Protecting pastoral lands from mining expansion
In response to the growing threat of mining in the Ma’en region of western Jordan, Jordan’s National Land Coalition (NLC), supported by the ILC's People, Climate and Nature program and the Global Land Catalyst (GLC), has launched an initiative to establish a Hima—a traditional land management approach focused on sustainable pastoral practices. This project aims to strengthen land rights and preserve local livelihoods by protecting critical rangelands, supporting biodiversity, and ensuring sustainable resource management.
Aligned with Jordan’s National Adaptation Plan under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the National Biodiversity Strategy, the initiative will involve local communities and government in drafting a tribal pact to formalise the Hima. Through this participatory process, communities will secure a framework to protect their lands from industrial encroachment, especially mining, while reinforcing traditional land use and water harvesting practices.
Supported by the rapid response mechanism of the Global Land Catalyst, the initiative seeks to drive immediate, targeted action to secure land rights in the face of mounting environmental pressures. By documenting ongoing efforts through fieldwork and community engagement, the NLC aims to attract additional funding, enabling broader preservation efforts to protect Jordan’s natural heritage from external threats.
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