Palestinian NGO Master Plan for Sustainable Development of the Lower Part of the Jordan River Basin Interventions May 2015 Table of Contents

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Palestinian NGO Master Plan for Sustainable Development of the Lower Part of the Jordan River Basin Interventions May 2015 Table of Contents Palestinian NGO Master Plan for Sustainable Development of the Lower Part of the Jordan River Basin Interventions May 2015 Table of Contents 1 BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................5 2 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................5 2.1 THE LAYOUT OF THE MASTER PLAN ........................................................................................... 6 2.2 IDENTIFICATION OF THE STUDY AREA ........................................................................................ 7 2.3 IMPORTANCE OF THE JORDAN VALLEY ........................................................................................ 9 2.4 CURRENT SITUATION IN THE LOWER PART OF THE JORDAN RIVER ............................................... 10 2.5 LEGAL, REGULATORY AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ............................................................. 15 2.5.1 Existing Agreements ................................................................................................. 15 2.5.2 Palestinian Legal framework .................................................................................... 18 3 BASIS OF THE MASTER PLAN .......................................................................................... 20 3.1 MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS ....................................................................................... 20 3.2 PALESTINIAN NATIONAL SECTORAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2014-2016 .......................................... 21 3.3 RESEARCH AND AVAILABLE DATA ............................................................................................ 22 3.4 STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS .............................................................................................. 23 3.5 OBJECTIVES OF THE MASTER PLAN .......................................................................................... 23 4 CHALLENGES AND ASSUMPTIONS .................................................................................. 24 4.1 ASSUMPTIONS FOR 2015-2020 ............................................................................................. 24 4.2 SPECIFIC CHALLENGES FOR 2020-2050 ................................................................................... 25 4.3 ASSUMPTIONS ON WHICH INTERVENTIONS ARE BASED ................................................................ 28 5 URBAN AND INFRASTRUCTURE (SOCIOECONOMIC) DEVE-LOPMENT ............................... 28 5.1 GOAL ................................................................................................................................. 29 5.2 OBJECTIVES ......................................................................................................................... 29 5.3 CHALLENGES ....................................................................................................................... 30 5.4 RATIONALE AND ASSUMPTIONS .............................................................................................. 30 5.4.1 Health and well-being............................................................................................... 35 5.4.2 Sustainable wildlife harvesting, ................................................................................ 35 5.4.3 Protecting heritage and cultural resources .............................................................. 35 5.4.4 Equitable business and employment opportunities ................................................. 35 5.4.5 Population sustainability .......................................................................................... 35 5.4.6 Adequate services and infrastructure ....................................................................... 35 5.4.7 Adequate sustainable income and lifestyle .............................................................. 35 5.5 INTERVENTIONS ................................................................................................................... 36 5.5.1 Summary of Urban and Economic Development Interventions ............................... 41 6 WATER MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................. 45 6.1 OBJECTIVES ......................................................................................................................... 45 6.2 CHALLENGES ....................................................................................................................... 46 6.3 RATIONALE AND ASSSUMPTIONS ............................................................................................ 47 6.4 WATER INTERVENTIONS ........................................................................................................ 50 2 6.4.1 Summary of Water Management Interventions ...................................................... 52 6.5 COST ESTIMATES .................................................................................................................. 54 7 POLLUTION CONTROL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ........................................ 56 7.1 OBJECTIVES ......................................................................................................................... 56 7.2 CHALLENGES ....................................................................................................................... 56 7.3 RATIONALE AND ASSUMPTIONS .............................................................................................. 56 7.4 POLLUTION CONTROL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT INTERVENTIONS ............................... 60 8 ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ........................................................................................... 63 8.1 OBJECTIVES ......................................................................................................................... 63 8.2 CHALLENGES ....................................................................................................................... 63 8.3 RATIONALE AND ASSUMPTIONS .............................................................................................. 63 8.4 ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION INTERVENTIONS ............................................................................. 64 9 TOURISM AND CULTURAL HERITAGE DEVELOPMENT ...................................................... 65 9.1 CURRENT SITUATION ............................................................................................................ 66 9.1.1 Tourism Trends ......................................................................................................... 66 9.1.2 Tourism Services ....................................................................................................... 71 9.1.3 Cultural Heritage Sites .............................................................................................. 73 9.1.4 Legal Status .............................................................................................................. 75 9.1.5 Site rehabilitation selection ...................................................................................... 76 9.2 OBJECTIVES ......................................................................................................................... 77 9.3 CHALLENGES ....................................................................................................................... 80 9.4 RATIONALE AND ASSUMPTIONS .............................................................................................. 81 9.5 TOURISM AND CULTURAL HERITAGE INTERVENTIONS ................................................................. 81 9.5.1 Destination Concept Approach ................................................................................. 81 9.5.2 Management ............................................................................................................ 82 9.5.3 Product Development ............................................................................................... 84 9.5.4 Tourism Service Development .................................................................................. 86 9.5.5 Promotion and Marketing ........................................................................................ 88 9.6 INTERVENTION COST ESTIMATES ............................................................................................. 88 10 AGRICULTURE IMPROVEMENT ..................................................................................... 91 10.1 OBJECTIVES ....................................................................................................................... 91 10.2 RATIONALE AND ASSUMPTIONS ............................................................................................ 91 10.3 AGRICULTURAL WATER NEEDS BASED ON CROP WATER REQUIREMENT ..................................... 94 10.4 AGRICULTURAL WATER NEEDS AND EMPLOYMENT .................................................................. 94 10.4.1 Agricultural Water Needs and Income ................................................................... 94 10.4.2 Agricultural Water Needs and Food Security ......................................................... 95 10.4.3 Future Agricultural Water Needs ........................................................................... 96 10.5 AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTIONS ...................................................................... 97 10.5.1 Develop the potential irrigable land ......................................................................
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