INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

The world today has subjected lands to a number of environ-mental pressures that further stem from industrialization, urbanization and agricultural intensification. With population increase and the struggle to meet needs with limited natural resources; desertification and severe land degradation are what we will see in our future. Although the conservation status of dryland biodiversity is not well monitored, many known drivers of biodiversity loss are present in the drylands. These drivers include rapid demographic shifts and urbanization, agricultural expansion, land use change, weakening of governance arrangements and the introduc-tion and spread of alien invasive species.

However, with effective methods of participation and proper stakeholder engagement, natural systems have ability to reverse degradation and restore biodiversity. Through a

component of a Global Environmental Fund (GEF) Medium-Size Project (MSP) “Mainstreaming Biodiversity in the Sylvo-pastoral and Rangeland Landscapes in the Al Sharah Agricultural Development Region of Southern Jordan”, aiming at promoting a novel approach to mainstream biodiversity in Jordan; new approaches like ecosystem management and more effective capacity development are being used. The specific objective of the project is to mainstream biodiversity conservation in sylvo-pastoral and rangeland management activities and to produce local economic benefits and poverty alleviation in a sustainable and replicable manner. One major aspect conducted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Regional Office for West Asia (IUCN ROWA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture in Jordan and Hashemite Fund for development of Jordan Badia.

Cucumbers & Tomatoes with a can do attitude

Every year, Salem loses his savings on unproductive agricul-ture. For years, he has been trying hard to break even. Living in the Al Heashe, south of Jordan, Salem was one of the lucky people to benefit from the training courses given to him through the project.

After less than 3 months, Salem is currently a proud owner of four green plastic houses and an estimated net profit this season. Growing cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers, knowledge obtained from the courses has assisted him in agriculture and irrigation.

Salem Al Amareen, April 2015

Bees for Biodiversity & Conservation

Firas and Fares, twin brothers who have greatly benefited from capac-ity building; took advantage of their resources and have increased their income by leading biodiversity projects. After gained experience from the project, both brothers have took it to grow bees along with sustain-ably graze their sheep and goat. Firas and Fares are great positive models which have shown their community how biodiversity projects are linked to increased income. Firas & Fares Al Habahbe – April 2015

Homemade products for happiness

Um Enad has suffered from land degradation effects her whole life. With over grazed lands, she couldn’t keep her family afloat.

Living in Almanshiyeh, Um Enad took the initiative to strive and succeed. After taking a couple of training courses with this project, Um Enad has amazingly started producing homemade yogurt, butter and jameed.

After less than 3 months, Um Enad was able to make enough profit to send her 3 children to school. Much hope and dreams are now available for Um Enad. Um Enad Al Jazy – April 2015

It is clear that increasing local capabilities can later offer economic incentives for maintaining rangeland ecosystem services through small income generat-ing activities. In 2016, IUCN with its partners will be able to foresee the payment for ecosystem services from these projects and further prove that community participation and stakeholder engagement is key in conserving biodiversity and increasing poverty elevation.

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Regional Office for West AsiaHasan Baker Al Azazi St. #20Sweifiyeh - Amman - Jordan

Effective community participationLeading to better rangeland biodiversity conservation todayJune 2015

www.iucn.org/westasia

Twenty nine tailored training courses have been given to a group of local community members and government officials in the first year of the project which started in 2014. This was made possible after a needs training assessment conducted in the governorate of Maan (areas of al Heesheh and Al Manshiyeh). Training courses and project implementation was applied using a participatory approach built on increas-ing stakeholder dialogue and finally producing environmental action plans for the local community. This initial step will therefore help in initiating proper rangeland management and further reviving Al Hima* in these areas to keep lands protected and conserved.

is improving government and community understanding of the economic value of biodiversity by demonstrating the economic benefits of livelihoods linked to rangeland biodiver-sity conservation.

Through implementing proper capacity building and knowl-edge management activities as a first step towards Al Hima* communal management systems in the area, it has been clearly evident that income has increased from biodiversity related livelihood opportunities. More than double the original number of locals are aware of their biodiversity areas and are supporting biodiversity mainstreaming in rangeland ecosystems.

Here in; are real examples of how well-defined capacity building can provide secure land-use services with economic, biodiversity, gender mainstreaming and sustain-ability benefits.

A series of success stories have largely proved that eco-system services have the capacity to provide a unifying language between economic, business and environmental benefits. Beneficiaries are currently recognizing that they have a stake in conserving their environment and reviving their lands.

* The word Hima (Arabic: حمى) originally means “protection” and refers to an area set aside for conservation. Its a traditional conservation system used by Bedouins and local people in the Middle east and north Africa region to organize grazing and keep lands protected and conserved (Ref. WANA Forum 2012).

Figure 1:Stages of stakeholder engagement and reviving Hima dialogue through the 29 training courses.

Figure 2:Local and government capacity building program components

Al Hima & Rangeland Management for Biodiversity Conservation

Livestock Health & Nutrition

Medicinal Plants & their importance

Organic Farming

Yogurt Production

Project Management

Pesticides & Fertilizers

ProblemAssessment

StakeholderAnalysis Set Indicators Produce a

Vision

EnvironmentalManagementCommunityPlan

ExchangingKnowledge