Environmentalists agree that the Dead Sea is in a deep crisis. It is also an important stop for one of the world’s largest bird migration routs. If it disappears, it could drastically affect wildlife throughout Europe and Africa. The World Bank has agreed to spend $ 400 million to build a pipeline from the Red Sea in the South to the Dead Sea. The plan has not been set in motion, mainly because of fears that regional violence will sabotage it. Meanwhile, every year, the Dead Sea recedes by another one to two meters.
Economic growth and industrial developments are the areas where overemphasis is focused on. For instance, virtual water is a way to obtain water where there is no involvement of technology or construction. This term was coined by Tony Allan, a geographer King’s College, London, in 1994. The Term “virtual water” means the amount of water needed to produce goods. Israel for example developed a citrus export industry in the first decades of its existence Oranges and grapefruits can thrive in the fertile crescent sunshine, but they require a lot of irrigation. Similarly, Jordan has all but abandoned it’s emphasis on agriculture and favours others sectors such as tourism and heavy industry.
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