The Ajloun Forest Reserve is considered a leading model in environmental investment, tourism, and sustainable development.
In a statement to the Jordan News Agency (Petra) on Saturday, the administrative supervisor of the reserve, Oday Al-Qudah, explained that the reserve has achieved environmental excellence by conserving and protecting nature, which qualified it to join the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Green List. It was also selected as one of the top 100 sustainable tourism sites globally.
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Al-Qudah added that the reserve has become a center for environmental and tourism attraction, contributing to the development of the local community by providing job opportunities for local residents in its various facilities, making it a significant economic asset to the governorate.
He noted that the reserve covers an area of approximately 12,000 dunams, with 6,500 dunams fenced off to protect the ecosystem. It includes 575 species of plants and wildflowers, and 108 species of animals. He pointed out that 12.5% of the plants in the reserve are threatened according to Jordan's Red List of Plants.
Al-Qudah clarified that the absence of natural grazing within the reserve affects the regeneration rates of vegetation cover, as some tree seeds are covered with a thick layer that slows their growth. He added that livestock droppings contain enzymes that help germinate these seeds, which is why the reserve management allows grazing during specific periods and with controlled numbers.
He emphasized that overexploitation of firewood is a major threat to the plant cover and biodiversity, increasing the risks of desertification. The reserve’s staff, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Royal Environmental Protection Directorate, and security authorities, intensify monitoring to prevent any violations against the forests.
Al-Qudah explained that ecotourism helps provide additional income to support the protection of natural areas, enhance biodiversity, and create jobs inspired by the environment. He clarified that this type of tourism relies on respecting nature, protecting environmental resources, supporting local communities, and raising environmental awareness among visitors, all in line with sustainability principles.
He also mentioned that the reserve is working on several proposed environmental and developmental projects in the coming years, including an energy alternatives project for heating at a cost of 500,000 dinars, the installation of a solar energy system at a cost of 150,000 dinars, and a project to develop economic and social development workshops at a cost of 150,000 dinars, in collaboration with the Royal Academy for Nature Protection.
It is worth noting that the reserve is one of the nature reserves managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature. It was established in 1987 to protect the ecosystem of the evergreen oak forests. -(Petra)
