Dana Nature Reserve
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The Dana Reserve is a system of mountains and wadis, extending from the top of the eastern Rift Valley to desert lowlands of Wadi Araba, an elevation drop of over 1600 meters. It embraces two major biogeographical zones and four distinct vegetation zones. This condensed variety of landforms and habitats, combined with dramatic changes in elevation, results in a vast biological diversity. The total number of species recorded so far consists of 690 plants, of which 3 are new to science, and 449 animals. Many of these are now very rare and some threatened to extinction: animals like the sand cat, the Syrian wolf, the lesser kestrel and the spiny tailed lizard. So far, 25 endangered or vulnerable animals have been found in the reserve, making it an area of global importance.
Apart from its wildlife, Dana is also rich in archaeology. About 100 archaeological sites have been identified, of which are the ancient copper mines in Wadi Feinan that are particularly special, and they are considered as the most important archaeological complex in southern Jordan outside of Petra.
Dana is well renowned as a model of integrated conservation and development, where the protection of biodiversity goes hand-in-hand with improving the social and economic welfare of the local population. Development activities include a substantial ecotourism operation; handicraft production based on local skills in silver jewelry, pottery, plant production, and food processing. Furthermore, a goat-fattening scheme for nomadic pastoralists and sustainable systems for the use of grazing lands in the Reserve have been established. Over 800 people now benefit from these income generating schemes and tourism revenue is covering all the running costs of the reserve.
Flora
555 species of vascular plants were recorded in Dana in the first baseline in 1994. The number reaches now to around 700 species of 71 families. The most important tree species are the Cypress Cupressus sempervirens , and they are the last remaining trees in the region. Three species were considered new to science in Dana, they are: Silene danaensis, Rubia danaensis and Micromeria danaensis.
Mammals
A total of 45 mammalian species have been recorded in the Reserve. Of these species 12 are of conservation importance
| Species |
Scienetific Name |
Status |
| Wolf |
Canis lupus |
Globally Vulnerable, endangered in Jordan |
| Leopard |
Panthera pardus |
Extinct in Jordan |
| Caracal |
Caracal caracal |
CITES I |
| Wild cat |
Felis sylvestris |
CITES II |
| Blanford's Fox |
Vulpes cana |
CITES II |
| Sand Cat |
Felis margarita |
CITES II |
| Fennec Fox |
Fennecus zerda |
CITES III |
| Sand Fox |
Vulpes rueppelli |
Insufficiently Known |
| Striped Hyena |
Hyaena hyaena |
Regionally threatened |
| Nubian Ibex |
Capra ibex nubiana |
Endangered in Jordan |
| Rock hyrax |
Procavia capensis |
Endangered in Jordan |
| Dorcas Gazelle |
Gazella dorcas |
Endangered in Jordan |
11 rodents have been recorded, of which three are of special importance: Asian Dormouse Eliomys melanurus, Fat Sand Rat Psammomys obesus, and Rock Hyrax Procavia capensis. An additional three bats, one insectivore and one hyraxidae species have also been recorded.
Birds
More than 200 bird species have been recorded in the reserve, of which 33 species are of global and regional importance .Some species have significantly large populations in the reserve.
| Species |
Scienetific Name |
Status |
| Key Birds of Global Conservation Importance |
| Lesser Kestrel |
Falco naumanni |
Globally threatened |
| Tristram's (Syrian) Serin |
Serinus syriacus |
Near threatened |
| Cyprus Warbler |
Sylvia melanothorax |
Near threatened |
| Global Conservation Importance |
| Spotted Eagle |
Aquila clanga |
Globally threatened |
| Imperial Eagle |
Aquila heliaca |
Globally threatened |
| Pallid Harrier |
Circus macrourus |
Near threatened |
| Olive-tree Warbler |
Hippolais olivetorum |
Restricted Range |
| Ruppel's Warbler |
Sylvia rueppelii |
Restricted Range |
| Dead Sea Sparrow |
Passer moabiticus |
Restricted Range |
Amphibians
Two species of amphibians have been recorded in the reserve: the Tree Frog Hyla savignii and the Green Toad Bufo viridis.
Reptiles
36 species have been recorded in the reserve, out of which four are of global conservational importance: Desert Monitor Varanus griseus, Spiny-tailed Lizard Uromastyx aegyptia, Chameleon Chamaleo chameleon and Land Tortoise Testudo graeca.
Invertebrates
200 - 300 species have been recorded (of 16 taxonomic groups surveyed), in addition to 20 species of Crustacea, ten species of Odonata 42 - 45 species of Coleoptera.
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