The Bedouin Know: Using Local Knowledge to Understand the Effects of Development at the Wadi Rum Protected Area in Southern Jordan

Development initiatives at the Wadi Rum Protected Area (WRPA) in southern Jordan, despite aiming to be people-centered and environmentally sustainable, have largely failed to deliver promised benefits to local Bedouin communities. A decade-long analysis reveals that these projects, designed to foster conservation and tourism, have instead marginalized the Bedouin, stripped them of control over their lands and tourism industry, increased clan divisions, and prioritized tourism over environmental protection. The study leverages Bedouin perspectives and experiences to critique development processes, demonstrating how local knowledge exposes the disconnect between stated goals and actual outcomes. This research underscores the need for inclusive, equitable approaches in conservation and development that center on the voices and needs of intended beneficiaries.

Strachan, Laura M. (2012). THE BEDOUIN KNOW: USING LOCAL KNOWLEDGE TO UNDERSTAND THE EFFECTS OF DEVELOPMENT AT THE WADI RUM PROTECTED AREA IN SOUTHERN JORDAN [McMaster University]. https://doi.org/10.71548/16219