E1477 Public Disclosure Authorized The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature Environmental and Social Assessment (ESA) and Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for Integrated Ecosystem Management in the Jordan Rift Valley Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Final ESA and ESMP Report October 2nd, 2006 Public Disclosure Authorized ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT (ESA) AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (ESMP) FOR INTEGRATED ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT IN THE JORDAN RIFT VALLEY PROJECT TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Table of Contents i List of Tables iv List of Figures vi Annexes vii Abbreviations viii 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Project Background 1 1.2 Project and Environmental Assessment Objectives 2 1.3 Public Consultation 3 1.4 Supporting Maps 5 2 PROPOSED PROJECT 7 2.1 Project Location 8 2.2 Project Components 10 2.3 Sector Issues Addressed 20 2.4 Project Zones of Effect 21 2.5 Project Duration and Phases 23 2.6 Project Implementing Organization: Royal Society for Conservation of Nature 23 2.7 Project Benefits and Stakeholders 24 2.8 Project Sustainability 25 3 LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 26 3.1 Introduction 26 3.2 Institutional Framework 27 3.2.1 Overview of Governmental Organizations 27 3.2.2 Universities and Research Institutes 37 3.2.3 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) 39 3.3 National Agenda 41 3.4 Applicable National Environmental Legislations 42 3.4.1 Sources of Environmental Law in Jordan 42 3.4.2 Laws 51 3.4.3 Regulations (By-laws) 58 3.4.4 Strategies 62 3.4.5 Related Environmental International and Regional Conventions and Treaties 68 3.5 Applicable World Bank Policies 73 3.5.1 Environment Assessment (OP/BP4.01) 74 3.5.2 Forestry (OP/BO 4.36) 74 3.5.3 Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP4.12) 75 3.5.4 Indigenous Peoples (OD4.20) 75 3.5.5 Safety of Dams (OP 4.09) 76 3.5.6 Pest Management (OP 4.09) 77 3.5.7 Cultural Property (OPN 11.03-draft OP/BP4.11) 77 3.5.8 Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) 77 3.5.9 Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) 78 Final ESA & ESMP Report i Consolidated Consultants / IMI ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT (ESA) AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (ESMP) FOR INTEGRATED ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT IN THE JORDAN RIFT VALLEY PROJECT 3.5.10 Projects on international Waterways (OP 7.5) 78 3.6 Legal and Institutional Issues 79 3.7 Recommendations 81 4 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL BASELINE CONDITIONS 83 4.1 Physical Environment 83 4.1.1 Topography and Geomorphology 83 4.1.2 Climate 84 4.1.3 Geological Setting 86 4.1.4 Water Resources 95 4.1.5 Fluid and Solid Wastes Management System 106 4.1.6 Air Quality and Noise Level Status 106 4.1.7 Existing Challenges to the Physical Environment 107 4.2 Biological Environment 111 4.2.1 Biogeography 111 4.2.2 Biological Habitat 113 4.2.3 Naturality 116 4.2.4 Fragility 116 4.2.5 Rarity 116 4.2.6 Species Diversity 116 4.2.7 Hotspots 127 4.2.8 Nature Conservation and Protected Areas in Jordan 152 4.2.9 Challenges Facing Nature Conservation in the Jordan Valley 161 4.2.10 Agro-Ecological Conditions 167 4.3 Socio-Economic Conditions 178 4.3.1 Population 179 4.3.2 Social and Cultural Characteristics of the Local Community 182 4.3.3 Socio-Economic Characteristics 185 4.3.4 Education 190 4.3.5 Public Health 191 4.3.6 Gender Issues and Women Status 193 4.3.7 Development Needs 193 4.3.8 Stakeholders Awareness 195 4.4 Archaeological Baseline Conditions 196 5 ANALYSIS OF PROJECT SPECIFIC ALTERNATIVES 201 5.1 No Action/Without Project 202 5.2 With Project 203 6 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS 204 6.1 Impacts on the Physical Environment 204 6.1.1 Overview of Impacts 204 6.1.2 Expected Environmental Impacts of Establishing Natural Reserves 204 6.1.3 Environmental Impacts of Implementing the Integrated Ecosystem Management (IEM) Concept 209 6.2 Impacts on Biological Conditions 210 6.2.1 Enhancing Ecosystems Balance and Integrity 211 6.2.2 Preserving Biological Habitat 212 6.2.3 Enhancing Biodiversity 214 6.2.4 Strengthening and Enhancing the Protected Areas Network 216 Final ESA & ESMP Report ii Consolidated Consultants / IMI ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT (ESA) AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (ESMP) FOR INTEGRATED ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT IN THE JORDAN RIFT VALLEY PROJECT 6.2.5 Promoting Sustainable Use of Biological Resources (Products and Attributes) 216 6.2.6 Conservation of Threatened Species 219 6.3 Impacts on Socio-Economic Settings 220 6.3.1 Positive Impacts 220 6.3.2 Negative Impacts 224 6.4 Impacts on Archaeological Resources 224 7 EVALUATION OF CUMULATIVE PROJECT SPECIFIC IMPACTS 226 7.1 Cumulative Impacts on the Physical Environment 226 7.1.1 Establishing