Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Ministry of Agriculture : companion studies

(1) The EIA study identifies potential environmental impacts of actions associated with the proposed APC, including impacts on soil, water, ecosystems, culture, the availability of agricultural land, and the quality of agricultural products. In all, 16 environmental issues are identified and prioritized for each of Jordan"s 5 agricultural subsectors (irrigated agriculture, rainfed agriculture, forestry, livestock, and low rainfall rangeland). Four criteria are used in the analysis: health effects, irreversibility, rate of degradation, and geographic extent. Recommendations for increasing the positive environmental impacts of the charter are provided. The study also assesses Jordan"s capabilities for EIAs in the agricultural sector, and identifies training needs and opportunities. (2) The second study seeks to identify the kinds of quantitative policy analyses that will be needed when the APC is implemented, suggest appropriate methodologies for these analyses, and assess the Government of Jordan"s existing analytic capacity and set forth a training plan. (3) After reviewing existing agricultural legislation and its deficiencies, the third study identifies legislation that needs to be amended or introduced in order to implement the APC.