Environment - Geography and Earth

Environment and Energy in Jordan

Arable land represents only 7% of Jordan’s land area. The country is classified as one of the 10 most water scarce countries in the world with a per capita water availability of 153 m3 per year. Jordan is signatory to many major global environmental conventions and has started putting in place mechanisms to support their implementation. Nevertheless, population growth, rapid urbanization, industrialization, air pollution and low energy efficiency continue to exert a considerable pressure on water, land resources and generate unacceptable levels of environmental degradation.

UNDP-Jordan

Jordan Environment

Jordan's principal environmental problems are insufficient water resources, soil erosion caused by overgrazing of goats and sheep, and deforestation. Water pollution is an important issue in Jordan. Jordan has 0.7 cubic km of renewable water resources with 75% used for farming activity and 3% used for industrial purposes. One-hundred percent of all city dwellers and 84% of rural people have pure water. It is expected that the rate of population growth will place more demands on an already inadequate water supply. Current sources of pollution are sewage, herbicides, and pesticides. Jordan's cities produce an average of 1.2 million tons of solid waste per year.

Jordan's wildlife was reduced drastically by livestock overgrazing and uncontrolled hunting between 1930 and 1960; larger wild animals, such as the Arabian oryx, onager, and Asiatic lion, have completely disappeared. Under a law of 1973, the government has prohibited unlicensed hunting of birds or wild animals and unlicensed sport fishing, as well as the cutting of trees, shrubs, and plants. As of 2001, 3.3% of Jordan's total land area is protected. In the same year, seven of Jordan's mammal species and four bird species were listed as endangered. Four plant species were also endangered. Endangered species in Jordan include the South Arabian leopard and the goitered gazelle.

Jordan Agriculture

Agriculture still plays a role in the economy, although 40% of the usable land consists of the West Bank, lost to Jordan since 1967. As of 1998, only 4.4% of all land in Jordan was utilized for crop sown feed production. Rain-fed lands make up 75% of the arable land, while the remaining 25% is partially or entirely irrigated and lies mostly in the Jordan Valley and highlands. While the system of small owner-operated farms, peculiar to Jordan among the Arab countries and originating in the Land Settlement Law of 1933, limits the number of large landowners and share tenancy, the minuscule holdings have inhibited development. Agriculture accounted for 4% of GDP in 2001.

Production of principal field crops in 1999 included wheat, 12,000 tons; barley, 5,000 tons; and tobacco, 2,000 tons. Prominent vegetables and fruits produced in 1999 included tomatoes, 305,000 tons; eggplant, 16,000 tons; cucumbers, 74,000 tons; cauliflowers, 26,000 tons; and cabbages, 28,000 tons. Over 16 million fruit trees that year produced 114,000 tons of citrus, 55,000 tons of olives, 73,000 tons of bananas, and 15,000 tons of grapes. The output of fruits and vegetables has been encouraging, in part because of increased use of fertilizers, herbicides, and plastic greenhouses by the nation's farmers in the Jordan Valley.

Irrigation schemes and soil and water conservation programs have received emphasis in Jordan's economic development. The 77-km (48-mi) East Ghor Canal, substantially completed in 1966 and reconstructed in the early 1970s after heavy war damage, siphons water from the Yarmuk River and provides irrigation for about 13,000 hectares (32,000 acres). Water conservation in other areas has been undertaken with the rehabilitation of old water systems and the digging of wells. As of 1998, an estimated 75,000 hectares (185,000 acres) were irrigated.

The cooperative movement has made progress in the agricultural sector; the Central Cooperative Union, established in 1959, provides seasonal loans and advice to local cooperatives. The Agricultural Credit Corporation, founded in 1960, provides low-cost loans to finance agricultural investments.

