Tafilah, Oct. 23 (Petra) – A meeting held in Tafilah Governorate on Thursday underscored the pivotal role of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) in safeguarding Jordan’s biodiversity and integrating environmental protection with economic and social development.

Participants emphasized the importance of strengthening coordination among stakeholders, enhancing environmental awareness, and empowering local communities to participate in sustainable development initiatives.

Tafilah Governor Sultan Madi, speaking in the presence of the RSCN Director of Local Community Development and Initiatives Hisham Dahisat, and Director of Dana Biosphere Reserve Raed Khawaldeh, highlighted the RSCN’s mission to conserve biodiversity, rehabilitate natural habitats, and protect Jordan’s environmental heritage for future generations.

Madi commended the partnerships established by the society with ministries, private sector institutions, and local communities to implement programs aimed at protecting ecosystems and promoting socio-economic development. He also noted the efforts of the Dana Biosphere Reserve in preserving biodiversity and creating employment opportunities for residents.

For his part, Dahisat outlined the RSCN’s efforts to improve the livelihoods of communities surrounding protected areas through ecotourism, handicrafts, and small-scale economic projects. He pointed out that the RSCN manages 10 nature reserves, Shaumari, Azraq, Wadi Mujib, Ajloun, Dana, Dibbin, Yarmouk, Fifa, Burqa, and al-Dahek, covering more than 4,656 square kilometers across Jordan’s diverse landscapes, with additional sites under consideration for future designation.

He detailed the establishment of advisory committees in several reserves to strengthen collaboration among governmental, non-governmental, and community stakeholders. These committees, he said, function as institutional mechanisms for continuous dialogue, joint planning, and coordination to ensure the conservation of natural ecosystems and the realization of Sustainable Development Goals.

Khawaldeh reviewed the Dana Biosphere Reserve’s accomplishments since its establishment in 1989, noting that the reserve, located in Tafilah and spanning more than 300 square kilometers, is the largest in southern Jordan and one of the most ecologically diverse. He said the reserve’s programs have successfully balanced environmental protection with economic and social growth for the surrounding communities.

//Petra// AJ