The Royal Society for The Conservation of Nature (RSCN) is an independent voluntary organization that is devoted to the conservation of
Jordan
Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan Rive ...
's natural resources; it was established in 1966 with the late
King Hussein
Hussein bin Talal ( ar, الحسين بن طلال, ''Al-Ḥusayn ibn Ṭalāl''; 14 November 1935 – 7 February 1999) was King of Jordan from 11 August 1952 until his death in 1999. As a member of the Hashemite dynasty, the royal family of ...
as Honorary President.
RSCN has the mission of protecting and managing the natural resources of Jordan, for it is responsible for protecting wildlife and wild places and is one of the few voluntary organizations in the
Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...
with such a public service mandate.
The organization's principal activities include:
*Setting up protected areas to safeguard the best wildlife and scenic areas
*Breeding endangered species to save them from extinction.
*Enforcing governmental laws to protect wildlife, control illegal hunting
*Raise awareness in environmental issues through educational programs.
*Socio-economic development of rural communities.
*Promoting the sustainable use of natural resources.
The organization has made a number of important achievements include the captive breeding and re-introduction into the wilderness of the
Arabian Oryx
The Arabian oryx (''Oryx leucoryx'') or white oryx is a medium-sized antelope with a distinct shoulder bump, long, straight horns, and a tufted tail. It is a bovid, and the smallest member of the genus ''Oryx'', native to desert and steppe areas o ...
,
gazelle
A gazelle is one of many antelope species in the genus ''Gazella'' . This article also deals with the seven species included in two further genera, ''Eudorcas'' and ''Nanger'', which were formerly considered subgenera of ''Gazella''. A third f ...
and
ibex
An ibex (plural ibex, ibexes or ibices) is any of several species of wild goat (genus ''Capra''), distinguished by the male's large recurved horns, which are transversely ridged in front. Ibex are found in Eurasia, North Africa and East Africa. ...
. It has also established six protected areas within Jordan covering over 1200 square kilometers. These reserve areas include some of the finest
natural landscape
A natural landscape is the original landscape that exists before it is acted upon by human culture
Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the kn ...
s in the country:
Wild Jordan
Wild Jordan was created in Amman as a branded division of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature to formulate and enforce ecotourism programs and practices in the preserved sites in order to promote the socio-economic well-beings of local communities surrounding specific nature reserves.
Their main purpose is "to develop viable nature-based business within and around RSCN's protected areas in order to bring tangible economic and social benefits to local communities and generate financial, political, and popular support for nature conservation throughout the Kingdom." Wild Jordan displays all products of the local communities involved in ecotourism such as hand-crafted silver jewelry, organic jams and fruit leathers, painted ostrich eggs, sandblasted frames, environmental board games, natural olive oils, and goat leather nature boxes as this helps generate more sales. Wild Jordan of the RSCN is responsible for charging entrance fees to all the reserves and sites and for routing the income from these fees and from tourism and crafts to support the local people and conservation programs.
It has also built a Food Café and Internet Café to increase sales as the revenue of these two cafes is used directly to assist local communities.
The Wild Jordan center, located in
Amman
Amman (; ar, عَمَّان, ' ; Ammonite language, Ammonite: 𐤓𐤁𐤕 𐤏𐤌𐤍 ''Rabat ʻAmān'') is the capital and largest city of Jordan, and the country's economic, political, and cultural center. With a population of 4,061,150 a ...
was funded by USAID. The RSCN has 100% local employment policy in all their protected areas, resulting in ecotourism directly supporting upwards of 160,000 families throughout Jordan.
Wild Jordan's position in the RSCN allows for control over
ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel (using sustainable transport) to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide funds ...
through the management of income generating programs that build on local products and skills. Wild Jordan's success in linking nature conservation to rural development through the employment of locals and the promotion of local goods is attributed to its "organized business strategy and engagement with the private sector."
The environmental entrepreneurship that Wild Jordan has engaged in has allowed the RSCN to produce more popular support in conservation, reduce its need for financial support from the government, and grow into a leader in sustainable development.
In 2010, Wild Jordan won the prestigious Guardian-Observer "Ethical Travel Award", which is given for outstanding work in responsible tourism.
Feynan Ecolodge
Feynan Ecolodge was constructed in 2005 by renowned architect
Ammar Khammash in
Wadi Feynan
Wadi Feynan or Wadi Faynan ( ar, وادي فينان) is a major wadi (seasonal river valley) and region in southern Jordan, on the border between Tafilah Governorate and Aqaba and Ma'an Governorates. It originates in the southern Jordanian Highla ...
at the western edge of the Dana Biosphere Reserve, the only reserve that includes four different bio-geographical zones of the country: Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian, Saharo Arabian and Sudanian penetration.
