The arid lands, or Badia, of north-east Jordan have been the subject of many forces of change throughout the course of the twentieth century, particularly since the end of the First World War. These many changes to the population, the resource base and the management of the Badia's natural resources are the subject of the Jordan Badia Research and Development Programme.

This volume presents the main research findings from the first phase of the Programme, which established a baseline for the natural and human resources of the area. The Programme, long-term, is also deeply concerned with questions of economic and social productivity.

The aim of the research is to provide decision makers, in both the national government and local households, with the information they require for sustainable management of Badia resources by government agencies and local people on behalf of the population and the nation as a whole.