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.

However, these limited spaces face immense pressure; the Department of Statistics recorded 55 fires in forested areas during 2024, which ravaged approximately 6,132 dunams and damaged 4,168 trees, 38% of which were completely incinerated. Most dangerously, 95% of these fires are caused by direct human intervention, whether through negligence or deliberate acts,

The importance of this wealth extends beyond being mere green spaces, as forests perform vital roles in soil protection and the regulation of the water cycle. Forested watersheds provide the world with approximately 75% of its fresh water, and in Jordan, they contribute to protecting dams from siltation and stabilizing the soil. On a climatic level, forests act as natural carbon sinks, and their significance is magnified in light of climate projections indicating a potential 47% decrease in rainfall and a temperature rise of up to 3.2°C by the year 2100. Furthermore, forests serve as a source for ecotourism that supports local communities and hosts a unique biodiversity exceeding 575 plant species in the Ajloun Reserve alone, in addition to animals such as the Persian Squirrel and the reintroduced Fallow Deer.

Forests also contribute to improving air quality by absorbing pollutants, a point emphasized by the Ministry of Environment in its vision for public health. Despite this importance, forests face intertwined challenges, most notably urban expansion as Jordan’s population exceeds 12 million, putting pressure on forested lands. Alongside fires, illegal logging and unregulated grazing have emerged as major threats; the Ministry of Environment seized 30 tons of illegal timber in a single winter season. Experts point to institutional and financial weaknesses in managing this file; while the budget for one fire-fighting project reached only $100,000, the cost of combating desertification is estimated at approximately $9.5 billion.

While the government has launched the “Planting 10 Million Trees in 10 Years” initiative and introduced technologies such as drones, questions remain regarding the adequacy of these campaigns in the face of accelerating loss rates and the lack of follow-up care for planted trees. Additionally, the issue of coordination between the Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, and Interior, and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature remains a hurdle that may lead to overlapping jurisdictions. The coming phase requires a thirty-year national strategy that integrates environmental considerations into economic planning and enhances the role of local communities as partners in protection through economic incentives and ecotourism returns.

Protecting what remains of Jordan’s forests is not a luxury, but rather an existential necessity linked to water and food security. This requires strengthening technological surveillance, tightening penalties through specialized environmental courts, and shifting toward “smart afforestation” by selecting drought-resistant local species like carob and terebinth, while increasing financial allocations in the general budget. The forest represents the nation’s lung, and its protection is a collective responsibility that requires implemented policies and changing mindsets to ensure the sustainability of this heritage for future generations.