The staff of the Dana Biosphere Reserve, in cooperation with the Bseira Directorate of Agriculture, have completed the first phase of planting around 3,000 forest trees as part of the "Cocoon" technology project. This initiative aims to improve the environmental conditions in the reserve’s forest areas, contributing to the preservation of the ecosystem, biodiversity, and the sustainability of vegetation—particularly endangered forest trees.
اضافة اعلان
Raed Al-Khawaldeh, Director of the Dana Reserve, stated that the Cocoon planting project is part of broader efforts to utilize all natural resources to preserve forest wealth. It also focuses on replanting native tree species that have suffered from dieback and drought due to climate change and reduced rainfall. The reserve’s team is currently preparing for the second phase of this environmental reforestation project, aiming to expand the planting of forest trees adapted to Dana’s unique landscape, which encompasses four climatic regions.
Al-Khawaldeh explained that the dried-out forest trees have turned into dry wood, which could hinder the growth of new trees by acting as hosts for diseases and fungi, potentially threatening surrounding healthy trees. However, these dried trees have been integrated into the Cocoon system.
He highlighted that the core element of the Cocoon technique involves using dried plant matter as compost to support the growth of newly planted trees. This helps strengthen their roots in the ground and enables them to grow independently.
The Dana Reserve staff and the Bseira Agriculture Directorate removed the diseased trees and replaced them with native species as part of the reserve’s forest rehabilitation project.
The project aims to plant varieties such as oak, pistachio, juniper, carob, and wild almond using the Cocoon method, in an effort to expand green spaces within the reserve.
This technique uses a biodegradable mold made from tree remains and cardboard to house the sapling. The mold can retain water for up to six months, the period during which the sapling’s roots develop enough to withstand drought. The material within the cocoon gradually decomposes into fertilizer that nourishes the tree.
The technique targets semi-arid areas, including Dana, where the trees receive initial support during their early growth stages before being left to adapt to the surrounding natural environment.
This project is expected to significantly improve vegetation cover and forest health in the reserve by removing diseased trees that pose environmental risks and enriching the soil with supporting fertilizers.
The Dana Reserve is known for its rich biodiversity and natural ecosystem, serving as a genetic bank for various elements of wildlife. This has earned it global recognition, especially in research and ecological studies.
According to environmental studies, the reserve contains the last and oldest known natural cypress cluster in Jordan. It also hosts about 700 plant species, three of which were recorded for the first time in scientific history and named with the scientific designation "Dana" in its honor.
— (Petra)
