The Ibn Hammad Valley, a rapidly growing tourist attraction for adventure seekers located in the Karak Governate in the south of the Kingdom, will be preserved under an Integrated Ecosystem Management-Jordan Rift Valley Project (IEM-JRV) The 86 square kilometer Valley, which is known for its mineral hot springs, is being threatened by ‘random tourism and lack of environmental awareness’, according to conservationists. The six year project sets guidelines for land use to make sure financial resources are maintained in order to support future environment related projects.
The Ibn Hammad Valley stretches from the northern mountains of Karak to the Dead Sea with altitudes ranging from 800 meters above and 400 meters below sea level. About 10,000 people live in the villages scattered throughout the valley and hundreds of tourists visit each year. The valley is known for is unique natural scenery and variety of flora and fauna. The IEM-JRV project aims to preserve the areas special biodiversity and balance conservation needs with increased tourism.
