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 ......................................................................