Dana Biosphere Reserve was established in 1989 and is the largest biosphere reserve in Jordan. It was designated as a UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve in 1998. The reserve is managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature and covers approximately 291.5 km² of rugged mountainous terrain along the edge of the Great Rift Valley.

The reserve extends from the Qadesiyya plateau at around 1,500 meters above sea level down to the lowlands of Wadi Araba below sea level. It is characterized by highly diverse geology, including limestone, sandstone, and granite formations, as well as deeply incised wadis that shape its dramatic landscape.

Dana Biosphere Reserve is the only reserve in Jordan that contains three major biogeographical regions: the Mediterranean, Irano–Turanian, and Sudanian zones. This makes it the most ecologically diverse protected area in Jordan, supporting juniper forests, evergreen oak, acacia woodlands, and desert vegetation, as well as the last remaining natural stands of cypress (Cupressus sempervirens).

The reserve hosts more than 891 plant species, representing around one-third of Jordan’s flora. These include three species new to science named after Dana (Silene danaensis, Rubia danaensis, and Micromeria danaensis), 16 globally rare species, 93 nationally rare species, 8 endemic species, and many species of ecological and economic importance.

Faunal diversity is equally rich, with 250 recorded bird species (around 50% of Jordan’s bird fauna), including globally threatened species such as the Syrian Serin (Serinus syriacus) and regionally threatened species such as the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus). The reserve also supports 39 mammal species, 44 reptile species, and a large number of invertebrates, bringing total recorded fauna to approximately 555 species.

Key mammals include the Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana), caracal (Caracal caracal), Blandford’s fox (Vulpes cana), striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), and mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella), many of which are globally or nationally threatened.

Dana also contains the oldest and most significant remaining natural cypress population in Jordan, representing a key relict ecosystem of regional importance.

In 1994, the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature developed Jordan’s first protected area management plan for Dana, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The plan introduced a zoning-based approach to balance biodiversity conservation with sustainable socio-economic development for local communities.

Dana Biosphere Reserve has since become a leading model for ecotourism and conservation-based development and has received several international awards for poverty reduction and biodiversity protection. However, it continues to face major threats, including overgrazing, deforestation, and hunting.