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Jordan: Water Scarcity: Difference between revisions
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==Water scarcity as a barrier to sustainable development== | ==Water scarcity as a barrier to sustainable development== | ||
===Environment=== | ===Environment and population pressure=== | ||
Over drawing on aquifers has led to the drying up of a large percentage of aquatic ecosystems in Jordan. The Azraq Oasis – a wetland of international renown – dried up in 1985 as a result of its over exploitation for domestic and agricultural purposes.<ref name="Mohsen" /> Growth in human settlements has adversely affected natural streams and springs and often led to their extinction through overuse. To make up for the loss, wells were dug to extract renewable and non-renewable groundwater, but which has led to a reduction in the water table and increased salinity, while wastewater from human activity has resulted in contamination of groundwater resources. | Over drawing on aquifers has led to the drying up of a large percentage of aquatic ecosystems in Jordan. The Azraq Oasis – a wetland of international renown – dried up in 1985 as a result of its over exploitation for domestic and agricultural purposes.<ref name="Mohsen" /> Growth in human settlements has adversely affected natural streams and springs and often led to their extinction through overuse. To make up for the loss, wells were dug to extract renewable and non-renewable groundwater, but which has led to a reduction in the water table and increased salinity, while wastewater from human activity has resulted in contamination of groundwater resources. | ||
At the same time we should be careful to remember, however, that it is not Jordan’s natural birth rate that is producing population growth, but rather the state’s generosity as a host to the many refugees fleeing the numerous conflicts in the region. According to planning figures published by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Jordan will be host to nearly 900,000 refugees by the end of 2013.<ref>UNHCR, 2013 UNHCR country operations profile – Jordan [online] [cit 5.11.2013] available from http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e486566.html</ref> | At the same time we should be careful to remember, however, that it is not only Jordan’s natural birth rate that is producing high population growth, but rather the state’s generosity as a host to the many refugees fleeing the numerous conflicts in the region. According to planning figures published by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Jordan will be host to nearly 900,000 refugees by the end of 2013.<ref>UNHCR, 2013 UNHCR country operations profile – Jordan [online] [cit 5.11.2013] available from http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e486566.html</ref> Nearly three million Palestinian refugees made Jordan their home after the Arab-Israeli wars of 1948 and 1967, half a million Jordanian ex-patriates returned home after the First Gulf War of 1991, and a further half million Iraqis arrived after the Second Gulf War in 2003. <ref name="Kubursi" /> The Jordanian population currently stands at 6.3 million and is predicted to rise to 9.2 million by 2020. | ||
==Resources== | ==Resources== | ||