Feynan Ecolodge is owned by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature and is the first of its kind in Jordan.
![Feynan Eco Lodge with slats to keep the walls in shade](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Feynan_Eco_Lodge_with_slats_to_keep_the_walls_in_shade.JPG)
Feynan Ecolodge was developed to provide economic opportunities for local communities and generate revenue for the conservation of Jordan's wild places.
Feynan was also developed to provide a sustainable alternative to open cast copper mining as Wadi Feynan was historically one of the main copper mining hubs in the world and copper mining in Feynan is no longer economically viable and is environmentally disastrous.
Feynan Lodge consists of 26 rooms, which can accommodate 60 people. It was constructed in the shape of an ancient
caravanserai
A caravanserai (or caravansary; ) was a roadside inn where travelers ( caravaners) could rest and recover from the day's journey. Caravanserais supported the flow of commerce, information and people across the network of trade routes covering ...
. Electricity is generated through solar panels, which is only used in the reception office, bathrooms, and kitchen.
The rest of the building is lit by candles, which are made locally by hand. Local springs are the source for water used at the lodge. Vegetarian food is only served and is prepared from products purchased within a 40 km radius of the lodge. Alcohol is banned as a courtesy to cultural sensitivity. Feynan Ecolodge exclusively employs locals. Additionally, Feynan employs local women, which is unusual especially in rural Jordan.
Feynan EcoLodge provides employment in an area where there are few jobs and poverty is an issue facing the community. Feynan Ecolodge directly benefits over 80 families in the local Bedouin community, which equates to about 400 people. Locals and Bedouins incorporate culture in the lodge by introducing their way of life and providing genuine cultural interactions.
Um Khalid is a Bedouin woman who bakes all of Feynan's bread fresh daily.
Feynan Lodge is considered "the emblem of the Jordan's conservation crusade and the heart of
sustainable tourism
Sustainable tourism is a concept that covers the complete tourism experience, including concern for economic, social and environmental issues as well as attention to improving tourists' experiences and addressing the needs of host communities. Su ...
in Dana."
In September 2009, EcoHotels took over the management and operation of the lodge. EcoHotels is privately owned Jordanian startup company based in
Amman
Amman (; ar, عَمَّان, ' ; Ammonite language, Ammonite: 𐤓𐤁𐤕 𐤏𐤌𐤍 ''Rabat ʻAmān'') is the capital and largest city of Jordan, and the country's economic, political, and cultural center. With a population of 4,061,150 a ...
; it has been internationally recognized by the AllWorld Network in 2011 and 2012 and was named as one of the Arabia 500 companies in 2012.
EcoHotels manages and operates the ecolodge in a unique private sector/NGO partnership with the RSCN, an arrangement that USAID encouraged. This partnership allows RSCN, mandated by government to manage all of Jordan's nature reserves and to concentrate on conservation work, while EcoHotels focuses on tourism development and guest eco-experiences. Since EcoHotels has taken over, visitor numbers increased by 130% in the first 18 months of operation.
The Wadi Feynan eco-lodge now runs at 80 percent occupancy in season. The founder of EcoHotels, Nabil Tarazi, a former CEO of a company in the technology sector of London, stated, "Feynan was transformed to offer a plethora of new experiences, its environmental footprint decreased, the number of staff doubled; benefiting more families in the local community, and the lodge received much acclaim in the international media."
Ecotourism activities in the Dana-Feynman area generated about $565,000 in revenue.
Tarazi attributes Feynan's success to the ecotourism model that "generates profit while also improving the surrounding area."
A portion of Feynan's income is spent on conservation efforts at the Dana Biosphere Reserve managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature. In 2013, over 50% of what guests paid remained within the local community.
National Geographic's Traveller magazine selected Feynan Ecolodge as one of the best "twenty five spots to sleep in the wild," making only one of five lodges in the world to make both the 2009 and 2013 list.
Hailed as one of the top fifty ecolodges in the world by
''National Geographic Adventure'' magazine, the solar powered Feynan Ecolodge offers the most developed eco-experience in Jordan; an experience made possible by a unique partnership between EcoHotels and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature.
Visitors have a chance to visit local
Bedouin
The Bedouin, Beduin, or Bedu (; , singular ) are nomadic Arab tribes who have historically inhabited the desert regions in the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, the Levant, and Mesopotamia. The Bedouin originated in the Syrian Desert and A ...
families, many of whom work at the lodge.
