| The variation in ecosystems and habitats has led to a wide biodiversity. A total of 77 species of mammals belonging to seven orders have been recorded so far. The Jordanian herpetofauna consists of 102 species. The majority of it, is not critically endangered even though about 14 species are relatively rare, 2-4 species might be already extinct and a few species are probably critically endangered. Nature protection in Jordan has been a constant concern of both the Royalty and Government always realising the fragile nature of ecosystems owing to the socioeconomic, physiogeographic and climatic conditions of the country. The Biological Diversity Convention is the first global convention which relates to all aspects of biological diversity: genetic resources, species and ecosystems. It declares that conservation of biological diversity is a common concern of humankind and an integral part of sustainable development. The protected areas represent different ecosystems and habitats of Jordan and include some archeological or historical sites. Direct Values: Natural ecosystems provide people with food and innumerable materials of all sorts, from honey and truffles to teak. Most notably, a crucial portion of the protein in our diets comes straight from nature in the form of fish and other animals harvested from the seas. This service is provided by oceans in conjunction with coastal and wetland habitats, which serve as irreplaceable nurseries for marine life that is either harvested directly or used as a food supply by the sea life that we eat. Natural ecosystems maintain a vast genetic library from which Homo sapiens has already drawn the very basis of civilization and which promises untold future benefits. That library of millions of different species and billions of genetically distinct populations is what biologists are referring to when they speak of biotic diversity, or biodiversity. |
