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The Dana Reserve
 In
recent years the RSCN has placed its greatest emphasis on two
reserves. One of these is the Dana Reserve. Extending from the
Wadi Araba up to the crest of the escarpment, the rugged terrain
shelters ibex, mountain gazelles, red foxes, badgers, rock
hyrax, hare and porcupine. The RSCN has initiated research
projects, improved its trails and provided a campground. But the
crux of RSCN activity has been restoration of Dana village.
Because of its springs, the village has probably been occupied
for thousands of years, but the current village was built and
occupied during the Ottoman Period by settlers from Bethlehem.
Floundering in snow at the crest of the escarpment, T. E.
Lawrence described “looking down across the chessboard houses of
Dana village, into sunny Arabah, fresh and green thousands of
feet below.” Unfortunately, this most charming hill village with
its spectacular panorama had become derelict, a situation the
RSCN set out to correct. The mosque was rebuilt, a guest house
built, the irrigation works restored, village women taught new
handcrafts from jewelry to soap-making, and their products
marketed in Amman as well as Dana. The rejuvenated Dana village
is a lesson in the interdependence of people with their natural
environment. [Photo
1
 &
Photo 2
]
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