Wildlife of
Jordan

Primary Threats

• Severe water scarcity and over-abstraction of aquifers and surface water reduce river flows and wetlands (notably affecting oasis and wetland systems such as Azraq), intensifying salinization and vegetation loss and increasing pressure on wildlife during drought years.
• Rising temperatures and more frequent/intense droughts amplify desertification, reduce spring flows and wetland permanence, and shift vegetation communities upslope in the highlands; heat and drought stress also increase livestock pressure on remaining forage and water points used by wildlife.
• Conversion and degradation occur in the highlands and Jordan Valley from settlement growth, agricultural development, and fragmentation of steppe/desert edge habitats; in arid landscapes, even small land-use changes around water sources can disproportionately impact wildlife.
• Water diversion, dams, groundwater pumping, and wetland engineering alter natural hydrology and seasonal flooding regimes, undermining wetland function for migratory birds and native fish/amphibians; rangeland modification (track proliferation, unmanaged grazing) simplifies vegetation structure.
• Irrigated agriculture in the Jordan Valley and parts of the highlands increases water demand and can replace native scrub/steppe; agrochemical use and runoff can affect nearby wadis and wetlands, while expanded fencing and land division fragment movement corridors.
• Growth around Amman and other towns expands roads, housing, and industrial areas into surrounding rangelands, increases demand for water and aggregates, and drives recreation pressure in wadis and desert landscapes.
• Road building, utility corridors, tourism facilities, and energy development in desert and highland areas fragment habitats and increase wildlife-vehicle collisions; in iconic landscapes (e.g., Wadi Rum), infrastructure can intensify disturbance and off-road access.
• Quarrying and extractive industries (notably for construction aggregates and other minerals) cause direct habitat removal, dust, noise, and increased truck traffic; impacts can be significant in rugged highlands and steppe margins where endemic plants and raptor nesting areas occur.
• Localized pollution from wastewater, solid waste dumping, and agricultural runoff affects wadis and wetlands; dust and emissions from quarrying and traffic can degrade nearby vegetation and sensitive habitats, while plastics and litter accumulate at popular desert sites.
• Illegal hunting/poaching persists for certain birds and mammals (including in desert/steppe areas), sometimes facilitated by easy vehicle access; enforcement is challenging over large remote areas and can undermine reintroductions and small, recovering populations.
• Illegal collection and trade of birds (including raptors and songbirds) and reptiles occurs opportunistically, with Jordan's location on regional trade routes increasing risk; confiscations require capacity for rehabilitation and release.
• High visitation and off-road driving in desert destinations (especially in and around Wadi Rum and popular wadis) disturb nesting birds and sensitive desert crusts/vegetation, and can damage archaeological/natural features that underpin protected landscape values.
• Predators and scavengers (e.g., wolves/jackals and other carnivores where present) can be involved in livestock depredation disputes, especially in rangelands during drought, leading to retaliatory killing or persecution; competition for water points also increases tensions.
• In wetlands and disturbed sites, invasive plants and introduced species can outcompete natives and alter habitat structure; the risk increases where water regimes are modified and nutrient loads rise, complicating wetland restoration efforts.