Jordan Forestry

Jordan formerly supported fairly widespread forests of oak and Aleppo pine in the uplands of southern Jordan, both west and east of the Jordan River, but forestland now covers less than 1% of the total area. Scrub forests and maquis growths are the most common; the olive, characteristic of the Mediterranean basin, is widely cultivated. The important forests are around Ajlun in the north and near Ma'an. By 1976, some 3,800 hectares (9,400 acres) had been newly planted as part of a government afforestation program. From 1976 to 1991, an additional 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) also was reforested. Roundwood production was 226,000 tons in 2000. Imports of forestry products totaled $147 million in 2000.

Encyclopedia of the Nations

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

Jordan is a country with meager natural resources and a high population growth rate. This combination renders Jordan vulnerable to a broad spectrum of environmental challenges, chief among them the problem of water scarcity. Progress in formulating environmental policy has been slow so far, but the government acknowledges the importance of reconciling environmental concerns and developmental needs. Environmental issues are handled through various ministries, often with competing interests, although nominally they continue to be coordinated by the Ministry of Municipalities, Rural Affairs and Environment. In 1995 the General Corporation for Environmental Protection was granted quasi-independent status in a sweeping new environmental protection law. However, many of the implementing regulations have not been drafted and enforcement remains lax. Outside the government, NGOs are increasingly active in enhancing environmental awareness in the public at large.

Water
Water scarcity in Jordan is by far the most serious environmental challenge facing the country. Current per capita consumption, estimated at 170 cubic meters per annum, is one of the lowest in the world. Projections suggest this could fall to 91 cubic meters per annum by the year 2025. The problem is attributed to limited water resources, reduced water quality due to pollution and overpumping of groundwater, leaky water distribution networks, illegal connections, and inefficient water management practices. Population increases due to natural growth, as well as the influx of refugees during periods of regional political unrest, compound these problems. In 1994, barely 25% of all households in Jordan were connected to wastewater systems (serving 60% of the total population) but the government has been working to increase this proportion.

Air
The degradation of air quality is an emerging problem, especially in downtown Amman where surrounding hills trap emissions. Two thirds of Jordan’s 300,000 registered vehicles are located in Amman, and almost all use leaded gasoline or high sulfur content diesel oil. Jordan is not a highly industrialized country, but several major industries contribute to the pollution problem. These include the cement industry in Fuheis and the oil refinery and power generation station near Zerka. Additionally, port and industrial activities in the Aqaba region, particularly the loading of phosphate for export, generate pollution that can be expected to increase as Aqaba grows further.

Solid Waste
Solid waste management is a growing concern in Jordan. The collection system is adequate in urban centers, but services tend to be poor or nonexistent in rural areas and small towns. Collected waste is not separated, and Jordan lacks a hazardous waste site. Current estimates suggest there are 13,000 tons of untreated hazardous wastes, a figure expected to reach 17,400 by the year 2000. Some hospitals have their own incinerators, but most medical wastes are still collected and disposed of with municipal waste. With NGO leadership, modest recycling programs for aluminum cans and paper have been launched in Amman.

Land
Land degradation in Jordan is caused by uncontrolled urban expansion, desertification due to overgrazing, rising soil salinity due to inefficient irrigation measures, deforestation, mining spoils, and the absence of land use planning. Much of Jordan is desert, causing most of the population to be concentrated in the Western margin where most of the rainfall occurs, thereby subjecting this land to further pressure.

ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Jordan lacks resources for major environmental projects and generally seeks donor funding for these, particularly in the critical water and wastewater sector where it has considerable unmet needs. Recognizing the extent of this problem, the donor community has been generous. USAID, for example, currently contributes some $50 million per year in development assistance to this sector. These donor-funded projects, particularly in water collection, storage and transport, municipal waste water treatment, industrial waste water treatment, water purification, and conservation, represent the greatest potential market in Jordan. Other environmental business opportunities in Jordan include: municipal and hazardous waste collection and disposal, waste recycling, pollution control and remediation, and environmental consulting.

