Burqu’ is a part of the unique black basalt desert of the eastern Badia. It contains an important wadi, which was dammed in Roman times to create a water reservoir. This reservoir with its adjoining mud flats is a site of international significance for migrating birds. The surrounding desert also provides refuge for many desert animals, including the petite and extremely rare sand cat Felis margarita, the Rupell’s fox Vulpes rueppelli and the desert gazelle Gazella dorcas. Its plant life is equally exciting, with over 200 species recorded, many of which were identified in Jordan for the first time. The main threats are overuse of the reservoir water by Bedouins, excessive grazing, and over-hunting.

The Yarmouk River valley where it borders Israel has been left largely undisturbed due to its strategic location. As a result, it still supports a wide variety of plant and animal communities typical of intact and unpolluted river systems. The area includes important woodlands of deciduous oak trees, the largest of the oak tree species found in Jordan. It also supports many rare animals, including the locally endangered and globally near-threatened river otter Lutra lutra and the globally threatened mountain gazelle Gazella gazella and one species of fish found only in the Yarmouk catchment. The area is also very important for birds, especially birds of prey like Griffon vultures Gyps fulvus. The main threats are water extraction, sewage pollution, uncontrolled agriculture, grazing and increasing visitor pressure.

Fifa lies at the southern end of the Dead Sea, near to the national border. It contains remnants of the sub-tropical vegetation which was once common throughout the Jordan valley. It is made ecologically exciting by fresh water streams that have created an oasis in an otherwise arid and salty area. This oasis attracts many migrating birds and supports many unusual plants. At least 7 plants in the site are of national conservation importance and one, Salvadora persica, is found nowhere else in Jordan. A wide range of large animals is also present here, including the Syrian wolf Canis lupus and the majestic caracal caracal caracal.

Lying nearly flat around 43 – 50m above sea level, Qatar is a part of the Jordan Rift Valley that represents the Acacia-subtropical vegetation and the Sudanian bio-geographical zone with annual rainfall of 50mm. This site is part of Wadi Araba, about 40 km north of the Gulf of Aqaba.

The area is composed of different habitats, including Acacia woodland, sand dunes and mudflats. The density of acacia trees in Qatar area is the highest in the country. The proposed protected area in Qatar is separated from the Aqaba Mountains by Aqaba-Dead Sea road. Qatar village is located nearby the study area, but it is too small to have an impact on the site.

Jabal Mas’uda is located in the southern part of Jordan, in Ma'an Governorate. The name of the site was taken from the highest mountain peak in the area. The site has an elevation range from 180m to 1500m and contains three bio-geographical zones: Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian and Saharo-Arabian. It lies in a region including parts of the Southern Escarpment, Esh Sharrah Plateau and the Rift Valley Desert. The diversity in the landscape in the area is unique where one can pass through not less than seven vegetation types by only driving along the road that crosses through the reserve. These vegetation types cover extremes of the vegetation of Jordan from Juniper in the highlands of the area down to sand dunes and acacia trees along the wadis in the lowlands of Wadi Araba.

The proposed protected area lies at the south eastern Aqaba port, and consists of many narrow wadis among a series of steep granite mountains. The area represents the Sudanian bio-geographical zone with Acacia-subtropical vegetation, and creates an ideal habitat for biodiversity that is typically found in the Jordan Rift Valley. The Aqaba Mountains have remained mostly free of human impact, except for the presence of some small Bedouin tribes, which present a threat in the form of over-grazing and wood-cutting.

As a part of the eastern desert, Rajel derives its name from the main wadi that goes through the area, lying northeast of the Azraq oasis. The proposed protected area ranges from flat lands to minor hills, with elevations ranging from 550m to 800m, with its main topographical features being Hammada and several deep wadis. Rajel represents the only water body in the area, which causes floods during hard rains. The area contains a number of rare and threatened animals and plants.

Abu Rukbeh is located east of Karak, and is characterized by a complex typography, consisting of flat areas and high hills of gravel and flint, which are surrounded by a number of valleys. The area ranges in elevation between 700-1050 m above sea level, making it very rich in biodiversity. It consists of three bio-geographical zones: Irano-Turanian, Saharo-Arabian, and penetrations of Mediterranean.

Located in the Eastern Desert, Bayer derived its name from the main wadi that cuts through the main area in the region. Ranging from 750-1060 m above sea level, Bayer consists mainly of a number of overlapping valleys and a series of hills, and the terrain is composed of limestone and flint rocks. Bayer represents the Saharo-Arabian bio-geographical zone. It has been relatively conserved due to low rate of human activity in the area.