Innsbruck university press Handshake across the Jordan: Water and Understanding

Water is one of the most important resources of our planet. All living, healthiness, wealth and economy depend on water. Because of hydrological and geomorphological factors water resources are not equally distributed on the planet. Especially the Middle East - Northern Africa region (MENA) is affected by severe and long lasting droughts and water scarcity.Due to over pumping the groundwater tables are sinking in vast areas. Increasing population, streams of refugees, economical growth and the desire for wealth puts enormous pressure on water resources. Salinisation of former farmland, pollution of freshwater resources and desertification of large areas are further indicators of a beginning crisis. In the frame of climate change this situation will even worsen. Since many years the distribution of transboundary water resources (e.g. Golan Heights) lead to political tensions. Moreover the conflict in the Middle East is to be seen in close relationship with the availability of scarce surface- and groundwater resources.The workshop “Handshake across the Jordan - Water and Understanding” was held in Pella, Jordan, which is located in the eastern rims of the Jordan Valley. Pella perfectly borders one centre spot of the Middle East water crisis as it is situated in front of the Israel border and near the Golan Heights of Syria. Especially in Pella the role of water availability and water quality as a crucial factor for a sustainable development of all the countries in the MENA region becomes visible.