Jordan and the Nagoya Protocol
Jordan signed the Nagoya Protocol the tenth of January 2012. The instrument for ratification was accepted twelve October 2014 when the Protocol came into force. The Section Nagoya Protocol gives more information on the implementation of the Protocol.
Fresh Water Species
| Release date | 07/08/2017 |
|---|---|
| Contributor | Ziad Tahabsom |
| FRESHWATER SPECIES |
| The location of the country between three old continents has made it a special “meeting” place for species from various origins. The Rift Valley is a major migration route that raptors and other birds use to migrate between Africa and Europe in spring and autumn. On the other hand, the Eastern Desert which covers more than 75 % of the total surface area of the country is a place where several species are present especially reptiles and small mammals that are used to the dry and harsh conditions of these habitats.
The variation in ecosystems and habitats has led to a wide biodiversity. A total of 77 species of mammals belonging to seven orders have been recorded so far. The Jordanian herpetofauna consists of 102 species. The majority of it is not critically endangered even though about 14 species are relatively rare, 2-4 species might be already extinct and a few species are probably critically endangered. The 411 bird species recorded in Jordan belong to 58 families. The avifauna of Jordan is one of the best-studied groups due to Jordan’s location on the migration route for birds. The invertebrate fauna of Jordan is unique in many aspects since its composition is a mixture of several faunal origins, but due to lack of comprehensive research, the exact number of invertebrate species is unknown. A total of 13 orders and 116 families were recorded so far in Jordan. Many conservation initiatives have taken place in the last 50 years. Protected areas are one of the ways of conserving what is left of the terrestrial fauna in their habitats. Protected areas in Jordan are managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature by delegation of the government. The current protected area network consists of 6 adopted and several other proposed sites. Special attention was directed to other zones outside protected areas. These zones have significant conservation importance due to their great diversity of species and habitats. They consist of important bird areas, important wetland areas, marginal areas at national borders (protected by the army) and wildlife corridors. Major threats to wildlife in Jordan- Biodiversity in Jordan is exposed to several threats that have led to sharp decline in most of the Jordanian fauna and to the extinction of several species. These threats can be summarized in the following. Lack of information is the basic threat to all forms of wildlife including terrestrial fauna. Insufficient knowledge about the biology, status and distribution of wildlife and humananimal interaction consequently leads to inefficient measures to conserve these species. The different efforts in this field should be interpreted into practical steps toward better understanding of Jordan’s wildlife simply by coordination between the different sectors and stakeholders involved. Habitat degradation and destruction from human activities have led to the loss of natural habitats including terrestrial and aquatic habitats that affected the faunal composition of these areasUncontrolled urban expansion in the form of deforestation and transforming forests into agricultural and urbanized areas in addition to the increase in Jordan’s population and industrial development have caused the destruction of natural habitats. |