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 13km2. 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.Geography and climateThe 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 faunaThe reserve is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. The following animals can be found at the reserve: Evergreen oak, Strawberry tree, (Arbutus andrachne) Black iris, (Iris nigricans), the national flower of Jordan Wild boar (Sus scrofa) Stone marten (Martes foina) Golden jackal (Canis aureus) Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) Persian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus) Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) Wolf (Canis lupus) Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)