Wadi Musa Wastewater Re-Use Implementation Project
Progress Report on Landscape Design/ Interpretive Center
Report on March Travel to Jordan
Submitted by Erin Addison
April, 2004
Abstract:
March 15-April 1
I pursued objectives regarding the administration of the project, mapping, design and interpretive material. Some of these objectives were met, but most were waylaid by an intervention by UNESCO into the permitting process for the visitors center. March 24-April 1 were wholly devoted to producing a report on site activities requested by the UNESCO team. At the time of writing we are waiting for UNESCO to deliver their opinion regarding the proposed activities (the visitors center and associated landscape design) onsite. The occasion of the UNESCO report did, however, yield significant working information for landscape planning, which is included in the "Recommendations" section of this report.
Table of Contents
Objectives for Visit3
Summary of Activities4
Review of Objectives6
Remarks and Recommendations9
1. Overview of project status 9
2. Guidelines for landscape planting 9
3. Grazing control12
4. Erosion control12
5. Reforestation and trial species13
Conclusions15
Appendix I: text of report submitted to UNESCO16
References cited29
Objectives for Visit
a. Administrative
1, Conclude the contractual process with the architect, Sahel al-Hiyari.
2. Address the matter of the permit to build the visitors center.
b. Mapping
1. Obtain copies of Dr. Shatnawi's surveys (especially the "picnic wadi," which I
understand have already been done), as well as any surveys which are completed for Sahel.
2. Complete detailed survey and mapping of existing vegetation on picnic wadi.
3. Extend existing map (from Dec.-Jan.) north to include Jabal Ba'aja. Do preliminary mapping for Ba'aja trail.
4. Locate antiquities precisely on existing maps.
5. Complete thorough documentation of antiquities.
c. Design
1. Extend the present concept plan to include amphitheatre site, Jabal Ba'aja trail and detailed trails to antiquities sites. This element should be approved by BRDP in March so that I can progress with the design when I return to Tucson.
2. Confer with architect regarding the shade structures and site furniture for provisional approval by BRDP.
3. Produce drafts of shade structures and site furniture for provisional approval by BRDP.
d. Interpretive material
1. Interviews for historical material: begin interviews with various constituencies, especially the different sub-clans of the `Amareen.
2. Library research at ACOR.
3. Plant collection: collect specimens and do photodocumentation of existing plants species in order to familiarize myself with natives and document existing vegetation for future interpretive material.
e. Meetings
1. Meet with Dr. Shatnawi, perhaps walk the site.
2. Meet with Dr. `Alia Hattour Burgan (Minister of Tourism) and Dr. 'Amal Hijazi (USAID).
Summary of Activities
S-SMarch 13-14Travel from Tucson to `Amman
M-ThMarch 15-18Office set-up in `Amman:
re-establish internet and phone connections in anteroom office; priced and purchased color printer and scanner, office
supplies; met with Dr. Saad al-Ayyash and Eng. Mohammad Shahbaz organized trip to Wadi Musa; attempted to make appointments with Dr. Amal Hijazi and Dr. Shatnawi and Eng. Abu Hdaib (PRA); investigated issue of architect's contract.
FMarch 19Library research at ACOR RE: plant species, esp, natives, and Nabataean archaeology, esp. water systems.
SMarch 20traveled to Wadi Musa, visited Nabataean remains at Little Petra, between Tayyibeh and Petra; Islamic water systems at Udruh.
S March 21Met with Eng. Isma'il at-Twaissi regarding remaining Nabataean sites on farm plots; met with Eng. Haydar ar- Rawajdeh regarding the scan of the WWTP and the issue of releasing water into wadi Umm al-Heiran on a consistent basis. Eng. Rawajdeh and I then consulted with Eng. at- Twaissi on this (see below). Began archaeological survey of Wadi Sidd al-Ahmar. UNESCO observers onsite.
