azraq has grown drier, yet even today up to 220 migratory species continue to transit through Jordan on their journey north or south. The approximately 150 species which are indigenous to Jordan seem not to have been affected greatly by the great drought of the 1980s.

Marine Life

The Gulf of Aqaba is home to some of the finest marine life in the Middle East, while its coral reefs are unmatched in the world. The gulf is very narrow–at its northern end it is only five kilometers wide–and quite deep, ranging in depth from between 1000 to 1800 meters. The depth of the gulf, combined with its isolation from sea currents, minimize turbulence and improve visibility. On the sandy shores, one can find creatures such as the ghost crab, sandhoppers and the mole crab.

The sea waters, meanwhile, host a plethora of marine life including starfish, sea cucumbers, crabs, shrimps, sea urchins, many species of fish and several worms which burrow into the sandy sea bottom. A variety of sea grasses can be found in the shallow waters, providing both food and shelter to the fishes which inhabit the area. Several species of eel make their home in the gulf’s grass beds, where one can also find sea horses and pipe fishes.

Perhaps the greatest attraction for divers in the Gulf of Aqaba is the colorful coral reefs, found especially near the southern part of Jordan’s coastline. There are around 100 varieties of stony coral, and they are found mainly in shallow waters, as the algae that live within them require light for photosynthesis. Many hundreds of fish species make their homes among the reefs, and some live by eating the algae that grows on the coral.

The Jordanian habitat and its wildlife communities have undergone significant changes over the centuries and continue to be threatened by a number of factors. A rapidly expanding population, industrial pollution, wildlife hunting and habitat loss due to development have taken a toll on Jordan’s wildlife population. Jordan’s absorption of hundreds of thousands of people since 1948 has resulted in the over-exploitation of many of its natural resources, and the country’s severe shortage of water has led to the draining of underwater aquifers and damage to the Azraq Oasis.

In recent decades, Jordan has addressed these and other threats to the environment, beginning the process of reversing environmental decline. A true foundation of environmental protection requires awareness upon the part of the population, and a number of governmental and non-governmental organizations are actively involved in educating the populace about environmental issues. Jordan’s Ministry of Education is also introducing new literature into the government schools’ curriculum to promote awareness of environmental issues among the young students.

The National Strategy presents specific recommendations for Jordan on a sectoral 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 plan places considerable emphasis throughout on the conservation of water and agriculturally productive land, of which the contamination or loss of either would bring swift and significant consequences to Jordan.

Wildlife Conservation

The diversity of animals in Jordan was formerly much more varied than at present. Ancient rock drawings and Byzantine mosaics suggest that the Jordanian landscape was populated by an abundant variety of wildlife, including ostrich, gazelle, Arabian oryx, Nubian ibex, Asiatic lion, Syrian bear and Fallow deer. It is also believed that crocodiles used to inhabit the Jordan River. However, many of these species have been either decimated or driven to extinction because of overhunting or habitat destruction.

The hunting of gazelle and other wildlife dates back to the beginning of the Paleolithic era in Jordan, many thousands of years ago. However, the advent of automatic weapons and hunting from vehicles decimated the populations of larger mammals, particularly carnivores which were always present in low density. Hunting is now carefully controlled by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN): laws now include the outlawing of automatic weapon hunting and shooting from vehicles. The RSCN sets the hunting seasons, the maximum quota of animals to be hunted and areas where hunting is allowed. Hunting is completely banned east of the Hijaz Railway.

The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature has been at the forefront of Jordanian efforts for wildlife conservation. Founded in 1966, the RSCN was the first non-governmental organization of its kind in the Arab world. The Society addresses a wide range of environmental concerns, but its primary concern is for the preservation of wildlife both on the Jordanian mainland and in Aqaba’s coral reefs and coastline.

