Jordan’s Ajloun Governorate is located approximately 76 kilometers north of the capital, Amman. It sits atop green hills ranging from 600 to 1,250 meters above sea level, forming a natural gateway to the country’s north. Its unique topography and climate make Ajloun one of Jordan’s richest areas in terms of vegetation and natural forests.  However, the governorate is facing a crisis: unregulated and haphazard urban expansion and encroachment on the edges of natural forests is shrinking green spaces and threatening the future of biodiversity in one of northern Jordan’s richest ecological areas. The situation calls for an urgent, smart, and practical solution that seeks not only to mitigate the current impacts but also to improve the future of urban planning and prevent further environmental degradation.

Urban sprawl in a small country like Lebanon poses serious challenges to both the environment and the economy. These challenges manifest in various ways, including the alteration of natural landscapes, the depletion of natural resources, and considerable financial losses, as evidenced by the issue of quarry damage. Limestone, sandstone, and other sedimentary rocks are among Lebanon’s most abundant natural resources, making the country a significant source of raw materials for the construction sector. The environmental consequences of quarrying have been exacerbated by decades of war and political instability across the Levant, leaving a deep and lasting impact on Lebanon’s ecological and socio-economic fabric.