Milestones | RSCN

1966: Officially established The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature on 24 of April as one of the first voluntary conservation organizations in the region, under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Noor, with His Majesty the late King Hussein as the honorary president.
1973: Given the responsibility by the Government to regulate hunting and issuing hunting licenses. To meet this challenge, RSCN created the country’s first hunting patrols to enforce lawful hunting.
1975: Established the first nature reserve in Jordan, Shaumari Wildlife Reserve, to provide a release for the magnificent Arabian oryx, which had been brought to the edge of extinction by indiscriminate hunting.
1977: The Ramsar Convention declared Azraq Oasis and the adjacent mudflat (Qa) as a major station for migratory birds on the African-Eurasian flyway. Azraq Oasis was declared the first Wetland of International Importance in the Arab world.
1978: Established Azraq Wetland Reserve in an attempt to save the core area of this unique and globally important habitat and migratory bird route.
1978: Initiated Arabian oryx rescue operation; received four Oryx animals from Phoenix Zoo, USA, which were placed in specially prepared breeding enclosures at Shaumari Wildlife Reserve.
1979: Produced the first edition of Al-Reem, a quarterly environmental magazine designed to bring environmental issues to the attention of the Jordanian public.
1979: Enforced a 5-year moratorium on hunting in the Kingdom in response to the dwindling populations of wildlife.
1982: Received a special patrol boat from His Majesty King Hussein for monitoring the waters of the Gulf of Aqaba.
1983: Held a historic ceremony in Shaumari Wildlife Reserve to release the Arabian Oryx into the wild, with His Majesty the late King Hussein and His Royal Highness Prince Phillip opening the gates of the reserve.
1983: Received three Ostriches from Oklahoma Zoo, USA, to initiate their re-introduction program in Shaumari Wildlife Reserve.
1984: RSCN was listed for the first time in Guinness world records book having the largest herd of Arabian Oryx in Shaumari wildlife reserve.
1985: Established Mujib Biosphere Reserve near the Dead Sea, comprising the lowest nature reserve on earth at that time.
1986: Started its first Nature Conservation Clubs at schools in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, which aimed at helping children understand environmental issues and their importance. RSCN now has over 1000 clubs throughout the Kingdom.
1989: Established Ajloun Forest Reserve, to protect the Evergreen Oak Forests in northern Jordan and to re-introduce the Roe Deer.
1989: Established its fifth reserve, Dana Biosphere Reserve, which was located in a spectacularly beautiful area around Dana village. It was opened by Her Majesty Queen Noor, the RSCNs patron.
1991: Joined forces with other environmental stakeholders to draft the national environmental strategy for Jordan.
1993: The research department was established in RSCN.
1994: Partnered with the Government, United Nations Development Program, and the World Bank to start a major project based on the newly established Dana Biosphere Reserve. The project had two objectives: to make Dana Biosphere Reserve a model of integrated conservation and socio-economic development, where the needs of nature and the needs of people are tackled simultaneously; and to restructure the management system of RSCN through institutional strengthening. This process took RSCN into a modern era of conservation.
1995: Worked in cooperation with government agencies to formulate the first Environmental Protection Law for Jordan.
1995: Revolutionized its approach towards environmental education by creating regional networks of club leaders who were trained on exciting and innovative techniques of environmental education.
1996: The late King Hussein, has awarded RSCN the Order of the Star of Jordan Grand Cordon in recognition of the leading role played by it in the preservation of the environment and protection of natural resources and wildlife in Jordan.
1998: Carried out a second Protected Areas Review in Jordan to reconfirm the findings of the first review from 1978 by Clarke, resulting in the addition of six new proposed protected areas in Dibeen, Yarmouk, Jordan River, Qatar, Aqaba Mountains, and Fifa.
1998: Signed a memorandum of understanding with the Jordan Valley Authority to divert the location of the Mujib Dam to be at the shores of the Dead Sea, so as not to affect the natural water flow of the Mujib River.
1998: Established the Wadi Rum protected area.
1998: Released the captive-bred Ibex from Raddas enclosure at Mujib Biosphere Reserve.
1998: Launched the “cry for nature” campaign to bring attention to the many threats facing Jordan’s environment and natural heritage.
1998: UNESCO’s declaration of the Dana Nature Reserve as Jordan’s First ‘Man and Biosphere Reserve’.
1999: Adopted its new strategic plan, which focused on phasing out reintroduction programs for endangered species in favour of in-situ conservation measures.
2000: Held a national conference on the future of Azraq to stimulate debate on the water crises facing the oasis and to promote action on its behalf.
2000: Awarded a medal by Hanover Expo 2000 organizers for the Dana Project, which is considered one of the world’s outstanding environmental initiatives.
2001: Worked in cooperation with the Ministry of Education to cover water conservation issues in the national curriculum.
2002: Released the Arabian Oryx into the wilderness of Wadi Rum.
