Petra, an archaeological site in Jordan, is home to multiple Bedouin tribes, including the Bdoul and the Ammarin, who have lived there for centuries (1). Since Petra’s designation as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site in 1985 (2), Jordan has neglected the rights of these local communities to hold their land and preserve their Indigenous knowledge. Environmental protections should not displace local communities. Instead, conservationists should work with local communities to address the challenges posed by climate change.