Restoring Degraded Rangelands of Hommret Ma’een

In the arid, heavily grazed gentle slopes of Hommret Ma’een overlooking the Dead Sea, restoration was implemented across almost 48 hectares in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Madaba Directorate. It began in 2023, and has been ongoing since then, with yearly expansion, development and improvement. The site used simple water harvesting structures, small lunar-shaped soil mounds, deep pits, and simple rock structures, to enhance moisture capture. Restoration began in the lower, wetter areas and expanded slightly upslope. The first planting year focused mostly on Atriplex halimus, a naturally occurring hardy shrub, and achieved a 90% survival rate with only one irrigation event at planting. The second year applied the Target Plant Concept, reintroducing native species including Retama raetam (decades ago very common but now rare due to logging), Salsola vermiculata, Ziziphus spina-christi, Teucrium polium and Crataegus azarolus. maintaining an 82% survival rate through the harsh summer of 2025, with one time irrigation during planting. The site was designed, implemented, and monitored with the support of the local livestock-owning communities, who consider themselves stewards of the land, showing high levels of ownership and accountability. The restoration was done by several funders: 1- GWC: as a water replenishment project for a local beverage company 2- WADI-USFS: community-based restoration project 3- Planeterra: Carbon offsetting project