Jordan Nature Reserves

Due to its unique atmosphere and geography, Jordan is the habitat for a variety of animals, birds, plants, reptiles. It has several nature reserves aiming at housing some of these rare species that might be threatened to extinction. These reserves also serve as destinations for locals and foreigners interested in camping, hiking, bird watching or just enjoying nature.

Dana Nature Reserve

It was established in 1993 and is located in the Southern part of Jordan. It consists of valleys and mountains. It has six hundred and ninety plants and four hundred and forty nine animals. [The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature] says that many of the species at Dana are rare while others are threatened to be extinct. Dana is one of the main camping attractions in Jordan where visitors can go hiking on trails that vary from easy to moderate to hard.The reserve contains a Wadi (Arabic) meaning valley and a village area, which has been occupied since 4000 BC.

Azraq Wetlands Reserve

It was established in 1978 and located in the eastern Jordanian desert. Azraq (Arabic) meaning blue is a desert oasis that was once a destination for almost half a million birds migrating yearly between Africa and Europe.The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature says that water pumping and extraction activities that started after 1980 have resulted in drying up the area by 1993. But by 1994 some procedures aiming to restore ecological value of the area have helped in restoring some of the wetland.The reserve has 150 different kinds of plants, 18 mammals, two amphibians, 16 reptiles and 8 species of fish. As for the birds 180 species use the reserve during their migration.Azraq also has a castle that was occupied by the Umayyads, Ayyubids and Ottomans.

Shaumari Reserve

Established in 1975 and also lies in the eastern Jordanian desert near Azraq. Shaumari, the first wildlife reserve Jordan, was established to house the Arabian Oryx.According to the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature eight animals from the rare breed were flown to the reserve in 1978. It mentioned that they have reproduced to more than 200 in the year 1999. Shaumari also has 193 different kinds of plants; sixteen of them are used in medical prescriptions. Also it has six carnivore species, seven kinds of rodents, six types of snakes and seventy seven species of birds.

Wadi Mujib Reserve

It lies on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. It was established in 1987. The reserve includes a variety of different plants and animals due to its unique geography and weather.This reserve has 412 kinds of plants, between 40 to 50 invertebrates, 150 birds and 24 species of mammals including rare breeds such as the striped hyena and the Syrian wolf.The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature says it has captured in the year 1989 a group consisting of 20 ibex. They say that this number multiplied to more than on hundred animals adding that they released thirty of them back to the wild. Visitors can also camp in the area and go on hiking trips and trails tracking the different species in the area.

External links

(1) http://www.rscn.org.jo/conservationDana.asp

(2) http://www.rscn.org.jo/conservationAzraq.asp

(3) http://www.rscn.org.jo/conservationShaumari.asp

(4) http://www.rscn.org.jo/conservationMujib.asp

(5) http://www.arabianwildlife.com/archive/vol2.2/dana.htm

(6) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_of_Jordan

(7) http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/geo_env2.html

(8) http://www.doylegroup.harvard.edu/~carlo/JRL/37/PDF/37-011.pdf