International Conference on Sustainable Development in the Jordan Valley Conference Proceedings
Publisher: EcoPeace
Author(s): EcoPeace, WEDO, SIWI, Global Nature Fund
Date: 2014
Topics: Cooperation, Governance, Land, Renewable Resources
Countries: Israel, Jordan, Palestine
The SIWI / EcoPeace / GNF November 10-12, 2014 "International Conference on Sustainable Development in the Jordan Valley" brought together over one hundred and fifty government officials from Jordan, Palestine and Israel, international diplomatic representatives, international development agency representatives, and basin experts.
This regional conference was convened in the weeks surrounding the 20th anniversary of the Israeli-Jordan Peace Treaty. While other 20th anniversary events in the region were cancelled due to major political and social rifts between Israel, Palestine and Jordan, the fact that we were able to convene a major regional conference including senior officials from the three parties, including the attendance of two Ministers from Israel, demonstrates a marked success in itself and wide commitment to the regional effort to rehabilitate the Lower Jordan River.
H.E. Saed Abu Hammour, Secretary-General of the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA), initiated a wellreceived call for action during the conference when, on behalf of Jordan, he invited the Israeli and Palestinian governments to convene a meeting in Jordan to discuss the river’s rehabilitation efforts.
From Palestine, the Secretary General of the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) specifically declared PWA support for the master planning effort and accepted the invitation of Jordan to attend such a trilateral meeting.
From Israel MK Ya’acov Peri, Minister of Science and Technology and Amir Peretz, Minister of Environmental Protection participated alongside two other Members of Parliament. The Israeli officials utilized the platform to call for calming of regional tensions and expressed their support for this effort to rehabilitate the Lower Jordan River, explicit in their opinion that it must involve also Palestine.
The NGO Regional Master Planning draft materials presented an advanced planning vision for the Lower Jordan River. This vision is rooted in the use of the Lower Jordan River as a multi-functional water conveyor and requires a major shift from conventional thinking. The plan aims to utilize and reuse river water multiple times at various stages of its flow. Moreover, the vision is based on shared benefits, sustainable development, and fair rights and access to the shared waters of the transboundary Lower Jordan River for all riparians.
Following the conference EcoPeace, SIWI, Global Nature Fund and RHDHV will continue to work to develop the NGO regional master plan while advancing political support through the trilateral regional meeting initiated by H.E. Saed Abu Hammour, Secretary-General of the JVA as well as aligning donor support with this vision through a series of financing funding meetings. The partners will convene another regional conference in Jordan in May 2015.