2018 Abstract Volume
A compilation of the oral and written scientific presentations chosen to be part of World Water Week 2018 Seminars.
A compilation of the oral and written scientific presentations chosen to be part of World Water Week 2018 Seminars.
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Regional master plan for sustainable development in the Jordan Valley<br />
Presenting<br />
Author:<br />
Co-Authors:<br />
Ms. Yana Abu Taleb, EcoPeace Middle East, Jordan<br />
Mr. Gidon Bromberg, EcoPeace Middle East, Israel<br />
Keywords<br />
Jordan Valley, Master Plan, National Security, Development, Water<br />
Highlights<br />
• Since launching the Master Plan for Sustainable Development in the Jordan Valley, EcoPeace has<br />
been working with the Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli governments to achieve agreement on a<br />
selected list of interventions.<br />
• The plan’s objective is to promote peace, prosperity and security in the Jordan Valley and the broader<br />
region.<br />
Introduction and objectives<br />
Political conflict has contributed heavily towards the Jordan River’s current dire state. The issue is further<br />
complicated by the river’s strategic importance as an international border. Rehabilitation is being hindered<br />
by the failure of the Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian governments to agree on other core political issues.<br />
Reaching an agreement on rehabilitation of the Jordan River could therefore be viewed as a catalyst for<br />
regional integration and security. The Master Plan comprehensively identifies feasible, realistic interventions<br />
that could rehabilitate the Jordan River, while providing economic prosperity, greater national security, and<br />
progress towards political peacemaking in the region<br />
Methodology approach<br />
The waters of the Jordan River were first diverted by Israel, Syria and Jordan in the 1950s, leaving less than<br />
5% of its historic flow of 1.3 billion cubic meters in the river today. The opportunity to launch a regional<br />
integrated development approach, led by water security issues, is in fact further strengthened when one<br />
considers the broader political instability in the region. The Master Plan delivers a projection of population<br />
and economic figures for the years 2025 and 2050 and related land and water requirements, while identifying<br />
major challenges to be addressed.<br />
Analysis and results<br />
Development of the Jordan River can be seen as a gateway to peacebuilding and economic prosperity within<br />
Jordan, Palestine and Israel, who all currently share polluted crossborder streams. With ISIS identified by<br />
Jordan as a real threat to national security, Jordan’s environmental and economic crises can render the<br />
country more vulnerable. It is thus of regional interest to cooperate with Jordan in order to increase its<br />
resilience, particularly along the border region in the Jordan Valley, where a restored and rehabilitated river<br />
is crucial for the future of half a million people.<br />
The Master Plan comprehensively outlines a pathway to reaching an achievable and equitable agreement on<br />
the allocation of resources and management of the Jordan River. It presents additional opportunities to not<br />
only build trust with Palestinians, but to integrate Israeli leadership in the water sector to help stabilize the<br />
situation at a regional scale. This would be at a low political cost to Israel, but with high political gain to both<br />
sides. Given the implications of transboundary water and sanitation issues for health, livelihoods and security<br />
in the region, the three governments have clear vested interests in working together to reach new<br />
arrangements for the Jordan River.<br />
Seminar: Political drivers for sustainable ecosystems 52
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