an israeli perspectives of a coordinate regional project
TRANSCRIPT
An Israeli perspectives of a coordinated regional project
By:
Avital Gasith; Ram Aviram; Aliza Rapoport-Rootman
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The rehabilitation of the Lower Jordan River
(LJR) and the development of the border
region along the Jordan River
(Phase A)
Albatros
About this presentation This presentation of the project of rehabilitation of the LJR and
adjacent region (Phase A) is an overview of three year team effort of planners, consultants and steering committee, led by the Mr. Ramon Ben-Ari, head of the LJR Drainage Authority.
The presentation was prepared by representative of the above team: Prof. (Emeritus), Avital Gasith; Ambassador (ret.) Ram Aviram and Landscape architect Ms. Aliza Rapoport-Rootman.
In this internet version the animation was removed.
At the conference the lecture was given by Mr. Ram Aviram.
Presentation citation: Gasith A., Aviram R. and A. Rapoport-Rootman. 2014. The rehabilitation of the Lower Jordan River and the Development of the border region along the Jordan River (Phase A). Nir David, Israel (PPT - Session 1).
About the authors:
Prof. Avital Gasith, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life
Sciences and The Porter School of Environmental Studies,
Tel-Aviv University; Consultant for the LJR Rehabilitation
Project and a member of the steering committee.
AMB. (Ret.) Ram Aviram. BIT – Consultancy, Consultant for
the LJR Rehabilitation Project ([email protected]).
Ms. Aliza Rapoport-Rootman, Environmental planner, head of
the Planning team of the LJR project ([email protected])
“And they that bare the ark came unto the Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark dipped into the Jordan, and the Jordan over flow in his banks” Joshua 3:15-16 “ “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened… “ Matthew 3:16-17 “We made from water every living thing” Quran 21:30
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SAVING THE RIVER
DEVELOPING THE REGION
The River’s transformation from abundance to
scarcity
Reversing the process: Taking the initiative for
Saving the River
Two banks of one river: working with our Jordanians
neighbors
The project (Phase A):
The River – planning and implementation
The Region: Developing the region while
protecting its resources
Promotion of economic growth
What next? 9
Yarmuch tributary during flood (A. Gasith 30.3.03)
Wide and plentiful
The LJR once carried
1,300,000,000 MCM yearly
10
Yarmuch tributary during flood (A. Gasith 30.3.03)
Wide and plentiful
The LJR once carried
1,300,000,000 MCM yearly
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Remains of Naharyim Power station
Population increase in the respective drainage states
Total West of Jordan R.
East of Jordan R.
Syria year
5 1 0.5 3.5 1950
43 12 9 22 2014
X9
13
Sea of Galilee (SOG) (A. Gasith,
2004)
Israel
200 - 400MCM
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Degania Dam regulating
the outflow of SOG
Illustration – Soffer
48 DAMS
total storage capacity 300 MCM
Syria
Illustration – Soffer
SOG
Wadi al Harir
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A. Gasith, 3.11.05
The LJR version of “Rio Blanco and Rio Negro”
Compounded adverse effect of
loss of water and organic pollution
A. Gasith, 3.11.05
Damage of aquatic habitats
Reduction in species richness
The LJR version of “Rio Blanco and Rio Negro”
Compounded adverse effect of
loss of water and organic pollution
Salinity levels along the River (data NPA)
Alumot
..... and salinization
KM
Peace between people and with Nature
1994 – signing the
Peace Treaty between
Israel and Jordan
2004 – recognition of nature’s
right for water in Israel;
implementation initiated
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View from King Hussein Bridge (6.5.13 Glazman)
South Jordan river authority
Israel ministry of environmental protection
Israel ministry for regional development
Israel ministry of agriculture& rural development
Israel ministry of interior
Israel ministry of tourism
Israel ministry of Defense
Israel ministry of foreign affairs
Israel water authority
Kineret drainage& rivers authority
JNF (Jewish National Fund)
Springs Valley Regional Council
The city of Bet She’an.
