Updated Rangeland Strategy for Jordan 2013 - 2014

Aiming at the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Rangelands, as announced in the Vision, the Jordan Government has elaborated the National Rangeland Strategy, updating the strategy developed in 2001, to be implemented within maximum 5 years. The overall goal is to support and develop the rangelands sector and enhance the integrative role of concerned parties and participation of local communities in natural resources management. To achieve the objective, the Strategy proposes 5 main goals as follows: (i) rangelands sustainable development and management; (ii) improvement of social and economic conditions for livestock breeders and pastoral communities taking into consideration gender issues; (iii) enhancement of capacity building (training and awareness); (iv) monitoring and evaluation of rangeland status; and (v) engagement of local communities in sustainable rangeland development and management. The implementing programmes linked to each goal are: (i) identify gaps and weaknesses in legal and technical legislation currently in force and modify them to be inclusive of good governance of rangelands to stop the continued deterioration of grazing lands as a result of ineffective legislation; empowerment of pastoral communities including women for self-sustainable management of pastoral resources to increase their productivity, focusing on the contribution of women as farmers, caretakers of animal husbandry, workers and entrepreneurs; (ii) improving rural beneficiaries’ income from rangeland reserves (i.e. using medicinal and aromatic plants to increase household income); (iii) participation of local community including women in pastoral resources management (i.e. indigenous plants restoration) making use of unique local knowledge related to land grazing management; (iv) monitoring and assessment of rangeland condition and trends to protect the natural resources and improve fodder production and to achieve social and economic development of livestock breeders with special attention to women.