Irbid, April 28 (Petra) – Environmental experts and academics are warning that Jordan’s forest cover – a fragile ecosystem making up less than 1% of the country's land – is under a state of "ecological emergency." Speaking to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), specialists argued that saving these green spaces requires moving beyond traditional methods toward a high-tech, community-driven defense strategy.

A Vanishing Heritage The numbers tell a stark story. Ahmed Al-Sharideh, Chairman of the Human and Environment Development Society, noted that Jordan’s forests span roughly 900,000 dunums. However, research indicates a 25% decline in vegetation cover over the past two decades.

"This is a major alarm bell," Al-Sharideh said. "Jordan is home to 2,600 indigenous plant species and 40 types of trees, all currently squeezed between the pressures of climate change, drought, and human encroachment." The Human Fingerprint Statistics suggest that nature is rarely the culprit: 95% of forest fires are caused by human activity. While some are deliberate acts of arson or illegal logging, many result from simple negligence – unextinguished picnic fires, discarded cigarette butts, or the seasonal burning of dry weeds that spirals out of control.

Khalaf Al-Oqla, of the Bani Obeid Society for Environment, highlighted the "ripple effect" of these blazes. Beyond the visible char, fires trigger: – Biodiversity Collapse: The destruction of wildlife habitats.

– Soil Degradation: Increased erosion and the potential for groundwater contamination.

– Health Hazards: A documented rise in respiratory issues and asthma during fire seasons.

Fighting Fire with Innovation To move from reaction to prevention, Saleh Al-Shdaifat, Associate Professor at Jerash University, outlined a tactical roadmap: – Thermal Drones: Utilizing UAVs equipped with infrared cameras to detect "hot spots" and smoke before a fire becomes uncontrollable.

– Strategic Firebreaks: Establishing 6 – 10 meter wide "dirt corridors" and planting natural barriers of slow-burning trees to halt the spread of flames.

– Technical Grooming: Regular pruning of low-hanging, dry branches which often act as "ladders" that allow ground fires to climb into the forest canopy.

While forests can eventually recover through natural succession, experts warned that the process takes decades. For a country already facing extreme water scarcity and rising temperatures, losing the "green shield" of the north is a risk Jordan simply cannot afford.

//Petra// AA