The Dibeen Forest Reserve in Jerash Governorate continues to implement developmental and eco-tourism programs aimed at protecting forests and enhancing the local economy through participatory production projects that create jobs and support heritage industries and sustainable tourism.
اضافة اعلان
Bashir Al-Ayasrah, Director of the Dibeen Forest Reserve at the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the reserve recently launched a new workshop for producing beeswax candles within the forest. This complements existing embroidery and pottery workshops designed to support environmentally friendly heritage products, provide employment opportunities for local residents, and diversify the reserve’s economic and tourism activities.
The candle workshop produces a variety of shapes and sizes using natural organic materials. The embroidery and pottery workshops have been operating for more than 15 years, with their products contributing to strengthening the presence of heritage crafts in local and tourist markets.
Al-Ayasrah noted that these workshops provide at least 28 jobs for members of the local community, most of them women. The Royal Society supplies the workshops, equipment, training, and markets the products through its tourism projects across Jordan.
He explained that these initiatives are part of the Society’s plans to develop and modernize tourism projects within forests and parks, offering cultural and heritage products at reasonable prices. The candle workshop represents the latest developmental initiative aimed at enhancing economic and social opportunities while expanding partnerships with the local community.
Beeswax products will be marketed through the Society’s “Nature Shops” to meet the needs of national institutions, the private sector, and local communities. The pottery and embroidery workshops have empowered women economically and socially, with increasing demand for their products in the tourism sector.
Al-Ayasrah emphasized that the products carry environmental awareness messages through their designs, reflecting the Society’s commitment to integrating conservation programs with development. Future plans aim to turn these workshops into experiential tourism sites, allowing visitors to participate in heritage crafts such as embroidery, pottery, and candle-making, aligning with modern tourism trends that involve visitors directly in the production experience.
These projects also engage the local community directly in tourism activities by marketing products to tourist groups visiting Dibeen forests, archaeological sites in Jerash, and other governorates. A strong rainy season has boosted winter tourism, particularly trail and adventure tourism, thanks to flourishing forests and plant growth, attracting more visitors and photography enthusiasts.
The reserve, Al-Ayasrah said, is located in a fully forested area with tree types varying by elevation and terrain: Aleppo pine dominates lower areas, a mix of Aleppo pine and oak covers mid-level areas, and evergreen oak dominates higher regions. Other species include maple, pistachio, wild olive, and orchids. The latest vegetation survey recorded 517 plant species supported by the reserve’s ecosystems, reflecting its rich biodiversity.
Last year, the reserve implemented a comprehensive fire prevention and suppression plan. Encroachments remained minimal, and no fires were reported despite challenging climatic conditions. Approximately 1,500 patrols were conducted in cooperation with authorities and local communities.
Environmental monitoring programs included tracking natural forest regeneration, assessing the impact of closing some tourist sites on vegetation, and monitoring the distribution of Persian squirrels within the reserve.
During the summer, the reserve welcomed over 35,000 visitors, with rising demand for eco-tourism services such as forest trails managed in partnership with the local community. There is also growing demand for food and accommodation services, which still require improvements in basic infrastructure.
The reserve administration oversees the “Al-Hada’a” eco-park to limit unregulated tourism and has implemented environmental education programs targeting local schools, in addition to 22 private-sector initiatives to rehabilitate areas affected by past fires.
Economic and social development programs continue through embroidery, pottery, and beeswax candle workshops, along with an environmental building project that included installing a solar energy system and constructing a 150-cubic-meter water harvesting tank with support from Joranco Company.
The 2026 plan focuses on enhancing protection, monitoring, environmental education, visitor management, supporting civil society institutions, building capacity in project management, and securing funding for environmentally and developmentally impactful activities.
Al-Ayasrah stressed that forest protection is a collective responsibility requiring close cooperation between official authorities and local communities. Forest resources face significant threats, particularly from fires that can destroy hundreds of dunams, while forest regeneration can take hundreds of years.
Petra
