Amman, Feb. 1 (Petra) -- The total area of natural reserves in Jordan has expanded by 2.3% over the past ten years, raising the share of protected ecosystems to 5.4% of the Kingdom’s territory, according to official environmental statistics released on Saturday.
In its 2024 report on ecosystems, biodiversity, and forests, the Department of Statistics said the combined area of terrestrial nature reserves reached 4,767 square kilometers during the period, in addition to the country’s designated marine reserve.
Despite the expansion, the report highlighted a persistent gap between national protection levels and international benchmarks. The International Union for Conservation of Nature recommends that protected areas account for at least 17% of land ecosystems and 10% of marine ecosystems, thresholds Jordan has yet to meet.
Forest coverage remains structurally limited, with wooded land totaling 1,070 square kilometers, or 1.2% of the Kingdom’s total area. Balqa governorate recorded the largest forest area at 164 square kilometers, followed by Irbid at 145 square kilometers and Ajloun at 139 square kilometers.
Wildfires continue to pose a major challenge to forest ecosystems. The report showed that 55 forest fires were recorded in 2024, damaging 4,168 trees, 38% of which were completely burned. The total affected area reached 6,132 dunums. Fires were identified as one of the most serious threats to forested areas due to their impact on natural habitats, vegetation cover, and soil stability, increasing the risk of erosion.
On wood production, the statistics indicated that total firewood output reached 5,060 tonnes in 2024. However, Jordan is not considered a wood-producing country and relies heavily on imports to meet domestic demand. Timber imports were valued at JD 156 million last year, marking a 1.1% increase compared with levels recorded over the past decade.
The report said data on natural reserves were sourced from the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, while forestry and wildfire figures were provided by the Forestry Directorate at the Ministry of Agriculture. External trade data were based on official statistics compiled by the Department of Statistics.
The Department said environmental statistics are updated annually in line with the United Nations framework for environmental statistics, drawing on administrative records, field surveys, and monitoring systems to support evidence-based policymaking.
//Petra// RZ
