ELZUBI to Al-Rai: A National Lung Faces the Risk of Recession Under the Weight of Depletion and Neglect

ElZubi to Al-Rai: A National Lung Faces the Risk of Recession Under the Weight of Depletion and Neglect
Food security expert Dr. Fadel ElZubi stated to Al-Rai that the latest data shows Jordan’s total vegetative cover accounts for only 3.7% of the country’s total area, with trees representing 63.7% of that cover. According to reports from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Jordan has lost approximately one-third of its natural forests over the past thirty years, with an annual recession rate of 1.6%. These forests are concentrated in the northwestern regions, particularly in Ajloun, Jerash, and Amman, where Mediterranean species such as oak, pine, and terebinth prevail. These areas include rich reserves like the Ajloun Forest Reserve, which was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2025, and the Dibbeen Reserve, which serves as the last natural habitat for Aleppo Pine in the region.