Preserving the Land
The protection of the natural biodiversity in
Jordan
Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan Rive ...
is a prominent effort carried out by the Nature Guides.
One way Jordan is trying to preserve its landscape is through hunting regulations that protect endangered species and animals from illegal poaching.
For example, in the
Yarmouk Nature Reserve, there is an emphasis on protection for the deciduous oak trees, which make up 85% of trees in Jordan.
There are also hot springs and cold springs located in Yarmouk Reserve that if unregulated by the nature guides would be vulnerable to destruction or pollution by the tourists.
Limitations
The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) has successfully reintroduced species and restored landscapes throughout Jordan.
Since 2013, there has been local opposition from the Jordan communities near conservation sites.
The surrounding communities are “expecting immediate gratification” with the intentions of the RSCN's land preservation and hunting regulations.
Locals in Jabal Masouda were under the impression that their land would be transformed into a nature reserve.
Similarly, Karak,
Petra
Petra ( ar, ٱلْبَتْرَاء, Al-Batrāʾ; grc, Πέτρα, "Rock", Nabataean Aramaic, Nabataean: ), originally known to its inhabitants as Raqmu or Raqēmō, is an historic and archaeological city in southern Jordan. It is adjacent to t ...
,
Tafileh
Tafilah ( ar, الطفيلة, 'aṭ-Ṭafīlah, ), also spelled Tafila, is a town with a population of 27,559 people in southern Jordan, located southwest of Amman. It is the capital of Tafilah Governorate. It is well known for having green gard ...
, and
Aqaba
Aqaba (, also ; ar, العقبة, al-ʿAqaba, al-ʿAgaba, ) is the only coastal city in Jordan and the largest and most populous city on the Gulf of Aqaba. Situated in southernmost Jordan, Aqaba is the administrative centre of the Aqaba Govern ...
are being affected by the RSCN's restriction to allow their communities to log and their animals area to graze.
The resistance from local communities originates from the restrictions on their use of the land and rights for economic benefits.
Conflicts with the RSCN
Many experts have found faults within the RSCN model. According to Geraldine Chatelard, a social anthropologist and historian of the contemporary
Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...
, in the case of
Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum ( ar, وادي رم ''Wādī Ramm'', also ''Wādī al-Ramm''), known also as the Valley of the Moon ( ar, وادي القمر ''Wādī al-Qamar''), is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in southern Jordan, about to the east ...
and more specifically, the work of the RSCN, she states "although efforts were made to gain the support of the indigenous
Bedouins
The Bedouin, Beduin, or Bedu (; , singular ) are nomadic Arabs, Arab tribes who have historically inhabited the desert regions in the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, the Levant, and Mesopotamia. The Bedouin originated in the Syrian Desert ...
and involve them in the project
ana Biosphere Project local-community participation is extremely limited and opposition is widespread."
Incidents with local communities include the use 4x4 vehicles to breach reserve fencing thereby allowing their grazing animals access. Accusations that reserves have taken ‘the best land’ result from the succession of herb-rich communities rewilding previously overgrazed habitats. In examining the diverse nature of the problems and possibilities that NGOs, may face in the context of a national push for economic development,
Laurie Brand
Laurie Ann Brand (born February 25, 1956) is a professor of international relations at the University of Southern California School of International Relations. Professor Brand specializes in the international relations of the Middle East, includ ...
demonstrates that the tourism related projects in
Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum ( ar, وادي رم ''Wādī Ramm'', also ''Wādī al-Ramm''), known also as the Valley of the Moon ( ar, وادي القمر ''Wādī al-Qamar''), is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in southern Jordan, about to the east ...
, pioneered by the RSCN, were ineffective and not conducive toward local
Bedouin
The Bedouin, Beduin, or Bedu (; , singular ) are nomadic Arab tribes who have historically inhabited the desert regions in the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, the Levant, and Mesopotamia. The Bedouin originated in the Syrian Desert and A ...
life.
Brand states, "the RSCN's central mission, at least initially, was not so much advocacy of the locals' concerns as it was the preservation of the environment. The two sets of goals--protection of the locals' interests and safeguarding the environment--are not unrelated, but they are not completely coincident."
Accomplishments
Reintroduction of Species
The RSCN has recorded 412 species in the Al Mujib reserve alone.
