In developing countries, like Jordan, climate change and population growth have prompted land-use and land-cover changes that have profoundly affected ESs, especially by poor people living in fragile ecosystems. This study aimed to analyze the attitudes towards ES among households living in Wadi Araba, a study area located in a dry ecosystem with limited natural resources, as well as to determine the value of ES and the main socio-economic and perceptions factors influencing households’ willingness to accept (WTA) compensation according to the families’ priorities. The face-to-face method was used to interview a random sample of 296 residents from the study sites, using a structured questionnaire to capture the accepted level of compensation for conservation by the local community. Additionally, multiple linear regression analysis was applied to determine the main socio-economic factors affecting WTA. More than 91% of the respondents were willing to accept compensation for three different conservation plans that reflect the resident’s priority. For the three priorities, the weighted average of the compensation levels was JOD 436, 339, 261 per household per year, respectively, and the aggregate values were about JOD (1,196,977.8, 930,601.2, and 719,411.8, respectively) (JOD 1 = USD 1.41). The residents’ gender, age, and income were among the most important factors that affect the compensation level. The main policy implications are that the government and non-governmental organizations should strengthen advocacy and education of arid ecological and natural resources protection, besides including the local community in any decisions in establishing differentiated compensation strategies and regulations. Eventually, the conservation and restoration activities will become self-initiated.

Urban forests play a critical role in improving the quality of life in cities, but in arid environments, little is known about the potential benefits and growth conditions of different tree species. Our study aimed to fill this gap by investigating the relationships between tree dimensions, above-ground biomass carbon storage, and shading potential in three common urban trees in the arid city of Jericho, Palestine, (i.e., Ficus nitida, Delonix regia, and Phoenix dactylifera). The trees were chosen according to their distribution in urban locations and tree vitality, with ages ranging from 20 to 90 years. Based on the results from tree structure measurements, the carbon storage and shading potential were calculated using the City Tree model. The results indicate a moderate to strong relationship between tree height, crown diameter, and crown volume for F. nitida and D. regia (R2 = 0.28–0.66), but no relationship for P. dactylifera (R2 = 0.03–0.06). The findings suggest that the analyzed tree species can considerably contribute to the potential benefits of trees in improving the climate of an arid city: D. regia shows a higher median of above-ground biomass carbon storage of 155 kg C tree−1, while P. dactylifera 91 kg C and F. nitida 76 Kg C. D. regia and F. nitida have a higher median of shading potential, (31 m2–41 m2), respectively. Information on the ecosystem services from urban trees and their relationships in terms of species, age, and tree planting urban location are very important for city planners, in relation to sustainable urban green spaces in arid cities.

Cultural ecosystem services (CESs) refer to the non-monetary benefits that nature provides humans. This study aimed to allocate and map the CESs in the hyper arid region at the southern part of Wadi Araba as a unique ecosystem in Jordan. 296 residents were participated in a structured questionnaire. The respondents were prompted to indicate CES by drawing dots on a geo-referenced landscape map corresponding to any areas they considered as CES. The results showed that (81.1%) of the locals practice hiking (71.3%) of locals practice walking, and (66.2%) of the locals visit sand dunes which are all among the most CESs the locals engage with. Moreover, respondents expressed that these activities are not related to their primary source of income. The results were mapped and subjected to hot-spot and statistical analyses using a geographical information system (GIS)-based spatial evaluation and statistical analysis using the kernel density estimation (KDE) and Getis-Ord Gi* statistics with inverse distance weight (IDW) interpolation. Overall, the CESs provided by their region were appreciated by most residents. The hot-spot analysis revealed that those core hot-spots (Getis-Ord-Gi* values equal to p = 0.01) covered 19.6% while core cold spots covered 21.2% of the study area. The respondents expressed eagerness to contribute to a constant flow of CESs if the restoration plans are fully supported by the local community. The CES maps generated using the data collected in the present study can serve as baseline measures of the CES provisions subject to change based on the parameters of each development scenario. Furthermore, these maps could help support current and future management efforts by integrating communities’ preferences into development and conservation initiatives, thereby ensuring more efficient and effective utilization of CESs.