The RCSN has planned a complete system of wildlife reserves to cover the different habitats of the country. To date, six have been established, covering 1.4% of Jordan’s total area. Six more reserves are planned, and the total land area of the 12 reserves will cover four percent of the country. The Society’s preservation programs have included notable successes such as the Arabian oryx, a locally extinct species successfully reintroduced to Jordan in 1978, preservation of the remaining wetlands area at Azraq, and combining environmental preservation, archaeology and community development at the Dana Reserve.

The Arabian oryx, a large straight-horned antelope which had been extinct in Jordan since the 1920s, and in the Middle East since 1972, was reintroduced in the Shomari Reserve in 1978. The breeding program has been an unqualified success. After introducing eight heads to Jordan in 1978, the Shomari Reserve now hosts around 200 Arabian oryx, together with other endangered animal species. In 1998, the RSCN plans to complete the reintroduction of the oryx by releasing them all from the Shomari Reserve into their natural desert habitat.

A large number of migratory and resident birds rest at Shomari at different times throughout the year, while the park hosts a resident ostrich population on a permanent basis. The Azraq Wetland Reserve is home to around 370 species of birds, 220 of which are migrant and stop in the reserve during their annual trip between Europe and Africa. 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.

The Wadi Mujib Reserve protects the remaining habitat of the Nubian ibex, along with ibex, Arabian gazelles, leopards, foxes, wild boars and a variety of fish and birds. Foxes and hedgehogs are some of the species protected at the Zubia Reserve, near ‘Ajloun. The roe deer was recently reintroduced to its original habitat there, and similar plans are in the works for the Persian fallow deer, a very rare species which inhabited Zubia over 110 years ago. The Dana Reserve is home to a number of endangered species including the ibex, the Arabian gazelle, and the eagle owl. A project involving the RSCN, the Noor al-Hussein Foundation and the World Bank is working to promote conservation by integrating environmental and archeological concerns with the socioeconomic development of the surrounding area. At the 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 8000 years old. In addition to these six wildlife reserves, 20 grazing reserves cover a further 20,000 hectares and provide protection against overgrazing.

While the RSCN’s immediate and tangible goals are the consolidation and expansion of Jordan’s wildlife refuge system, it also aims to increase public awareness of the importance of preserving nature. With the cooperation of the Ministry of Education, the RSCN has established over 500 nature preservation clubs in schools all over the country, with a combined membership of over 20,000 students.

Deforestation and Desertification

Perhaps an even greater threat to Jordanian fauna and flora is the loss of habitat. Historically, Jordan used to be renowned for its forests and verdant vegetation. Numerous verses of the Bible refer to the “land of milk and honey,” yet today Jordan’s forests are much reduced in area. The main causes of deforestation have been cutting trees for wood, clearance for crop cultivation and the prevention of regeneration by overgrazing. The years 1908-17 were one of the most destructive periods for Jordanian forests, as the Ottoman Turks carried out massive felling operations to fuel their Hijaz Railway from Damascus to Madina.

Protecting Aqaba

The Gulf of Aqaba, a branch of the Red Sea with 367 kilometers of coastline, 27 of which belong to Jordan, is one of the Kingdom’s primary tourist attractions and its only port access. Fortunately, however, Aqaba has always been acknowledged as more than a center of trade and tourism. Boasting one of the world’s most unique coral reef systems and rich in fish and aquatic plant life, the Gulf of Aqaba is an environmental treasure which Jordan is endeavoring to protect.

The enclosed nature of this marine environment, which encourages its unique biological diversity, also makes it particularly susceptible to pollution from trade, industry and tourism. The existing and potential environmental threats to Aqaba include such industrial pollution as that from phosphates, potash, cement, traffic, electricity generation and shipping. Tourism contributes to individual littering, garbage accumulation, and increases in sewage problems, air pollution and traffic levels. As Aqaba is a major tourism center and the country’s only port, plans for preserving this natural treasure have necessarily been combined with the region’s economic and social development. Jordan’s early commitment to sustainable development has facilitated this combination, as environmental regulation has been instituted relatively early in the industrialization process.

