Threatened Species

Species that are likely to become endangered if the natural or human pressures causing them to be vulnerable are not reversed.

Many wild species in Jordan are considered globally threatened and a total of 49 different species and subspecies are listed in the IUCN 2000 Red Data List. The proportion of threatened species to the total number of species is very high, especially in mammals, where 24 out of 77 mammals (31.16 %) are considered globally threatened. In birds, 18 out of 411 total species (4.38 %) are considered globally threatened.

Although, the total number of gymnosperms does not exceed three species, they confirm some of the most important forest ecosystems in Jordan, especially the Aleppo pine forest (Pinus halepensis) in Northern Jordan and the Phoenician Juniper (Juniperus phoenica) in the South. The Juniper and Cupressusspecies are considered threatened species due to the human impact on their natural habitat.

The Gulf of Aqaba hosts more than 348 species of fish, 151 species of hard corals and 120 species of soft corals, in addition to a variety of invertebrate’s species including snails, crabs and sea worms. A total of three threatened species of sea turtles were recorded in the Gulf of Aqaba.

According to the IUCN Red List (2014), Jordan has 103 globally threatened species of fauna. The proportion of threatened species to the total number of species is very high, especially for mammals, where 13 out of 83 mammals 15.6 % are considered globally threatened. Jordan's location by the Great Rift Valley makes the country one of the most important flyways and resting points for migratory birds in the spring and autumn. Hundreds of thousands of birds cross the area yearly, some of which are globally.