|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
|
DANA |
|
|||
|
||||
| General Description |
This first Jordanian biosphere reserve includes a system of mountains and wadis (riverbeds in desert areas which remain dry unless it rains heavily) extending from the top of the Eastern Rift Valley to the lowlands of Wadi Araba. The representation of different bio-geographical zones and the dramatic changes in elevation results in a very high biodiversity and a complex set of land cover types. The reserve hosts globally and regionally important species, like the cyprus warbler (Sylvia melanothorax) and the sand fox (Vulpes rueppelli) as well as the endemic syrian serin (Serinus syriacus) that live in a Mediterranean Oak forest. Birdlife International has designated the region as an important bird area. Moreover, the biosphere reserve contains a relict cyprus forest (Cupressus sempevirens), a rare habitat type of the region. Mixed Bedouin tribes of about 500 people live within the biosphere reserve boundaries (1998), while the population reaches some 20,000 people in the immediate hinterland of the biosphere reserve. Major human impacts include overgrazing, firewood collection, water pollution and collection, tourism, hunting etc. The management activities have focused on the reduction of these impacts through control of grazing, hunting, tree cutting, and access for tourists mainly through zoning and ranger patrols. Dana is considered as a regional model for its pioneering work in integrating nature conservation with the socio-economic development of local communities. |
|||
| Major ecosystem type | Warm deserts and semi-deserts | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Mediterranean semi-arid forest with oak (Quercus calliprinos), juniper (Juniperus phoenicia), cyprus (Cupressus sempevirens) and wild pistachio (Pistachio atlantica); mid-altitude steppe with shrubs such as Artemisia herba-alba, Retama raetum and Anabasis articulata; Acacia sub-tropical habitats with Acacia spp., Ziziphus spina-christi and Ficus spp.; sand-dune desert with Acacia spp. and Haloxylon persicum | |||
| Location | 30°41'N; 35°37'E (head quarters) | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 30,800 | |||
| Core area(s) | 21,500 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | 9,300 | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | The "semi-intensive and intensive use zones" serve function as transition zone (no figure given) | |||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | +100 to +1,500 | |||
| Year designated | 1998 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) General Cooperation for Environmental Protection Ministry of Agriculture | |||
 |
||||
| Brief description |
Watercourses Cypress and Juniper regeneration experiments Nubian Ibex population studies Trends of carnivores, mustelid and porcupine populations Survey of Tristrum serim, Cypress warbler Survey of breeding raptors Flora / Fauna Establishing soil erosion monitoring system Post fire regeneration monitoring programs Monitoring key environmental parameters Monitoring grazing exctosarcs Pollution monitoring of cement factory Market research for socio-economic programs Participate rural appraisal of communities living in and around the biosphere reserve Mapping of the different zones of the biosphere reserve Database for tourism in the biosphere reserve since 4 years Database with species seen in the reserve and their location Indicators of sustainability relevant to economic activities: indicators for mining and cement production activities in the buffer zone; indicators related to monitoring of tree regeneration, species, soil erosion |
|||
| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | Abiotic factors, erosion, monitoring/methodologies, pollution, pollutants, soil. | |||
| Biodiversity | Afforestation/Reforestation, autoecology/synecology, biodiversity, birds, breeding/reproduction, fauna, fires/fire ecology, flora, freshwater/inland water, mammals, methodologies, population genetics/population dynamics. | |||
| Socio-economic | Indicators of sustainability, industry, local participation, mining, quality economies, social/socio-economic aspects, tourism. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | Mapping, monitoring/methodologies, planning and zoning measures/zonation, rural systems. | |||
 |
||||
 |
||||
| Last updated: 30/08/2001 |
|
