Mail to Dheifallah from Mike

9/1/02 Dear Dayfallah We were very concerned to hear about some of the plans for new regulations. Of  course we are in favour of protecting Wadi Rum, as we know that you are. But these plans sound misguided.             I have heard that there is a plan to restrict vehicles to certain routes in order to protect the desert plants and animals. I assume that this would not apply to local Beduin, who obviously need to continue to move about anywhere in their desert as they always have. Perhaps it would only apply to tourists using their own vehicles? (But should tourists be allowed to use their own vehicles at all, as only the local people really know how to drive in the local conditions?)           It certainly would be a good idea for the local drivers to agree the line of one main track down each wadi,instead of multiple braided tracks.            I suppose it also makes sense to restrict the "desert tours" to certain routes. For the many visitors who only come to Wadi Rum for one day, they can be taken on a standard jeep tour, thus protecting other areas from heavy vehicle traffic.              But the climbers and trekkers, who visit  Rum many times and for longer periods, will not want to constantly be taken on the same tours!  We need to get to the start of climbs. The climb itself often takes all day,(sometimes longer) so we need to be dropped off and picked up by a Beduin vehicle. And people who stay longer, like to explore the local area with their Beduin guides. A way needs to be found to accommodate these differing demands, otherwise the regular visitors, who are so important to the local economy, will simply stop coming. The idea of confining sheep/goats, and camels, within pens or fences seems to go against the spirit of the place. Removing the animals would be even worse. For us, and I think for most tourists, the image of the desert and of Wadi Rum is synonymous with the image of a small flock of black goats in the distance, led by the small black-clad figure of a Beduin shepherdess. Also, the free-wandering camels are an intrinsic part of the landscape, and the area would not be the same without them. Any kind of fences would be very ugly, and would seriously detract from the beauty of the open desert. I cannot claim to be any expert on whether the animals damage the vegetation - but it seems to me that your people have kept these animals for many generations, and therefore know how to best manage their impact. Even worse are the plans - if this is really true? - to stop visitors camping in the desert except in large, organised camps.  I can truly say that, if this were the case, then we would not come any more. We do not want to be in large, noisy camps with generators and lots of people. The whole point of coming is to experience the peace and quiet of the desert, as we did when you drove us out to a beautiful camping spot and left us there. We do understand our responsibilities if we want to do this sort of camping - to leave no litter, not to damage plants, to bury human waste, etc. - and I am sure that most visitors who want to do this kind of camping (rather than staying in a large organised camp) do so too. Surely the "nature conservancy" people could be producing a set of rules of good practice for camping in the desert, rather than trying to ban it ? And you could then pass these rules on to any tourists who are going to camp in the desert. I think it is rather the large, noisy camps with generators and music which should be banned! We experienced one last year in Wadi S'bach, run by the rest house I think. They made a lot of noise and left rubbish too. The real Beduin evenings like the one you organised, don't do this. I am writing this to you, but of course I should really be writing it to the authorities and the nature conservancy people. Perhaps you could let me know who I should contact if I want to make my views known? Is there a plan setting out the proposals for new regulations? Is there an official consultation process where local people and visitors can give their views? We have now been to Wadi Rum 4 times (amounting to a total of 3 months there) and would very much like to keep coming back. But I am concerned that the essence of the experience, which is the freedom of the desert and the contact with the Beduin, should not be spoiled by over - zealous regulation.