Dana Biosphere Reserve Hosts Participatory Workshop on Balancing Environmental Conservation and Economic Development

On Monday, 15 December 2025, the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature organized a participatory workshop at Dana Biosphere Reserve as part of the RES-MAB project (WP3), aiming to develop a shared vision and frameworks to balance environmental conservation with economic development. The workshop was honored by the presence of our partners Matilde Stivoli and Edoardo Esposito from Oikos, Italy, who visited Jordan to participate. The workshop brought together key stakeholders from government entities, local communities, the private sector, and civil society to align conservation goals with the sustainable development needs of local communities, in line with UNESCO’s “Man and the Biosphere” (MAB) principle. Key discussion areas: Community Engagement and Communication: Strengthening direct dialogue between reserve management and local communities through coordination groups, regular open meetings, and appointing local representatives. Governance and Decision-Making: Establishing a joint coordination committee to ensure genuine representation of local communities in decisions affecting the reserve. Monitoring and Benefit-Sharing: Developing a simple participatory monitoring system with measurable indicators to ensure fair distribution of benefits and directing a portion of reserve revenues to support local development projects.