In Dana, Jordan’s oldest and largest nature reserve, copper is to be mined in the future. Conservationists: inside criticize the project violently.
Dana – Hilly landscapes and more than 800 different plant and animal species attract numerous people to the Dana National Park in Jordan every year. The reserve is located in the west of the country, not far from the old Nabatean capital and historical ruins of Petra. With 320 square kilometers, Dana is the largest and at the same time oldest nature reserve in Jordan.
However, the tranquility of the national park is threatened by a plan by the Jordanian government. In the future, copper is to be mined there, as reported by the Arab news portal Al-Jazeera. According to the Jordanian government, there are an estimated 45 million tons of copper in Dana.
Nature conservation associations criticize construction projects in the Dana National Park in Jordan
In August the government commissioned the Ministry of the Environment to demarcate part of the area for copper extraction. In addition, a committee was formed to look for new land to replace the areas to be mined. The exact area, which should be between 60 and 106 km², is still being negotiated.
Numerous nature conservation and environmental associations have already expressed severe criticism of the construction plans. The reserve, founded in 1989, is home to more than 800 different plant species and 215 bird species, which make up about a third of the Jordanian plant species and half of all bird species. Some are considered threatened and some of them can only be found in Dana. The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), a non-governmental organization that manages Jordan’s reservations, condemned the government’s decision, saying it would take all legal steps to protect the reserve.
| Dana Biosphere Reserve | Managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature |
| area | 320 square kilometers |
| founding | 1989 |
| Bird species | 215 |
| Plant species | Over 800 |
Endangered animal species in Dana National Park in Jordan could lose their habitat
“It’s a very diverse area with four different biogeographical zones and there are also important archaeological sites. Its biodiversity and heritage must be protected, ”said Fares Khoury, professor of animal biology and co-founder of the NGO Jordan Birdwatch. Several threatened birds, such as the Syrian serine and the sooty hawk, are dependent on the reserve. “The area is very sensitive. If the project goes ahead, it will only leave destruction. “
Mining also needs a lot of water – in an area that already lacks water, says Muna Hindiyeh, professor of environmental technology. “There is a good chance heavy metals will get into the groundwater and pollute it,” she said. According to Hindiyeh, mining would also increase soil erosion and lead to a loss of biodiversity. Therefore, the negative impact of the project would have to be carefully assessed.
Dana National Park in Jordan – classified as Unesco World Heritage in danger
Corresponding studies on environmental compatibility for the project are not yet available. “We need full studies of the exact cost of copper mining and the environmental impact it would have on the region,” RSCN chairman Khaled al-Irani told Al Jazeera. Conservationists also criticize the fact that the government has so far only given non-transparent estimates as figures. Jordan’s ministries for the environment, energy and natural resources reportedly failed to respond to Al Jazeera’s interview requests.
In addition to concerns that mining will cause irreparable environmental damage, there are also concerns about how the project could affect the region’s archaeological sites from the Paleolithic to Roman and Islamic times.
Experts also fear that mining could prevent the Dana National Park from being classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site. The reserve is currently being assessed for this position. The Jordans International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) also sees the decision to open the reserve to mining investments as a dangerous precedent that could also affect other nature reserves.
Jordanian government defends copper mine in the Dana nature reserve
Despite public protest, the government has defended the mining project, arguing that it would create a thousand jobs and be an investment in the future, especially as the demand for copper is growing exponentially.
In 2016, the government granted the Jordanian Integrated Mining and Exploration Company a license to mine copper. The company is part of the Manaseer group, which invests in oil, gas and mining. According to Manaseer, the mining project would “support the economy” and create jobs in a country where the unemployment rate has reached an alarming 25 percent. Tafila, the southern governorate where Dana is located, is particularly hard hit by poverty and unemployment. A spokesman for Manaseer is also said to have said on a press tour that the project would not harm the environment – which would not exist in the reserve anyway.
Dana Nature Reserve in Jordan pursues sustainable tourism
The sad thing is that the Manaseer officials do not even see the flora and fauna in the reserve, Mohammad Asfour, an environmental activist, told Al-Jazeera. “They see nothing but short-term profit.” However, it is more important to focus on sustainable solutions and “not on mega-projects from which only a few benefit,” says Asfour. Copper mines are repeatedly criticized for violating human rights and promoting poor working conditions. Since most mining jobs on offer are poorly paid and short-lived, Asfour argues, tourism would be a better investment.
The Dana National Park is internationally regarded as a prime example of sustainable tourism and nature conservation. The reserve is managed by the local people and generates about $ 3 million annually, according to the RSCN. A year before the corona pandemic, the national park attracted around 80,000 visitors. (Anna Charlotte Groos)