2002: Established a trust fund to ensure its ongoing sustainability, funded by the Jordanian Government and the USAID.
2002: His Majesty King Abdullah II visited Mujib Biosphere Reserve.
2003: Initiated eco-tourism programs, with Queen Rania placing the foundation stone of the eco-tourism facilities in Ajloun Forest Reserve.
2003: Inaugurated the Visitor Center and Campsite at Mujib Biosphere Reserve.
2003: Created a bird station at Azraq Wetland Reserve to enable researchers to study the migration and behavioural patterns of birds through ringing and sound recording.
2004: Developed a partnership with the Police Department to activate the enforcement of wildlife protection laws and regulations.
2004: Received an official delegation to manage the protected areas through the signing of a historic agreement with the Ministry of Environment.
2004: Officially opened the Wild Jordan Nature Center, under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania, to enable RSCN to promote the sale of its natural products and services, thereby generating more jobs for the local communities, and more income for nature conservation, while increasing awareness of Jordan’s natural heritage.
2004: Formally opened Ajloun Forest Reserve, under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania, and her declaration of Ajloun as the environmental capital of Jordan.
2004: Established Dibeen Forest Reserve to protect the most important natural forest of Aleppo Pine in Jordan, and to have a home to the Persian Squirrel.
2005: Informally opened Feynan Eco-lodge, an ambitious eco-tourism facility, which follows a totally new concept in environment-friendly accommodation.
2005: Launched its first Advocacy Committee to mobilize people to support RSCNs cause. The Advocacy Committee succeeded in its first campaign to persuade the government not to proceed with granting licenses to stone quarry in Ajloun forest.
2005: Launched “Save Jordan’s Trees” Campaign in cooperation with several Jordanian environmental organizations and succeeded in blocking the government’s proposal to amend the agricultural law of 2005, which would have permitted investors to instigate business ventures in Jordan’s few forested areas.
2006: Concluded an agreement with the Ministry of Tourism to operate the Dead Sea Panorama Complex, which includes the first Natural History Museum dedicated to the Dead Sea area.
2006: Succeeded in saving the endangered Sarhani fish by breeding this rare species in special ponds in the Azraq Wetland Reserve.
2006: Held the first annual Animal Action Week in Jordan and the Arab region, funded by the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
2006: Participated in the establishment of an environmental police unit, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Public Security Department.
2006: Established a non-for-profit organization dedicated to developing the concept of fair trade in Jordan through a coalition with the Jordanian Hashemite Fund and the IUCN.
2006: Released Roe Deer into Ajloun’s wilderness after 18 years of captive breeding.
2006: Officially opened Azraq Lodge as a hub for exploring the eastern desert.
2007: Commenced the execution of the Jordan Valley Integrated Ecological Systems Management Project, a qualitative leap in RSCNs work.
2008: His Majesty King Abdullah II visited Azraq Wetland Reserve. His Majesty’s tour included a visit to Azraq Lodge and an introduction on the wetland reserve's administrative programs and socio-economic projects in the area. His Majesty showed his support for RSCN's programs in the area.
2008: Prepared the National Network of Protected Areas Report which was approved by Council of Ministers. It covers the national plan for the establishment of a protected area network to complement the existing nature reserves. The report is based on the accumulated information, field studies, as well as the results of research, carried out by the reserves since the mid-seventies to date.
2008: Integrated herbal and medicinal plants concepts into the national curricula for the first time.
2009: The New Private Sector Partnership for Feynan Ecolodge RSCN has signed a new agreement with Ecohotels, whereby the company will be managing the operations of Feynan Ecolodge
2010: His Majesty King Abdullah II laid the foundation stone of a specialized Academy for training on the protection of nature and sustainable development near Ajloun Forest Reserve, which later was named the "Royal Academy for Nature Conservation".
2010: The British Guardian awarded the first prize in the “Responsible Tourism” to RSCN in recognition of the integrated eco-tourism programs managed by RSCN with biodiversity conservation programs besides its contribution to the socio-economic development of local communities.
2010: RSCN established Al Yarmouk Forest Reserve to become the seventh reserve managed within the "national network of protected areas."
2010: The Royal Rangers (Environmental Police) in collaboration with RSCN have opened the first police unit in Dana Biosphere Reserve, which is the first Royal Rangers unit among the reserves in Jordan.
2010: The Social Security department evaluated RSCN and ranked it as the "Best Employer" due as per the results of a study performed by the Public Institution for Social Security in Jordan. RSCN was appreciated for its role in protecting the natural heritage of Jordan and for its policy in employing the local communities' members living in and around nature reserves.
2010: Developed the First program using SMS in Environmental Education.
2011: UNESCO’s declaration of the Mujib Nature Reserve as Jordan’s second ‘Man and Biosphere Reserve’, after the Dana Biosphere Reserve.

