| Abstract: |
The Dead Sea basin plays a major role for regional economic development
(industry, tourism and agriculture) in the Middle East. This potential is
threatened by the steady disappearance of the Dead Sea. Since around 1930 the
water level of the Dead Sea has fallen by about 25 m, about half of this alone
in the last 20 years. The Dead Sea is a transboundary resource shared by
Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan. The Dead Sea is the terminal
point of the Jordan River watershed and as such, it serves as a barometer for
the health of the overall system. Its rapid decline reflects the present water
management strategies of the riparian and upstream countries. This includes
the different water cultures of the three countries. Throughout history, the
Dead Sea basin has served as a source of refuge and inspiration for followers
of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Today, the religious significance of the
Dead Sea is being overshadowed by its rapid disappearance. This may be
explained in part by the water cultures of the three countries that influence
water policy in the region. Ideology, together with culture and tradition,
such as that of Zionism in Israel, has played a central role in water
development in the region. In many cases, this has been at the expense of the
environment. Elements pertaining to environmental security and water culture
and tradition, whereby a sustainably managed environment provides for social,
economic as well as environmental benefits are evident with regards the Dead
Sea. The decline for example, undermines its potential as a tourist
destination, despite the enormous investment in hotel and resort
infrastructures in Israel and in Jordan. The decline also raises ethical
issues about the exploitation of water resources by present generations at the
expense of this natural heritage to future generations. This paper provides an
analysis of a European Union funded project whose aims are to synthesize and
assess existing physical and socio-economic data and to assess options for a
better future for the Dead Sea. It will identify the patterns of water supply
and use in the region, and the factors that control these patterns, including
those of water culture. The underlying assumption is that solutions for a more
sustainable development than today’s scenario will not come from simply
providing "more water for more development", but from a new land and water
management system, indeed ethic, that is sensitive to social, cultural and
ecological resources thereby providing security and stability across cultures,
economic sectors and nations. |