Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature

The Royal Society for The Conservation of Nature (RSCN) (الجمعية الملكية لحماية الطبيعة) is an independent voluntary organization that is devoted to the conservation of the county of Jordan's natural resources; it was established in 1966 with King Hussein serving as its Honorary President.

RSCN has the mission of protecting and managing the natural resources of Jordan, for it is responsible for protecting wildlife and wild places and is one of the few voluntary organizations in the Middle East with such a public service mandate.

The organization's principal activities include:

• Setting up protected areas to safeguard the best wildlife and scenic areas.
• Breeding endangered species to save them from extinction.
• Enforcing governmental laws to protect wildlife and control illegal hunting.
• Raise awareness in environmental issues through educational programs.
• Socio-economic development of rural communities.
• Promoting the sustainable use of natural resources.

The organization has made a number of important achievements, including the captive breeding and re-introduction into the wilderness of the Arabian Oryx, gazelle and ibex. It has also established ten protected areas within Jordan, covering over 4,656 square kilometers. These reserve areas include some of the finest natural landscapes in the country: