The Azraq Oasis

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The Azraq Oasis - Jordan
1st International Congress on Oasis
Sustainable TourismElche-Spain 13-16/12/2006Pre
sented by Nadia Al Jouhari Principal Water Policy
Expert
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Values

• Azraq in Arabic means BLUE
• Historical Cultural Heritage Uniqueness 30-40
  millions years , cvilizations from 250,000 years,
  Trade Route, Roman empire- Umayyed period.
• Main resident s are Shishan, Druze and Bedouins
• Natural Resources water resources, minerals and
  unique biodiversity of global importance

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Azraq is a RAMSAR Wetland of Global
Importance ( whole of Qa Al Azraq 7372 ha).And
Important Birds Area (IBA).
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• In 1967 Areas adjacent to Qa Azraq and
  southern areas of spring fed marshes Declared as
  a wetland reserve ( 1245 ha. and managed by Royal
  Society for Conservation of Nature
• ( RSCN)

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Azraq Wetland Reserve

• Wetland in an Arid Region Most unusual
  ecosystems in the world
• Important Birds Area (IBA)
• 3 major sub ecosystems lake ecosystem with
  freshwaters, marsh ecosystem with moderately
  saline waters and soils and Qa mudflat ecosystem
  now is highly saline.
• 1 million birds utilizing area in one single
  spring migration

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Azraq Biodiversity

• Wealth of biodiversity and habitats ( most
  unusual ecosystems in the world).
• 33 species of water birds have bred in wetlands
• 347,000 waterfowl have been recorded in mid -
  winter

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Jordan

• Jordan characterized by
• - Arid and semi arid country
• - Water scarcity per capita water availability
  is less than 160
  cubic meter. In
• 2025 will fall to 90
  cubic
• meter/capita/year.
• 64 is used for
  agriculture
• Development in industry,
  tourism and urban
  growth

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• Population growth
• 1952 ( 586,200) , in 2025 ( 8,666,000). 55 lives
  in Amman and Zarqa area utilizes Azraq basin
  water.

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A Booming Birth Rate
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Water Resources

• Ground Water ( GW)
• 12 basins. Top
  most abundant
• water basins
  are Amman-
• Zarqa, Yarmouk
  and Azraq
• Surface water ( SW)
• Major basins are
  Yarmouk (
• Yarmouk river 40 of
  SW),
• Zarqa and Azraq

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Ground water Basins
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Azraq Groundwater Basin

• Consist of 3 aquifers
• - Upper shallow fresh water basalt
• - Middle limestone brackish water
• - Deep sand stone aquifer

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Water Balance for Jordans
3 most abundant basins
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Impacts of overexploitation

• - Lowering water table by 20 m , originally was
  above ground surface - drying up the springs
• - Deteriorated water quality
• - Increased salinity of the soil
• - Loss of habitats and biodiversity
• - Deteriorated socio economic conditions

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• GEF funded the rehabilitation and restoration of
  Azraq Oasis. The project consisted from five
  components
• Rehabilitation and management of the
  wetland.
• Establish EIA UNIT.
• Guidelines for agricultural development.
• GW resources- water management plan.
• Support long term research.

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Results of Azraq rehabilitation

• Research
• - Fresh ecosystem
• Presence of 12 new
  aquatic plant
• species and logged 20
  species of
• aquatic insects, 11
  were considered
• new to Azrqa ecorded
  209 species
• of birds
• - Marsh region
• Terrestrial communities
  133
• species of vascular
  plants belonging
• to 100 genera and 33
  families
• 7 species recorded new
  to Jordan
• and unique to Azraq
  

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Challenges

• Scarcity of Water
• need for 750,000 cubic
  meters.
• investments in new
  water resources in 2010
• will add 1148 MCM
  reclaimed water,
• Desalination, Peace
  treaty and others
• Population growth
• Development sectors growth
• Commitment to Ramsar Convention
• Civil society involvement

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Recommendations

• - 750,000 cubic meters to be secured immediately
  on regular basis.
• - Systemic approach in planning and management
  for water sector.
• - Enforcement of the Law. Like groundwater
  extraction laws.
• - Education- public awareness

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• Thanks for your interest