Volume 12 Issue 2 December 2025

Habitat destruction and fragmentation, climate change, pollution, invasive species, and overexploitation are global causes of biodiversity loss. Area-based conservation measures that consider connectivity are critical. It is extremely challenging to conserve isolated or fragmented areas. The area of the South Jerusalem Hills (9.1 km2) includes several villages collectively called the Al Arqoub area (Al-Khader, Battir, Husan, Al Walaja, and Wadi Fukin) with several valleys that were proposed in 2023 as a new protected area by EQA. The area is rich in cultural and natural heritage. The challenges reported in the conservation of the area warranted serious consideration of how to implement effective conservation measures. Two groups (vascular plants and butterflies/Lepidoptera) were selected to identify key challenges resulting from urbanization and habitat destruction. 387 floral species belonging to 79 families were identified, of which 53 are rare, while 54 are considered very rare. We recorded 63 medicinal and herbal plants, 5 parasitic plants, and 10 introduced invasive species. 44 butterfly species were demonstrated within the targeted region. Their distribution within four poorly connected areas comprising the four valleys in the study areas suggests isolated populations, making protection difficult for the whole area. We suggest that despite the near impossibility of ensuring a connected eco corridor in the area, key plants and associated key butterflies in each of the four areas (like small reserves) ought to be protected. Such studies can be implemented in other fragmented areas of the State of Palestine

Despite the comprehensive literature on the mammals of Jordan published in the last two decades, the rodent fauna in northern Jordan remains largely unknown. This study aims to study rodents’ diversity and distribution in northern Jordan. The survey was conducted during July 2020-April 2021 using Sherman folding live traps for 360 trap nights from 18 different locations along the northern borders of Jordan with Syria extending from Saham to Um el Quttein. A total of 102 individuals representing six species of rodents representing two families (Muridae: The eastern spiny mouse, Acomys dimidiatus; broad-toothed field mouse, Apodemus mystacinus; Wagner’s gerbil, Gerbillus dasyurus; Tristram’s jird, Meriones tristrami; and the house mouse, Mus musculus; Cricetidae: Günther’s vole, Microtus guentheri) were identified. In this study, no new records for the rodents of Jordan were added. However, the present study adds new localities for the rodent fauna of Jordan and extends the distribution range for some species. Surveys on rodents and other small mammals should be carried out every two or three years to estimate their population size and monitor changes in their composition

The Azraq Wetland Reserve, located in eastern Jordan, is the only permanent wetland in the hyper-arid northern Arabian Desert and an essential habitat along the Eastern Palearctic-African flyway. The reserve encompasses a mudflat habitat covering approximately 62 square kilometers, representing the lowest topographic point in the region. receiving surface runoff and inflows from all surrounding wadis. Due to its hydrological significance and habitat characteristics, it supports high densities of waterbirds and has been designated as a Ramsar Site of International Importance. This study presents a unified and annotated checklist of bird species recorded in the Azraq Wetland Reserve between 1960 and 2025, based on historical expeditions, published literature, institutional monitoring programs, and recent field surveys. A total of 328 species are documented, each classified by scientific name, common names in English and Arabic, IUCN Red List status, and seasonal presence in the Azraq region. Among these, fourteen species are Near Threatened, eight Vulnerable, four Endangered, and two Critically Endangered. Despite the loss of natural spring discharge since the early 1990s, artificial water pumping has maintained limited wetland functions, enabling the site to continue supporting wetland-dependent biodiversity. This checklist provides a comprehensive baseline for ongoing ecological monitoring and conservation planning in the Azraq Wetland Reserve.

Dibeen Forest Reserve in northern Jordan represents one of the last remaining natural forests of Pinus halepensis, playing a vital role in conserving Mediterranean forest biodiversity in the country. This study provides an assessment of the reserve’s floristic composition, vegetation structure, and regeneration dynamics, based on fieldwork conducted across 30 systematically selected plots and 11 random route transects. A total of 513 vascular plant species were recorded, representing 50 families and 254 genera. Conservation assessments revealed the presence of 74 nationally threatened species and 7 globally threatened taxa, including orchids listed under CITES. The tree layer was dominated by P. halepensis and Quercus coccifera, which exhibited the highest Importance Value Index (IVI) values. The shrub layer was characterized by high abundance of Cistus creticus, while the herbaceous layer was dominated by annual grasses such as Aegilops peregrina, Brachypodium pinnatum, and Bromus sterilis. Regeneration surveys indicated strong recruitment of P. halepensis, with an estimated density of 653 seedlings/ha and a seedling-to-mature tree ratio of 7.1:1. In contrast, other native tree species exhibited limited regeneration, and species such as Pistacia atlantica and Quercus infectoria were either absent or rare in the regeneration layer. Vegetation mapping delineated three main forest types: Aleppo pine forest, evergreen oak forest, and deciduous oak forest, each distributed along distinct environmental gradients. These findings highlight the ecological importance of Dibeen Forest Reserve as a refuge for threatened and endemic Mediterranean species and underscore the need for habitat specific monitoring and targeted conservation efforts, especially in areas with limited recruitment or high human disturbance.

The Mujib Biosphere Reserve in Jordan provides vital habitats for the endangered Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana), yet knowledge of its ecological distribution remains limited. This study used species distribution modeling (SDM) via the MaxEnt algorithm to predict habitat suitability based on presence-only data collected between 2005 and 2013 and a range of environmental variables collected from related literature and expert judgment. The final model performed well (mean AUC = 0.88), identifying approximately 17–18% of the reserve—mainly steep escarpments and perennial wadis—as suitable habitat. Slope and annual precipitation were the most influential predictors. Crucially, field based ground-truth validation confirmed that over 80% of independent occurrence records fell within high-suitability zones, directly reinforcing the model’s accuracy and credibility. This integration of field verification added substantial confidence to the predictions, demonstrating how on the-ground data can correct for spatial bias and validate remote modeling outputs. The f indings offer a scientifically grounded tool to guide targeted monitoring, patrolling, and habitat management programmes, and provide essential input for adaptive conservation strategies in arid and mountainous landscapes.