Dana Biosphere Reserve, Biosphere reserve in Tafilah, Jordan
Dana Biosphere Reserve is a protected area in Tafilah Governorate, Jordan, covering mountains, valleys, and plains across varied elevations. The landscape extends from high ridges down to low desert terrain, bringing together four different vegetation zones that range from Mediterranean to Arabian desert.
The Royal Society for Nature Conservation founded the reserve in 1989 to protect Jordan's diverse ecosystems. UNESCO recognized the area as a biosphere reserve in 1998, confirming its global importance for conservation and sustainable development.
The reserve incorporates four geographical regions, including Mediterranean woodlands, Irano-Turanian, Arabian desert, and Sudanian penetration zones, representing Jordan's natural heritage.
The 15-kilometer Dana Valley trail runs through the entire reserve and offers views of the different climate zones and habitats. Visitors interested in seeing wildlife should arrive early in the morning or late afternoon, when many of the over 200 bird species and mammals are active.
Over 700 plant species grow here, including three that exist nowhere else in the world. Rare animals include the Syrian Serin and the Nubian Ibex, both endangered species.
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