Natural Reserves 226 7.1.2 Implementation and Adaptation of the IEM Concept 226 7.2 Cumulative Impacts on Biological Conditions 226 7.3 Cumulative Impacts on Socio-Economic Conditions 227 7.4 Cumulative Impacts on Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Resources 227 8 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 228 8.1 Rationale and Justification 229 8.2 Planning and Framework of the ESMP 230 8.3 Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) 232 8.3.1 Environmental Policy and Commitment 232 8.3.2 Policy, Legal and Administrative Requirements 233 8.3.3 Structure and Responsibility 233 8.4 Integrated Ecosystems Management Areas 238 8.4.1 Environmental and Social Objectives 239 8.4.2 Environmental and Social Aspects 240 8.4.3 Sub-Project Screening Checklists and Safeguard Review Procedures 240 8.4.4 Environmental Sub-Project Screening Checklists 244 8.4.5 Sub-Project Safeguard Review Procedures 246 8.5 Management Programs for Mitigation of Impacts 248 8.5.1 Proposed Mitigation Measures for Establishing the Natural Reserves 248 8.5.2 Recommended Mitigations for Implementing Integrated Ecosystem Management (IEM) Concept Activities 253 8.5.3 Environmental Monitoring 256 8.5.4 Preparation Stage 256 8.5.5 Monitoring Plan for Establishing the Nature Reserves 257 8.5.6 Monitoring Plan for Implementing the Integrated Ecosystem Management (IEM) Concept 259 8.6 ESMP Control 260 8.7 Implementation and Operation 260 8.7.1 Training, Awareness and Competence 261 8.7.2 Communication 262 8.7.3 Emergency Preparedness and Response 263 8.8 Checking and Corrective Action 263 8.9 Management Review 263 8.10 ESMP Cost Implications 264 Final ESA & ESMP Report iii Consolidated Consultants / IMI ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT (ESA) AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (ESMP) FOR INTEGRATED ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT IN THE JORDAN RIFT VALLEY PROJECT LIST OF TABLES Table Page Table 1: Significant issues identified in the public consultation session 5 Table 2: List of GIS shapefiles and image maps from RSCN 6 Table 3: Project components, anticipated outputs, and activities 11 Table 4: Overview of proposed PA activities and IEM sub-projects and their respective locations 15 Table 5: Benefits to be obtained from IEM project implementation 24 Table 6: Environmental activities and concerned organization 40 Table 7: Fees (paid to WAJ) 59 Table 8: Selected international environment agreements 68 Table 9: Mean Minimum, Absolute Yearly Maximum and Mean Yearly Temperature for Selected Climatological Stations Along the JRV 85 Table 10: Total Rainfall (mm/year) for Selected Stations Along The Jordan Valley 85 Table 11: Geo-Lithological Succession of Jordan 86 Table 12: Main features of agricultural zones in the Jordan Valley, 1998 95 Table 13: Annual Flow Volumes in MCM/year for Main Basins 100 Table 14: Existing storage Dams Located Within JRV area and/or Supplying the JRV Surface Water System 101 Table 15: Water Consumption Status for the Ground Water Basins located, “and/or” extending Within the Jordan Valley Area-Year 2001 103 Table 16: Water Consumption in the Jordan Valley Area 104 Table 17: Major thermal springs within JRV area 105 Table 18: Major solid waste dumping sites in the Jordan Valley 106 Table 19: Changes in the surface area of the Dead Sea and Evaporation Ponds as observed from Satellite Images 108 Table 20: Different plant communities and their occurrence in different zones of the Valley 117 Table 21: Criteria for selecting IBAs in the Middle East 130 Table 22: Globally threatened species 150 Table 23: Regionally threatened species 150 Table 24: Species restricted wholly or largely to Middle East 150 Table 25: Proposed protected areas 159 Table 26: List of existing parks in Jordan 160 Table 27: List of forest and rangeland reserves 160 Table 28: Classified categories according to annual precipitation 168 Table 29: Water supply and requirements Balance (Mm3/year) 169 Table 30: Areas and percentages allocated for crops planted under irrigated or non-irrigated lands of the Jordan Rift Valley in 2003 170 Table 31: Average crop water requirements and cultivated areas during 1994-1998 for various plant production categories within the sub-areas of RJV 171 Table 32: Rural and Urban Population in Jordan during 1988-2004 179 Table 33: Population densities in the study area 180 Table 34: Population projections for Jordan 2010-2020 (Summary) 181 Table 35: Population projections of all the population settlements in the study area 181 Table 36: Tribes of Ghore 184 Table 37: Main economic indicators 1998-2004 185 Table 38: Distribution of employed labour by type of labour, sex, nationality and age category in Jordan Valley in 2001-2003 186 Table 39: Annual Income Levels in the JRV in 2004(JD) 187 Table 40: Level of income according to the sex of the head of the family in 2004(JD) 188 Final ESA & ESMP Report iv Consolidated Consultants / IMI ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT (ESA) AND ENVIRONMENTAL