Local women say Dana copper project threatens livelihoods

AMMAN — The head of the Al-Amthal Agricultural Cooperation Association, Belal Al-Rafou, recently told Al-Ghad news that a recent government decision to reduce the size of the Dana Biosphere Reserve might affect more than 1,700 families and the income they make from agriculture in the areas surrounding the reserve.اضافة اعلان

A recent government decision would open parts of the reserve up to search for copper, which if implemented, might affect eight agricultural cooperative associations north of the reserve, according to Rafou. 


Women that work at local projects near Dana Biosphere Reserve say a that government decision to open parts of the reserve up copper mining would affect their livelihoods. (Photo: Wikipedia)

Rafou said that some 4 economic and social development projects that employ around 85 people would also be affected by the decision. The projects were launched by the Royal Society for The Conservation of Nature in 1997.

 He said that a large percentage of the local community in these areas oppose the project because “they do not trust the government”, adding that “such projects only benefit the government while they do not bring any revenues or better opportunities for citizens,” 

Rafou also found the “government’s persistence to proceed with the project strange, despite the fact that previous studies proved that copper is not economically profitable, in addition to the high cost of its extraction.” 

Head of the Social and Economic Development Projects Department Isaaq Al-Khawaldeh said that “the number of families which benefit from the projects amounts to 12, but investing in copper extraction will lead to the closure of these projects, since the number of tourists to the area will decline, especially after demolishing the dynamic diversity in Dana.” 
 
“The reserve was found to protect the environment and reflect an ideal image about Jordan, and this is what attracts tourists to the area,” Khawaldeh said.

Um Riyad, who works with one of projects in the area, said that the project is the only source of income for her family of seven.

Her job mainly depends on tourists who visit the reserve. 


Women that work at local projects near Dana Biosphere Reserve say a that government decision to open parts of the reserve up copper mining would affect their livelihoods. (Photo: Wikipedia)

Um Riyad makes food out of dairy products, in addition to baking all kinds of local bread. In return, the association pays her a small amount of money which helps her cover some of her housing expenditures. 

She added that the small amount income she makes would “fade away” if the government proceeds with the copper extraction project. Um Riyad has been living in Dana village for a long time, she said, adding that no one from her family has benefited from previous government projects. 

“Life is very hard, but we trust God. If our incomes are cut off, we will not have any providers,” Um Riyad added. 

Other women from the area told Al-Ghad that they have similar concerns.  

Read more National