Dibeen which was declared as a Nature Reserve in March 2005, will conserve unique and globally significant biodiversity, develop sustainable alternative economic uses of the forest resources and build in country capacity in forest management and conservation oriented land use planning.  The main focus of the project is to conserve the remaining natural representation of Aleppo Pine in Jordan, which is the last natural border for such forests from the northern part of the world. 

 The project is managed by the RSCN, with the strong support of the Governorate of Jerash, local communities, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Planning & International Cooperation and Ministry of Tourism. RSCN has made major progress, baseline surveys have been done and a clean up campaign with the cooperation of local schools and through raising awareness of visitors. 

 The main baseline surveys of the Dibeen forest include: forest inventory, birds survey, small mammals survey, flora survey, carnivores survey, and the socio-economic survey. So far 9 carnivore species and more than 79 bird species have been recorded within the nature reserve. One of the bird species is new on record in Jordan and another one is new for breeding in Jordan.  The Flora Survey recorded 250 plant species, three of them of global importance.  The project now supports more than 20 endangered species of mammals, reptiles, plants and birds.

The project team is developing the land use plan, eco-tourism plan, and finalizing the reserve management plan for the Dibeen Nature Reserve.  It has also established an operational base in Dibeen. 

With the special funding of US$1.1 million mainly by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the project was agreed on in March 2004.  As part of looking for co-funding for the project, RSCN had started a long-term working relationship with the US Forest Service, which will help in building the capacity of the site teams in different aspects related to forest management and participate in the main forest surveys including the forest inventory.  It will also arrange for Jordanian team to participate in study tours in the USA and conferences related to forest management.

The project has been designed to meet the Government priorities as set out in the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.  It will also help Jordan make a step closer towards the achievement of the two Millennium Development Goals of Ensuring Environmental Sustainability goal and the Eradication of Extreme Poverty goal.