Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
are not banned from exploiting their birthright resources without being offered an alternative income. At Ajloun, for
example, a guided trail offers visitors a chance to meet with the area's soap makers: these enterprising women make
their ecofriendly products from natural resources in low-impact cottage industries and sell them at fair prices in the
Ajloun Reserve shop.
At each of the reserves, the challenges may be slightly different (extraction of water in Mujib and Azraq, over-
grazing in Dana), but the story of culturally sensitive and sustainable development is the same. To quote Chris John-
son, director of Wild Jordan (the marketing arm of the RSCN), it is this 'amazing relationship between landscape
and people' that is securing Jordan's ancient wild lands for future generations - indeed, saving them for the sons of
Majid.
Ajloun Forest Reserve
Located in the Ajloun Highlands, this small (just 13 sq km) but vitally important nature
reserve ( 02-6475673; year-round) was established by the RSCN in 1988 to protect
oak, carob, pistachio and strawberry tree forests. The reserve also acts as a wildlife sanc-
tuary for the endangered roe deer (which is being brought back from the brink of extinc-
tion through captive breeding programs) as well as wild boar, stone martens, polecats,
jackals and even hyena and grey wolves.
The RSCN has worked hard to develop tourist infrastructure within the reserve and
woodland cabins are perfect for a romantic retreat. Of course, the real appeal of the re-
serve is its good network of hikingtrails , with a variety of paths suited to hikers of all fit-
ness levels. The landscape of rolling hills and mixed forest is lovely, especially if you've
been spending a few too many hours in Jordan's barren deserts or congested capital. Even
if you don't complete any of the hiking trails listed here, it's worth entering the woodland
at the start of the Roe Deer Trail just to enjoy the strawberry trees, so named because of
their vivid, strawberry-red peeling bark.
Sights
The RSCN supports a number of local community projects in and near the reserve to help
develop new sources of income for the local population. These small-scale, high-value
projects include three workshops that produce olive-oil soap, screen-printed items and tra-
ditional Jordanian cuisine, all of which can be purchased on site or in the reserve's Nature
Shop. The three houses are free to visit and are within a 10-minute drive of the reserve
(follow the signposts from the main road near the reserve) or, more rewardingly, can be
reached via a hiking trail. Pick up a map from the visitors centre before you set out.
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