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Eco-TOURISM IN JORDAN

nature with the improve- For instance, the Shaumari
ment of the livelihoods of Wildlife Reserve was set up
local communities. as a breeding centre for
Operation Oryx, introducing
Wild Jordan is an NGO but the Arabian Oryx into the
it has a very unique part- wild in Jordan and neighbo-
nership with the Jordanian ring counties. Another one is
Government, because we the Dana Biosphere
have an agreement stating Reserve, which also inclu-
that RSCN is responsible for des the Feynan Eco-lodge, a
establishing and managing world class example of eco-
the nature reserves in tourism, protecting critical
Jordan. Currently we are eco-systems while creating
managing six natural parks new livelihoods for villages
and reserves, and we have and Bedouin tribes.
another eleven in the pipeli-
ne. Our organization is quite
famous, especially in
In every one of them we Europe because we have
have eco-tourism projects won quite a lot of internatio-
and social development pro- nal awards. Recently in the
jects -- projects for hiking, UK, we were awarded the
biking, bird watching and Guardian Best Ethical
many other things. For Travel Award for 2010; the
instance, we have a Desert first time such a prestigious
Castles Cycling Trip. award has been given to an
Another one is the Jordan enterprise in this region,
Rift Valley where we propo- benchmarking Jordan inter-
se many different tours. All nationally as having a strong
of them have a common sustainable eco-tourism sec-
theme -- helping nature and tor.
In a beautiful modem buil- of the Royal Society for the
helping people. In each of
ding on a hill overlooking Conservation of Nature
the sites we propose accom- We were selected because of
one of the landmarks of (RSCN) responsible for
people-centred
modation of different kinds, this
Amman stand the offices of socio-economic projects,
such as bungalows, tents approach to protected area
Wild Jordan. The building is including all eco-tourism
and lodges. So there are management that has placed
functional, modem and fits and handicraft enterprises Jordan on the global tourism
into the landscape, and it that link the protection of many options.
map. It was first piloted in
gives you the possibility of
learning about all the wild
life in Jordan which is
unique, to support the work
of the organization through
the sale of national eco-pro-
ducts. They also have a great
café and restaurant.
We had a chance to meet
with a dedicated young man,
Abdullah Abu Rumman,
who told us about this
famous and respected orga-
nization.
Q: Could you tell us
something about your
organization.

Wild Jordan is the division

26 1 2011 Diva
www.divainternational.ch