Ajloun Forest Reserve
The Ajloun Forest Reserve is a nature reserve located in the Ajloun Governorate in north-west Jordan. Established by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature in 1988 in the area around the village of Umm Al-Yanabi, it comprises an area of. The reserve is houses a captive breeding programme for the locally extinct roe deer and has been declared an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. There are also a number of hiking trails for tourists.
In October 2018, Ajloun Natural Reserve won a place among the top 100 sustainable destinations on the global tourism map. In 2025, the reserve was designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.
Geography and climate
The climate in the reserve is rare in Jordan as wooded areas account for only 1% of Jordan's area. The geography of the reserve contains mostly rolling hills and valleys as well as some springs. The reserve enjoys a Mediterranean-like climate but has been affected by desertification and deforestation for the past 200 years.Flora and fauna
The reserve is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. The following species can be found at the reserve:- Evergreen oak,
- Carob,
- Terebinth
- Strawberry tree,
- Black iris,, the national flower of Jordan
- Wild boar
- Stone marten
- Golden jackal
- Red fox
- Striped hyena
- Persian squirrel
- Indian crested porcupine
- Wolf
- Roe deer