Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PROTECTED AREAS
Established in 1966, the
Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature
(RSCN;
www.rscn.org.jo
)
is an unusual NGO in that it has a national mandate to run biodiversity
projects on behalf of the nation. Indeed, it is Jordan's main environmental agency.
The RSCN has been successful in its founding remit: to help save animal and plant spe-
cies from extinction and to reintroduce several locally extinct species, such as the Arabian
oryx (
Click here
)
. Over the past two decades, however, the RSCN has developed a much
wider focus, recognising that tourism has an important role to play (see the boxed text,
Click here
)
. The result has been a modern and highly successful program of ecotourism
projects, centred on RSCN reserves.
The RSCN conducts public awareness programs
among Jordanians, especially children; sponsors en-
vironmental clubs throughout the country; trains
guides; combats poaching and hunting; and lobbies
against mining, helping the uphill struggle to pre-
serve the country's natural treasures for future gen-
erations.