Israel Nature and Parks Authority
Representative of various Israeli green NGOs
Israel lands administration
Israel antiquities authority
Regional Water provider- Afikey maim
Public representatives
Jordan River Rehabilitation Administration
In 2011
Governmental Authorities – 6 Government Ministries – 7 Local Authorities – 3 NGOs and Public reps. - 3
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The project’s vision:
to revive the Jordan River and its natural surroundings;
to maintain continuity of the open countryside
while pursuing mutual acknowledgment and productive co-existence of the riparian neighbors;
to enhance the livelihood of the local residents;
to build bridges and develop reciprocal
cooperation that crosses borders;
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Land use
Ecology
Landscape
Environment
Tourism
Archeology
Economics
Water
Design and decision processes
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Example of material produced for the Master Plan
Landscape & Environm.
Ecological
sensitivity Plant
formations
(habitats)
Open land
continuity
Survey and Analysis
of Current Status
Vision and goals
Examination of
alternatives
Land use
Ecology
Landscape
Environment
Tourism
Archeology
Economics
Water
Design and decision processes
Approval of the plan
Choosing a strategy
Planning
Detailed Planning and implementation
Pu
blic
Pa
rtic
ipa
tio
n
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Any project which relates to the course of the River
Ecological rehabilitation of the Jordan River.
Nature reserves and protected areas.
Environmental planning and exchange of information
of projects with potential impact on the their
surroundings.
Implementing the Peace Treaty and good neighborly relations
Within the Peace
Treaty, Jordan and
Israel agreed to
cooperate on the
following issues:
Israel: Rehabilitation
Administration
Jordan: Jordan Valley
Authority Jordan Valley Authority, Jordan
The Vision for the River
Flow of the LJR will be restored replenishing the river channel with sufficient, high quality water which will enable recovery of aquatic habitats and of biological integrity.
Gradual replenishment of river flow will follow the long-term restoration and support of the water potential of Israel as well as by adequate actions taken by other users in the drainage basin.
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Allocating water
Increase release from
SOG
Release captured springs
Upgrading water quality
Remove sources of pollution
WWT Bithynia
WWT Beit
She’an
Remove sources of
salinity
2013 ca. 9 MCM
Expected in the near future up
to 40 MCM
Recycle fishpond
water
The Water Plan
38 Albatros
Upgrading water quality
WWT Bithynia
Remove sources of
salinity
Removal sources of
salinity (Phase a)
Desalinate SOG salt
springs (~9MCM/Y)
Salinity target
<1000 PPM Cl-
Options for brackish wat. removal
Brine + Salt Springs (Mix.) water
DEAD SEA
Fish
ponds
Jordan River
Reservoir
Irrigation
Water Plan
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?
protected
Human impacted
Choosing the planning strategy
Flexible planning of time and uses
which is based on a dialogue that
promotes coexistence
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Rehabilitation Project
Nature
Conservation Agriculture
Tourism
Resolving conflicts
Coexistence
Development
Cooperation
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LJR
Regional planning: suggested land uses
OPEN AGICULTURAL LANDSCAPE
PROTECTED
ECOLOGICAL CORRIDORS
AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE
WITH RELEVANT STRUCTURES
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
A LANDSCAPE MOSAIC
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Jordan River (A. Gasith 13.3.14)
Clearing the Minefields
Planned to be completed
by the end of 2015
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LJR (A. Gasith 30.2.05)
The economic
resources of
the region
Archeology
Existing
tourism
infrastructure
Cooperation
between Israel
and Jordan
Heritage
Landscape
Sustainable
agriculture
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Example of a proposed project: Bird Watching center – Kfar Rupin
major migration route to 400 species
500,000,000 birds every year
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Jordan River at Gesher (A. Gasith 10.6.14)
Example of a proposed project: Old Gesher: A Baptism Center
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Two banks – economic bridges
Industrial zone Jordan Gate
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Naharyim
Old Gesher
Sheich Husein bridge
Conclusions What do we expect to achieve?
Reversing the process – repairing the damaged LJR
ecosystem and adjacent landscape
Promoting coexistence of Nature, Agriculture,
tourism and sustainable Economic development,
supporting the livelihood of communities on both
side of the River
Strengthening peace and good neighborliness
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One of the many meetings of the LJR steering committee
We are greatly indebted to the
devoted steering committee, the
planning team and consultants
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