Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature
[7] Its main purpose is "to develop viable nature-based business within and around RSCN's protected areas in order to bring tangible economic and social benefits to local communities and generate financial, political, and popular support for nature conservation throughout the Kingdom.
"[8] Wild Jordan displays all products of the local communities involved in ecotourism such as hand-crafted silver jewelry, organic jams and fruit leathers, painted ostrich eggs, sandblasted frames, environmental board games, natural olive oils, and goat leather nature boxes as this helps generate more sales.
[11] The RSCN has 100% local employment policy in all their protected areas, resulting in ecotourism directly supporting upwards of 160,000 families throughout Jordan.
[12] Wild Jordan's position in the RSCN allows for control over ecotourism through the management of income generating programs that build on local products and skills.
[14] In 2010, Wild Jordan won the prestigious Guardian-Observer "Ethical Travel Award", which is given for outstanding work in responsible tourism.
[17] The Feynan Ecolodge was developed to provide economic opportunities for local communities and generate revenue to conserve Jordan's wild places.
[20] Feynan Lodge is considered "the emblem of the Jordan's conservation crusade and the heart of sustainable tourism in Dana.
This partnership allows RSCN, mandated by the government, to manage Jordan's nature reserves and concentrate on conservation work.
The founder of EcoHotels, Nabil Tarazi, a former CEO of a company in the technology sector of London, stated, "Feynan was transformed to offer a plethora of new experiences, its environmental footprint decreased, the number of staff doubled; benefiting more families in the local community, and the lodge received much acclaim in the international media.
[27] Similarly, Karak, Petra, Tafileh, and Aqaba are being affected by the RSCN's restriction to allow their communities to log and their animals area to graze.
According to Geraldine Chatelard, a social anthropologist and historian of the contemporary Middle East, in the case of Wadi Rum and more specifically, the work of the RSCN, she states "although efforts were made to gain the support of the indigenous Bedouins and involve them in the project [Dana Biosphere Project], local-community participation is extremely limited and opposition is widespread.
"[28] Incidents with local communities include the use 4x4 vehicles to breach reserve fencing, thereby allowing their grazing animals access.
In examining the diverse nature of the problems and possibilities that NGOs, may face in the context of a national push for economic development, Laurie Brand demonstrates that the tourism related projects in Wadi Rum, pioneered by the RSCN, were ineffective and not conducive toward local Bedouin life.
[33] Since 2000, USAID has supported the development of Jordan's eco-tourism industry to promote and fund environmental protection, while providing needed economic opportunities in remote rural communities.
USAID has supported RSCN's work in nature reserves and ecotourism to promote and fund environmental protection.
[34] Over the years, USAID support has helped RSCN expand offerings in and around the Dana Biosphere Reserve, which now include a campsite, hiking trails, a Dana Village guest house, renovated heritage village houses for tourism facilities, handcraft workshops, a conference center, a museum, and an eco-hotel, Feynan Lodge.
[35] In addition to USAID funding, the RSCN and its network of nature preserves has been supported by a series of World Bank-implemented Global Environment Facility projects over the last 15 years.
