AMMAN, Jordan — A new conservation effort aims to rescue vanishing tamarisk trees in one of the planet’s most unusual wetland environments, the Fifa Nature Reserve near the southern Dead Sea.
The Arab Potash Company (APC) and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) unveiled the Tamarisk Forest Sustainability Project on Wednesday. APC will fund the work, while RSCN manages implementation.
Why this reserve matters: It holds the distinction of being the lowest-elevation wetland registered under the Ramsar Convention anywhere on Earth. Migratory birds traveling between Africa and Europe rely on it as a resting point.
Surveys have documented roughly 40 bird species in the reserve, most of which breed there. The project specifically prioritizes habitat protection for two vulnerable local species: the Dead Sea Sparrow and the Nubian Nightjar.
Field work will begin immediately. Ecological surveys will measure tamarisk distribution, tree health, and natural regeneration potential across the reserve. Teams will also study how livestock grazing pressures vegetation, with findings used to draft sustainable grazing rules.
Meanwhile, patrols will increase through coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Royal Administration for Environmental Protection. Local students and residents will participate in environmental awareness programming as part of the community engagement component.
APC Chair Shehadah Abu Hdaib and CEO Maen Nsour framed the partnership as proof that industrial operations can coexist with serious ecological stewardship. They pointed to desertification prevention and protection of the Southern Ghor’s fragile ecosystems as core goals.
RSCN Board Chair Batool Ajlouni and Director General Fadi Naser called corporate partnerships “essential” for restoring habitats, preserving biodiversity, and keeping natural resources viable for coming generations.
The launch event at the reserve’s headquarters included a ceremonial tree planting and a briefing on project components. Restoration work now moves into its initial assessment phase, with results shaping longer-term management decisions for the reserve.
