“Jordan has established a new model for sustainable tourism in the Middle East,” says Nasr Al-Tamimi, acting director of Wild Jordan, a business unit attached to the country’s Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN). “Humans and nature interacting and profiting from each other: it’s a simple philosophy but, when it’s implemented successfully, it can make a huge difference.” The RSCN believes small-scale, managed tourism is the best way to protect Jordan’s delicate ecosystems. A stone’s throw from Orjan, the Ajloun Forest Reserve is one of its flagship projects, boasting a clutch of eco-friendly guest cabins and a network of trails winding between the trees. Revenue from the site is ploughed back into conservation.