Many species are being threatened due to
water scarcity
Water scarcity (closely related to water stress or water crisis) is the lack of fresh water Water resources, resources to meet the standard water demand. There are two types of water scarcity: physical or economic water scarcity. Physical water ...
,
land loss
Land loss is the term typically used to refer to the conversion of coastal land to open water by natural processes and human activities. The term ''land loss'' includes coastal erosion. It is a much broader term than coastal erosion because land l ...
, and grazing from livestock.
According to Abdul Razzaq Hamoud, the director of the RSCN, there have been over 30 birds and 30 animals that have been seized by the RSCN due to unlawful possession.
Many of the animals are being taken over the Saudi Arabian border.
Once the animals are healthy, they are able to enter into the wild again.
As a solution, the RSCN believes that raising awareness will help the animal species that are threatened.
The purpose of the RSCN's Nature Guide program is to provide tourists with first hand nature experience.
Restoration of Villages
Since much of the infrastructure in Dana Village is compromised, the RSCN has renovated the houses into tourist buildings, which are used for the eco-tourism efforts.
The original houses that are located in Dana Village will be transformed into locations for tourists such as souvenir stores, restaurants, and hotels through the help of USAID's $2 million.
The need for “responsible nature tourism development” is paramount to the protection of the natural environment in Jordan.
The RSCN's efforts are highlighted through their developments to enhance eco-tourism in Jordan and provide more awareness to the environment.
RSCN Funding and Partnerships
USAID
Since 2000,
USAID
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. With a budget of over $27 bi ...
has supported development of Jordan's eco-tourism industry as a way to promote and fund environmental protection, while providing needed economic opportunities in remote rural communities.
The RSCN is one of USAID's major environmental partners. USAID has supported RSCN's work in nature reserves and ecotourism as a way to promote and fund environmental protection.
USAID has helped the RSCN become a regional pioneer in ecotourism.
Over the years, USAID support has helped RSCN expand offerings in and around the
Dana Biosphere Reserve
Dana Biosphere Reserve is List of nature reserves in Jordan, Jordan's largest nature reserve, located in south-central Jordan. Dana Biosphere Reserve was founded in 1989 in the area in and around the Dana, Jordan, Dana village and Wadi Dana comp ...
, which now include a campsite, hiking trails, a Dana Village guest house, renovated heritage village houses for tourism facilities, handcraft workshops, a conference center, a museum, and an eco-hotel, Feynan Lodge.
USAID supported construction of the Wild Jordan Center in
Amman
Amman (; ar, عَمَّان, ' ; Ammonite language, Ammonite: 𐤓𐤁𐤕 𐤏𐤌𐤍 ''Rabat ʻAmān'') is the capital and largest city of Jordan, and the country's economic, political, and cultural center. With a population of 4,061,150 a ...
. A recently new component of USAID support for RSCN is creating an academy for training Jordanian nature guides to enhance protection, working with young Jordanians in nature clubs and junior ranger programs, and improving eco-tourist experiences at all the RSCN reserves and sites.
USAID has brought more than $1 billion in new investment into Jordan through economic development zones and targeted sectors since 2006.
Other Funding
In addition to USAID funding, the RSCN and its network of nature preserves has been supported by a series of
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Interna ...
-implemented Global Environment Facility projects over the last 15 years.
The
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)french: Programme des Nations unies pour le développement, PNUD is a United Nations agency tasked with helping countries eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human dev ...
has also funded some of the RSCN conservation projects.
Partnerships
The RSCN was the first
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global partnership of non-governmental organizations that strives to conserve birds and their habitats. BirdLife International's priorities include preventing extinction of bird species, identifying and safeguarding ...
partner in the region, and has worked in association with BirdLife to carry out many conservation efforts, fulfilling BirdLife International's main goal, to conserve birds and their habitats on an international level.
Currently, all of RSCNs nature reserves have been classified as Important Bird Areas (IBA), which is dedicated to identifying the most important areas for bird conservation in the world.
The RSCN is also a valuable member of the
International Union for Conservation of Nature
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...
(IUCN).
Finally, the RSCN has worked in cooperation with the
International Fund for Animal Welfare
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is one of the largest animal welfare and conservation charities in the world. The organization works to rescue individual animals, safeguard populations, preserve habitat, and advocate for great ...
, working toward to enhance biodiversity protection in Jordan.
References
External links
RSCN Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Royal Society For The Conservation Of Nature
Environmental organisations based in Jordan
Animal welfare organisations based in Jordan
Bird conservation organizations
Organizations established in 1966
Organisations based in Jordan with royal patronage
1966 establishments in Jordan