A Vision on a UNESCO Global Geopark at the Southeastern Dead Sea in Jordan—Geosites and Conceptual Approach

Djamil Al-Halbouni, Osama AlRabayah and Lars Rüpke
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Djamil Al-Halbouni: Dynamics of the Ocean Floor, Seafloor Modelling Group, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Wischhofstr. 1–3, 24148 Kiel, Germany
Osama AlRabayah: Dynamics of the Ocean Floor, Seafloor Modelling Group, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Wischhofstr. 1–3, 24148 Kiel, Germany
Lars Rüpke: Dynamics of the Ocean Floor, Seafloor Modelling Group, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Wischhofstr. 1–3, 24148 Kiel, Germany

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-30

Abstract: A vision for the establishment of a Geopark in Jordan is given in this work, with a subsequent application to the UNESCO Global Geopark programme. The Dead Sea area and its surroundings have suffered strong changes in the last decades, accompanied by a variety of natural hazards related to enhanced erosional processes. The aspiring Geopark will thematically encompass the influence that these changes and related natural hazards, including flash floods and subsidence, have had on the local population, from geological, over historical up to recent times. The hydrogeology and geomorphology, i.e., the connection between erosion by water, dissolution of minerals, and landscape evolution, will be the main guiding theme that connects the Eastern Rim Highlands with the Dead Sea rift valley through ephemeral wadis, vegetated springs areas, and traditionally communities. The creation of the Geopark is aimed at holistic, sustainable development and management of the area by eco-tourism, and includes education on water resource management, hazard awareness and resilience, as well as international research. We here present the conceptual approach to the initial development of a Geopark network in Jordan. In a narrative discourse, we highlight realised and further implementation steps, with an evaluation of the expected timeline, potential partner institutions, regional involvement and the chances for realisation.

Keywords: Geopark; Jordan; Dead Sea; natural hazards; subsidence; geotourism; sustainable development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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