The Water Sector
Donor spending makes this the dominant environmental sector in Jordan. Funded projects in the pipeline include the multi-million dollar municipal network rehabilitation of Amman, water supply projects, privatization of water management, upgrading water systems, and wastewater treatment plants. The Ministry of Water and Irrigation has nearly $5 billion in potential projects for which it is seeking funding, of which the largest are the Disi-Amman conveyor system ($625 million) and regulation of the Yarmouk River ($390 million). In addition, opportunities for residential water saving devices, recycling, and purification systems exist in the Jordanian market.

Solid Waste
While some donors have worked in this field, notably the Japanese, much remains to be done. In particular, Jordan will need appropriate technology and management techniques for proper sorting, treatment and disposal of hazardous and medical wastes in the near future. Privatization of this sector is possible, with concurrent opportunities in composting technology as well as recycling of plastics and other reusable wastes. Opportunities may also exist for the management and rehabilitation of existing waste disposal sites.

Pollution Remediation
Enforcement of pollution controls has been lax, but is likely to improve as environmental awareness increases among Jordanian decisionmakers. End-of-pipe technologies, particularly for the refinery and the cement industry, may find a market, as will dust reduction devices for phosphate loading. While Jordan has so far had access to cheap energy from Iraq, political uncertainties may provide an opportunity for the sale of energy efficiency devices and management techniques. Pollution monitoring equipment will be a high priority once the implementing regulations for the environmental law are promulgated and enforced.

Environmental Consulting
By law all substantial future commercial development requires an environmental impact assessment and most donors require EIAs for project funding. With the tourism and infrastructure sectors expected to expand, this will be a growing market. To date this has also been a competitive market, with the best approach likely to be through partnership with a local firm.

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LIST OF CONTACTS

Government Agencies

The Ministry Of Water And Irrigation
PO Box 2412
Amman-Jordan
Tel: (962-6)-568-0100
Fax: (962-6)-568-0871

Contact: Dr. Hazem Al-Nasser, Secretary General, Ministry of Water & Irrigation.

General Corporation For Environmental Protection (GCEP)
PO Box 1408
Amman 11941, Jordan
Tel: (962-6)-5350-791, (962-6)-53530-149
Fax: (962-6)-53530-084

Contact: Dr. Suleiman Jafari, Director.

The Greater Amman Municipality
PO Box 132
Amman 11110-Jordan

Tel: (962-6)-5359-970/1
Fax: (962-6)- 4649-420

Contact: Dr. Hussein Zaki, Advisor to Mayor of Amman.

The Ministry Of Planning

Tel: (962-6)-464-4466
Fax: (962-6)- 464-9341
Contact: Mr. Boulus Kefaya, Head of Environmental Division

The Aqaba Regional Authority
PO Box 21
Aqaba, Jordan
Tel: (962-3)-201-4200/5
Fax: (962-3)-201-4206

Contact: H.E. Yousef Dalabeeh (President)

The Jordan Environment Society
67 Abdul Hameed Badees Str.
Shemisani
PO Box 922821
Amman 11192, Jordan
Tel: (962-6)-569-9844
Fax: (962-6)-569-5857

United States Embassy Amman
PO Box 354
Amman, 11118, Jordan
Tel: (962-6)-592-0101
Fax: (962-6)-592-7653

Contact: Mr. George Sibley, Regional Environmental Officer
Tel Ext.: 2621, Email: gs-hub@usembassy-amman.org.jo

Contact: Ms. Rana Safadi, Environmental Development Assistant
Tel Ext.: 2356, E-mail: rs-hub@usembassy-amman.org.jo

Contact: Ms. Marcia Macomber, Environmental Development Associate
Tel Ext.: 2412, E-mail: mm-hub@usembassy-amman.org.jo

The American Business Center
Contact: Ms. Andrew Shaw, Commercial Officer
Tel Ext.: 2632, Fax: (962-6)-592-0146

USAID
Contact: Ms. Cecily Mango, Water Resources and Environment Office
Tel Ext.: 2677, Fax: (962-6)-592-0143