Dibeen Forest Reserve, Protected forest reserve in Jerash Governorate, Jordan

Dibeen Forest Reserve covers 8.5 square kilometres of rolling hills south of Jerash, with Aleppo pines at lower altitudes, mixed pine and Palestine oak in the middle, and Aleppo oak higher up. The limestone and chalky limestone bedrock forms steep slopes, and wadis add moisture that varies the vegetation. The forest is one of the last remaining pine-oak habitats in the Middle East.

The reserve was established in 2004 by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature to protect the remaining pine-oak forests of northern Jordan. This creation marked a turning point in efforts to safeguard the forest cover of the region from further decline.

Dibeen takes its name from the local area south of Jerash, and the reserve is managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, founded in 1966 under the patronage of Queen Noor and King Hussein. Since 2004 the RSCN has run the reserve with the Jerash, Al Meirad and Burma municipalities, and a UNDP-led project between 2004 and 2007 promoted sustainable use of forest resources by nearby communities.

The reserve has marked hiking trails where visitors can walk at their own pace, and a visitor center offers information about the forest and guided tour options. Wearing sturdy shoes is recommended, and it helps to stick to established paths when exploring the different sections of the woods.

The forest marks the southeastern edge of where Aleppo pines grow naturally, and it is home to rare animals like the Persian squirrel. This makes the area botanically and zoologically valuable because it protects species at the limits of their natural range.