Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (Jordan)

Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (Jordan)
Name	Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature
Formation	1966
Type	Non-governmental organization
Headquarters	Amman, Jordan
Leader title	Chairman

Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (Jordan) The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) is a Jordanian non-governmental organization established to conserve biodiversity, manage protected areas, and promote sustainable livelihoods across Jordan. Founded with royal patronage, the RSCN operates in coordination with international bodies and regional institutions to protect flagship species, restore habitats, and develop ecotourism, while engaging local communities and academic partners.

History

The RSCN was founded in 1966 with support from the Hashemite Royal Court and later received formal recognition linked to initiatives associated with King Hussein of Jordan, reflecting connections to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the offices of the Jordanian monarchy. Early collaborations included partnerships with the United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and bilateral donors such as the United States Agency for International Development, echoing wider conservation efforts seen in organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, and The Nature Conservancy. Over subsequent decades the RSCN expanded its mandate through agreements with the Jordanian Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Environment, and municipal authorities in Amman and Aqaba, while engaging universities including the University of Jordan, Jordan University of Science and Technology, and Al-Balqa Applied University. The RSCN’s development intersected with regional frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Ramsar Convention, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, and it has liaised with global institutions like the International Union for Conservation of Nature, BirdLife International, and the World Bank.

Mission and Governance

The RSCN’s mission emphasizes biodiversity conservation, natural heritage preservation, and community-based resource management, aligning with international goals promoted by the United Nations Development Programme and the Global Environment Facility. Governance is overseen by a board of trustees linked to royal patronage and shaped by advisory relationships with entities such as the Jordanian Parliament, the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, and donor agencies including the European Union and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit. Executive operations collaborate with research partners like the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Smithsonian Institution, and the American Center for Oriental Research, while policy engagement reaches regional bodies such as the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Legal and financial oversight engages institutions like the Central Bank of Jordan and the Jordan Securities Commission when managing endowments and grants.

Protected Areas and Reserves

The RSCN manages a network of protected areas including flagship sites such as Ajloun Forest Reserve, Dibbeen Forest Reserve, Shaumari Wildlife Reserve, and the Dana Biosphere Reserve, interacting with municipal authorities in Mafraq and Zarqa and regional centers such as Irbid and Ma’an. Management involves coordination with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority for coastal initiatives and with international designations like UNESCO Man and the Biosphere, the Ramsar list, and Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas documented by BirdLife International. The reserves host species monitored under programs influenced by the IUCN Red List, the Convention on Migratory Species, and partnerships with zoological collections like Chester Zoo and the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens.

Conservation Programs and Projects

RSCN programs target species such as the Arabian oryx, the Nubian ibex, and migratory raptors tracked alongside projects from BirdLife International and BirdLife partners in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine, plus collaborations with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Habitat restoration projects draw on methods from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the World Wide Fund for Nature, while captive-breeding and reintroduction initiatives echo protocols used by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the European Endangered Species Programme. The RSCN has implemented anti-poaching patrols with training influenced by INTERPOL environmental crime units and has deployed monitoring technologies derived from the Zoological Society of London and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Research, Monitoring, and Education

Scientific activities at RSCN reserves engage researchers from the University of Oxford, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Cambridge for remote-sensing and biodiversity modeling, while regional scholarship includes collaborators from Hashemite University and Yarmouk University. Monitoring programs integrate methods from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and data standards promoted by the Catalogue of Life and the Global Invasive Species Programme. Environmental education works with the Jordanian Ministry of Education, international curricula from UNESCO, and NGOs such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, and uses exhibits modeled on practices at the Natural History Museum and the American Museum of Natural History.

Community Engagement and Ecotourism

RSCN’s community strategies involve local councils in Dana, communities in Ajloun, and Bedouin groups in Wadi Rum, coordinating with development institutions such as the World Bank, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, and the United Nations Development Programme. Ecotourism operations partner with tour operators in Petra, Amman-based hospitality firms, and regional conservation tourism networks like the Jordan Trail Association and the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority, and align with international standards promoted by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and the International Ecotourism Society.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources for the RSCN include grants from the Global Environment Facility, donations from foundations such as the Rockefeller Foundation and the Ford Foundation, and project financing from institutions like the European Commission, USAID, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Strategic partnerships extend to academic institutions including Cornell University and Leiden University, conservation NGOs such as Fauna & Flora International and the Arabian Leopard Trust, and multilateral banks like the Asian Development Bank and the European Investment Bank. Cross-border collaborations involve NGOs active in neighboring states including the Palestinian Wildlife Society, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, and Lebanese environmental groups, supporting transboundary initiatives and regional biodiversity networks.

Category:Environmental organisations based in Jordan