This page includes the many publications produced by EcoPeace Middle East regarding the Dead Sea. They are presented below in this order:
1) Red Dead Canal – Research Studies and Comments to the World Bank
2) Concept Documents & Brochures
3) Other reports
1) RED DEAD CANAL
Comments of EcoPeace to World Bank Public Hearings concerning Red Dead Conduit Project, February 2013
These comments, prepared by EcoPeace Middle East, a regional organization that brings together Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian environmentalists, for the purpose of providing independent civil society input to the World Bank hearings held on February 2013. They build on the 14 earlier reports and comments published and submitted by EcoPeace.
Click here for the comments in Hebrew
Click here for a one page poster in English of the main points
Click here for a one page poster in Hebrew of the main points
EcoPeace Concerns to the World Bank Terms of Reference for the Red Sea – Dead Sea Water Conveyance Project, October 2011
New concerns raised by EcoPeace in light of recent developments regarding the feasibility study of the Red Sea – Dead Sea Water Conveyance Project, including a lack of transparency in the hearing process, questioning the independence of project-hired consultants, the shortened review period, the changed circumstances in the region, and the huge cost for moving forward.
EcoPeace Comments to World Bank Public Hearing, June 2010
These comments are submitted by EcoPeace Middle East to the World Bank in support of their efforts that would ‘Save the Dead Sea’ by promoting sustainable development.
These comments reflect the legitimate concerns of civil society that any investigation carried out be comprehensive and independent, with principles of sustainable development leading the process forward.
EcoPeace comments to Side Event, Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Water, December 2008
These comments were submitted by EcoPeace Middle East during the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Water, held at the Dead Sea, in Jordan in December of 2008.
These comments reiterate the legitimate concerns of civil society, stressing that any investigation carried out be comprehensive and independent, with principles of sustainable development leading the process forward.
EcoPeace Comments to the World Bank Public Hearing, July 2008
These comments are submitted by EcoPeace Middle East to the World Bank and the three participating governments Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority in support of their efforts that would ‘Save the Dead Sea’ by promoting sustainable development.
These comments reflect the legitimate concerns of civil society that any investigation carried out be comprehensive and independent, with principles of sustainable development leading the process forward.
EcoPeace Report on the proposed Red Dead Conduit – Summary (Hebrew) – August 2007
This report summarizes EcoPeace’s demands to the World Bank regarding the proposed Red Dead Conduit.
It was distributed to other organizations, stakeholders, academia and interested citizens in preparation for the World Bank hearing in Israel that took place in August, 2007.
Comments of EcoPeace Middle East, August 2007
These comments are submitted by EcoPeace Middle East to the World Bank and the three participating governments Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority in support of their efforts that would ‘Save the Dead Sea’ by promoting sustainable development.
These comments build on uninvited comments made to earlier drafts of the project Terms of Reference (ToR), our May 2007 report and reflect the legitimate concerns of civil society that any investigation carried out is comprehensive and independent, with principles of sustainable development leading the process forward.
EcoPeace Middle East Report on the Proposed Red Dead Conduit
This paper reviews the reports produced by GSI, RSS and WEDO (see below) and highlights key points of concern to EcoPeace as regards the four issues studied.
The paper then details the justification for studying the Jordan River alternative and why its exclusion from the ToR may constitute a breach of World Bank Operational Guidelines.
Red Sea-Dead Sea Conduit – Geo-Environmental Study
This report addresses issues such as the vulnerability of the Arava Valley region to continuous leaks and/or accidental spill of seawater from the Red Dead Canal; potential danger to the conduit from floods initiated within the drainage basin of the Arava Valley, and various aspects related to recent and sub-recent tectonic activity in the Arava Valley.
Marine Environment Component Study
The Royal Scientific Society of Jordan presents its final report here describing the physical, biological and chemical features and characteristics of the proposed site for the Red Sea – Dead Sea Conduit project, located at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba.
A Multi-Component Chemistry-Based Model for the Dead Sea
This report summarizes much of the Geological Survey of Israel’s activities over the past two years in conjunction with the Red Dead Canal. As outlined in this report, the uniqueness of the Dead Sea poses some challenging and practical as well as scientific problems.
Socio-Economic Report of the Red Dead Canal
The Royal Scientific Society (RSS) was assigned by EcoPeace to research and evaluate the long-term socio-economic issues related to the proposed Red Sea-Dead Sea conduit.
This study aims at analyzing and predicting the long term impacts of the RDC project on the social and economical activities focusing on the industrial projects, tourism facilities and the different communities distributed in Wadi Araba, Dead Sea and Gulf of Aqaba (northern part).
Socio-Economic Study in Israel and Palestine
This report covers the socio-economic component study in relation to the proposed Red Sea-Dead Sea conduit that was carried out by the Water and Environment Development Organization (WEDO).
The target group of this impact study extends along the western side of the Dead Sea Rift Valley (from the northern part of the Dead Sea to the northern head of the Gulf of Aqaba) and was carried out largely via questionnaries.
Comments to the World Bank Terms of Reference for the Red Sea – Dead Sea Water Conveyance Project, May 2004
These comments are submitted by EcoPeace Middle East to the World Bank and the three participating governments of Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority in support of their efforts that would ‘Save the Dead Sea’ by promoting sustainable development.
The comments made, though uninvited, reflect the legitimate concerns of civil society that any investigation carried out be comprehensive and independent.
Comments to the World Bank Terms of Reference for for the Red Sea – Dead Sea Water Conveyance Project, May 2003
EcoPeace Middle East has critiqued the World Bank’s Terms of Reference, saying that investigating the promotion of sustainable development around the Dead Sea should be the issue of the project in question and therefore the focus of the World Bank ToR as this would better reflect the shared vision of all three-core parties.
2) DEAD SEA CONCEPT DOCUMENTS & BROCHURES
Let the Dead Sea Live
Concept Document towards the Dead Sea Basin Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Listing.
This report has been presented to the public and to political decision makers both regionally and internationally in order to gain further support for the concept and to lobby the Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian authorities to register the Dead Sea Basin as a Biosphere Reserve with UNESCO.
Southern Dead Sea Border Crossing
Border crossings between Israel and Jordan are presently limited to the Jordan River Crossing and the Araba/Arava Crossing, 200 kilometers in either direction from the Dead Sea communities of the Tamar Regional Council and South Ghor Municipality.In order to create the livelihood opportunities and promote sustainable development in the southern Dead Sea area, a new border crossing is required in the spirit of the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty.
Let the Dead Sea Live
This brochure describes the wonders of the Dead Sea, the environmental degradation of the sea, and suggestions for taking action.
The Dead Sea – Only One Like It (Hebrew)
This flyer was developed with the Youth Water Trustees of the Tamar Regional Council. It describes the unique qualities of the Dead Sea and compares the different alternatives suggested for saving the Dead Sea.
3) OTHER REPORTS
Desk Study on the Opportunities and Implications of Releasing Treated Effluent in the Lower Stretches on the Jordan River and Dead Sea
Economic Valuation of Resuscitating the Dead Sea
This study investigates the non-market economic value of conservation of the Dead Sea basin using stated and revealed preference studies. Study results indicate that all 3 local populations are willing to pay to preserve the cultural and environmental heritage of the region.
Advancing Conservation and Sustainable Development
Part One: An Economic Analysis of Different Water Uses Affecting the Dead Sea Basin
Part Two: Sustainable Management of Dead Sea Basin Water Resources – A Comparative Analysis with North American Experience