Mr. Awad arrived from BRDP in the afternoon and we went to Qurayqira in the Ghawr to interview Sheikh Abu Shusheh, sheikh al-mushayakh of the `Amareen tribe.
MMarch 22After waiting all morning for Mr. Awad, met with Bashar ar- Rawajdeh in Shobak re: tribal history of the area.
TMarch 23Collected plants for most of the day. In the afternoon Eng. Twaissi took me up wadi Sidd an-Nimr to look at more cisterns and dams (see below) and a very different microclimate area, with substantially different vegetation.
Traveled to `Amman.
WMarch 24Received office equipment, set it up. Met with Eng. Shahbaz to fill in gaps on the history and early planning of the project. UNESCO asks for meeting regarding permitting process.
ThMarch 25Meeting with UNESCO's Eng. Lucio Cavazza (see report, appendix 1). After meeting met with Eng. Shahbaz and Dr. al-Ayyash to discuss results of meeting, approach to UNESCO requests. Met with Dr. Shatnawi at the University of Jordan regarding the survey of the "picnic wadi."
FMarch 26Worked on UNESCO report.
SMarch 27Traveled to Wadi Musa, early morning. Met with Engs. At- Twaissi and ar-Rawajdeh regarding their input into UNESCO report. Hiked Sidd al-Ahmar and Wadi Jabudocumenting archaeological remains for UNESCO report.
SMarch 28Finished hiking Wadi Jabu, Wadi Ba'aja documenting arch remains for UNESCO report. Met with Engs. Ar-Rawajdeh and at-Twaissi to collect their contributions to the report. Traveled to `Amman.
MMarch 29In `Amman – worked on UNESCO report.
TMarch 30With Dr. Sa'ad finished text for UNESCO report. Traveled to Wadi Musa.
WMarch 31Collected plants, walked Jabal Ba'aja; with Eng. at-Twaissi visited Farsh, the one-time `Amareen village and grazing area west of Sidd al-Ahmar. Re-shot some documentation of archaeological sites.
ThApril 1Traveled to `Amman. Completed images for UNESCO report. Met briefly with Dr. al-Ayyash and Eng. Shahbaz.
FApril 2Traveled to Dubai.
Review of Objectives
a. Administrative
1. Architect's contract
At the time I arrived in `Amman the architect's contract had been written, but remained unsigned. Correspondence was exchanged between Dr. al-Ayyash, Dr. Tamimi and myself, and Dr. al-Ayyash consulted Eng. Shahbaz. After some bureaucratic negotiation, it was agreed that architect al-Hiyari's contract could be signed as soon as funds were transferred from IALC. Meanwhile nothing transpired, as al-Hiyari was out of the country.
When the issue with the permitting process arose, the above plans were put on hold. On Monday, April 12, Dr. al-Ayyash had spoken to Eng. Shahbaz about the situation. The plan at this time is that al-Hiyari was to be contacted by BRDP and apprised of the delay. If there is a positive response on the building permit, BRDP will contract him as planned (above). If the response is negative, BRDP will ask al-Hiyari to bill them and pay him for the services he has rendered.
2. Building permit for visitors center
For a set of reasons not entirely clear to me, UNESCO was called in to consult on the permitting process for the proposed visitors center. The UNESCO representatives Gaetano Palumbo and Lucio Cavazza met with Eng. Abu Hdaib (of Petra Regional Authority) and Eng. Isma'il at-Twaissi (of WMWRIP[1]) -- and perhaps others in Wadi Musa on March 21.
UNESCO representatives met with USAID and Eng. Shahbaz on Wednesday, March 24, and requested a meeting at BRDP on March 25. Eng. Shahbaz, Lucio Cavazza and I met at 10am on March 25, and we discussed every aspect of the project, from the water infrastructure and demonstration farm, archaeological remains and native plants species, to the proposed visitors center, interpretive trails and amphitheatre. Eng. Cavazza seemed fairly positive in his response to our discussion, and asked for a report on all the activities – past, present and proposed – for the site. The document produced for UNESCO is appended to this report (Appendix I).