2011: The formal declaration by the Government of Fifa and Qatar nature reserves as protected areas of national importance. RSCN is currently developing infrastructure management programmes for these two reserves.
2011: Won the FORD AWARD grant and the first-ever “The People’s Choice Award 2011" for the efforts of Integrating biodiversity concepts into national curricula and capacity building for teachers”.
2011: Developed the First Communication Strategy at the protected areas’ level for Mujib Biosphere Reserve.
2012: Achieved the UNESCO AWARD for a published report of good practices within the good practices publication “Education for Sustainable Development, Good Practices in Addressing Biodiversity”, for RSCN’s efforts of integrating environmental concepts into the national curricula.

2012: Developed the First Social Media program for Environmental Education for the first time targeting school students, and held the First Environmental Education Conference.

2012: Developed the first social marketing programs in the protected areas to improve Littering Behavior in public parks.

2013: Developed a pioneering partnership with the Arab Bank to cover many initiatives where the most important was building the community capacity at Mujib Biosphere Reserve in Faqou village.

2013: Received Ford Award for environmental projects in 2013 in recognition of its role in the establishment of a program about Falcons display for visitors at Shaumari Wildlife reserve.

2013: The BirdLife International Global Council has awarded RSCN for its leadership in the management of protected areas and the integration of socio-economic development with nature protection programs on the global level.

2014: Recorded new fish species “Garra jordanica” as new to science, and a new species of plant at Dana Biosphere Reserve added to the list of plant species in Jordan.

2014: Published the first issue of the Jordan Journal of Natural History at a special launch ceremony, which was attended by a group of university professors and researchers from inside and outside Jordan. Copies of the first issue were distributed at various educational institutions such as universities and educational organizations
specialized in biodiversity.

2014: Won the “Sustainable Destinations Global 100 World Legacy” in 2014, as a reward for RSCN outstanding role in the development of Eco-Tourism program in Dana Biosphere Reserve.

2014: Won the award of the “Trip Advisor for Excellence” for both Feynan Eco Lodge and the Guest House in Dana Biosphere Reserve.
2015: Developed the first Nature Knights Program concept and framework, as well as the development of the whole programs and curricula for Azraq Wetland Reserve and Dana Biosphere Reserve.
2015: Developed the First Environmental Education Interactive Game Application for Smart Phones about Azraq Wetland Reserve and water problem.
2015: Developed the First Environmental kids play area in Wild Jordan Center.
2015: HRH Crown Prince Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II visited Mujib Biosphere Reserve.
2015: HRH Crown Prince Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II inaugurated the Royal Academy for Nature Conservation as the first education center in the Middle East specialized in nature conservation and biodiversity programs.
2016: In cooperation with Saudi Aramco, RSCN has established the first reserve outside the borders of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which is Shaybah Wildlife Sanctuary in Al Rub’ al-Khali, Saudi Arabia.
2017: The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, has declared recently that Fifa Nature Reserve’s is the lowest point standing at 420 metres below sea level, the Ramsar convention described its newest addition as the world’s lowest wetland of international importance. This is the second addition of RSCN within the Ramsar Convention.
2017: Inaugurating a number of sites that were developed and sponsored by the Royal Court, such as the expansion of Dana Biosphere Reserve’s Guesthouse, Mujib Adventure Center, and Hada'at Dibeen Park, aiming at increasing the number of visitors and improving the quality of the services.
2018: HRH Crown Prince Hussein, inaugurated the visitors center at Shaumari Wildlife Reserve, which is considered home for rare and endangered animals species in the Middle East.
2018: RSCN record the Guinness World Records title for the Largest candle mosaic, with an area of 112.04 square m, 11440 candles were used to create the Earth hour 60+ logo.
2018: Establish two nature reserves in the eastern desert region, so that the percentage of declared protected areas will be 5% of area of Jordan. They are called: Burqu and Dahek.
2018: Azraq Wetland and Ajloun Forest Reserves are listed on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas as the best-managed protected areas in the world.
2020: The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature won the Renewables Grid Initiative Environmental Protection: "Good Practice of the Year"2020 Award for “mainstreaming soaring birds’ conservation into the energy sector in Jordan.

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