Study assesses health of forests in Kingdom

AMMAN — The botanical research group of the Biodiversity Watch Centre at the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) has conducted a study assessing the health of forests in the Kingdom.

The study, which was carried out by experts, seeks to assess and monitor the health of forest ecosystem in four natural reserves: Ajloun Forest Reserve, Yarmouk Forest Reserve, Dibeen Forest Reserve and Dana Biosphere Reserve.

The reserves include various plant species such as Quercus coccifera, Quercus ithaburensis, Pinus halepensis, Juniperus phoenicea.

According to an RSCN statement sent to The Jordan Times on Wednesday, the study was implemented along three main axes: Ecology, physiology and pathology. 

“The sites chosen for this study represent the environmental regimes of forests in the national system,” the statement noted.

“The main objective of this study is to improve the environmental situation in Jordan. We were assessing the forests on scientific grounds,” Bilal Ayasrah, one of the group members who were supervising the implementation of the study, told The Jordan Times on Wednesday.

During the study, evaluation of plant cover was conducted in each reserve during April (spring period) and September (summer period). Trees and their physiological aspects were assessed such as the photosynthesis, in addition to monitoring the causes of tree diseases, as well as other ecological aspects, said Ayasrah.

In general, the study showed that all physiological indicators are within acceptable limits for normal forest growth. However, it noted that natural recovery and soil health indicators in Yarmouk Forest Reserve, Dibeen Forest Reserve and Dana Biosphere Reserve, are below normal.

The study recommended that immediate interventions should be included, with regard to natural recovery and microorganisms.