Rangelands in the Middle East provide vital ecosystem services, from livestock fodder to soil stabilisation and carbon storage. Yet, these landscapes are increasingly degraded by climate change and unsustainable land use, threatening the livelihoods of local communities and the ecological balance of the region. Nature‑based rainwater harvesting offers a promising pathway to restore degraded rangelands, but its economic viability and spatial suitability remain insufficiently understood.
This project develops an integrated framework combining hydrological modelling, economic valuation, and social assessment to evaluate different rainwater harvesting measures in the Jordanian rangelands. A hydrological model quantifies biophysical benefits such as runoff reduction and groundwater recharge. These outputs are then translated into economic values using a Total Economic Value (TEV) approach, capturing productivity gains, regulating services, and cultural values. Simultaneously, social assessments are conducted to understand local acceptance and feasibility. In a final step, a spatial optimisation procedure integrates biophysical, economic, and social criteria to identify priority areas for intervention. The ultimate output is a prioritisation map for Jordan, designed to support evidence‑based policymaking and promote sustainable rangeland management in the face of climate change.