The Aqaba Regional Authority (ARA), established in 1984, is a specialized governing body responsible for the social and economic development of the Aqaba region. The ARA is responsible for monitoring and controlling all major construction activities along the coast. Future industrial development of the area, while encouraged, is controlled by a strict set of requirements. In recent years, the ARA has taken the lead by establishing the Aqaba Marine Reserve. Another function served by the ARA is that of environmental monitoring. In October 1989, in conjunction with the Royal Scientific Society, the ARA began regular monitoring of drinking water, seawater, treated wastewater and cooling water from selected coastal facilities.

Another of Jordan’s conservation efforts in the Aqaba area is the Aqaba Marine Science Station, established in 1982. The station is the working center for the study and preservation of Aqaba’s marine life. Scientists from the University of Jordan and Yarmouk University are actively engaged here in marine ecology and oceanographic research.

While Jordan is actively engaged at the national level to preserve Aqaba’s environment, the fact that four countries–Jordan, Egypt, Israel and Saudi Arabia–share coastline around the Gulf of Aqaba means that any long-term planning for preservation of this unique and fragile marine ecosystem must be done on a regional basis.

Throughout the Gulf of Aqaba region, industrial and economic growth is being actively stimulated. Therefore, environmental protection must be combined with growth in a comprehensive sustainable development plan. The Gulf of Aqaba Environmental Action Plan (GAEAP) was established by the multilateral working group on the environment to curb existing damage and prevent future harm by establishing a regulatory framework and coordinating policies among the various governmental ministries associated with environmental protection. The plan calls for an environmental audit of Jordan’s nearby power plant, updated contingency plans for oil spills, improved monitoring of air and marine water quality and the management of the protected marine area. The primary benefit of the GAEAP will be the local capability to contain the undesirable consequences of development by preserving the marine and desert environments, reducing pollutants and establishing water use efficiency measures.

The strategy proposed by GAEAP is complemented by two existing projects: the Egypt Red Sea Coastal Zone Management project and the Yemen Marine Ecosystem Protection project. It is hoped that a comprehensive environmental accord will be negotiated soon between the four Gulf of Aqaba states, establishing a long-term regional framework for pollution control.

The peace treaty signed by Jordan and Israel in October 1994 gave special attention to arrangements for the Aqaba/Eilat region, and the two countries recently signed a protocol outlining a detailed framework for cooperation in conserving this delicate ecosystem. Special attention was given to the dangers of industrial pollution from shipping. Moreover, the protocol stipulated the establishment of a jointly-run Red Sea Marine Peace Park to ensure protection of the coral reefs and marine environment from abuse and overuse.

The National Environmental Strategy

For Jordan, environmentalism is neither a luxury nor a trend destined to go out of style in time. The country’s scarce resources and fragile ecosystems necessitate a viable and ongoing program of action covering all aspects of environmental protection. In order to maintain a viable resource base for economic growth, as well as to preserve the region’s natural heritage, Jordan became 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), in May 1992 a team of over 180 Jordanian specialists completed a practical and comprehensive working document entitled National Environment Strategy for Jordan.

The document is a long-term environmental blueprint for government, NGOs, private sector businesses, communities and individuals. It also contains a wealth of information about Jordan’s natural and socio-economic environment. The strategy is predicated on the fundamental principle of sustainable development, which the report defines as “development which increasingly meets human needs, without depleting the matter and energy of the ecosystem upon which development is founded. An economy which develops sustainably would be designed to perform at a level which would allow the underlying ecosystem to function and renew itself ceaselessly.”

The document offers over 400 specific recommendations concerning a wide variety of environmental and developmental issues. Moreover, the plan outlines five strategic initiatives for facilitating and institutionalizing long-term progress in the environmental sphere:

(1) Construction of a comprehensive legal framework for environmental management

(2) Across-the-board strengthening of existing environmental institutions and agencies, particularly the Department of Environment and the RSCN

(3) Giving an expanded role for Jordan’s protected areas

(4) Promotion of public awareness of and participation in environmental protection programs

(5) Giving sectoral priority to water conservation and slowing Jordan’s rapid population growth