We are presently waiting for UNESCO to give us their opinion on the proposed activities (the visitor center and the associated landscape) onsite. It is my understanding at this time that a positive response from UNESCO will allow Petra Regional Authority to go forward with the permitting process presently obstructed by the Department of Antiquities' professed concern for the antiquities onsite.
For reasons which are no doubt clear, this sequence of events seriously disrupted the activities I had planned to pursue on this trip. After March 24th nearly all my time was devoted first to preparing for the meeting and then to preparing the requested document.
b. Mapping
1. Survey of Picnic Wadi
I did meet with Dr. Shatnawi on Thursday, March 25. We had a useful discussion, and he copied one version of the survey of the picnic wadi (north fork of Sidd al-Ahmar). He sent me an electronic version of the final plot of the farm units, but I have so far been unable to open it, so we will resume that matter when I return in June.
No surveys have yet been completed for the architect, due to delays in the tender and permitting processes.
2. Complete survey of existing vegetation on picnic wadi
I began this process on the first trip to Wadi Musa (March 20-23), but had to defer this task to make time for the UNESCO report. However, over 80 species were sampled and pressed. They are stored presently in the office at the Higher Council of Research and Technology.
3. Extend existing map to include Jabal Ba'aja; preliminary map for Ba'aja trail
I was able to walk the Jabal Ba'aja area on the final visit to Wadi Musa (March 30-31), but this objective was also deferred to make time for the UNESCO report.
4. Locate antiquities precisely on existing maps
This objective was accomplished in full, though hastily, because it was required for the UNESCO document. The summary of the survey is included in Appendix I. In short, the site is fantastically rich in antiquities, and Eng. Isma'il has bee scrupulously careful in protecting them. See "Recommendations," below, for further discussion.
Once the photodocumentation of the archaeological remains has been processed and filed, some infill may be required. Apparently an earlier survey exists, but I was unable to obtain it.
5. Complete thorough documentation of antiquities
Due to the unexpected richness in the material record, this objective is still in process. Every observed instance was documented, but the digital files have yet to be organized and processed.
c. Design
1. Extend present concept plan
Due to the disruption of the schedule, the mapping of the Ba'a'ja area was not completed, and therefore the plan could not be extended.
2. Confer with architect
I do not feel comfortable conferring with the architect until someone from IALC or BRDP contacts him about payment for the services he has rendered.
3. Produce drafts of shades structures, site furniture
Due both to the permitting delays and the delay in contracting the architect and settling on a building design, we are quite a long way from the stage at which this objective can be met.
d. Interpretive Material
1. Begin interviews for historical material
This was initiated, and I had two very lengthy and productive interviews: one with Abu Shusheh, sheikh al-mashayakh of the `Amareen tribe, and the other with Dr. Bashar ar-Rawajdeh, a political geographer from Shobak. I also conducted many short, informal "interviews" onsite with various farmers.
This project requires a translator to work with me, as the dialect and the occasionally specialized subject matter is out of my range as an Arabic speaker. The translator needs, however, to be moderately well-educated and very competent in English. Mr. Awad was very kind (if very late) both days we were working together, but at the point where I started to have difficulty with the Arabic, the subject matter was equally difficult for him to translate into English. So we reached a bit of an impasse.
I have located (with Eng. Isma'il's help) two translators – one male and one female – both from the area, who can assist me. I will need to pursue the matter of their compensation, however, before I can engage them.
2. Library research at ACOR
I was able to spend one whole day and a few other afternoons doing research. This was especially fruitful in equipping me to assess the Nabataean (and later) materials onsite.
3. Plant collection
This project was initiated, but had to be put aside to make time for the UNESCO report. Unfortunately most of this will have now to wait until next spring, when plants are blooming again. Dr. Sawsan A. Oran's Botanical survey of the surround area of "Wadi Musa Waste Water Plant" (sic) has been very helpful, and when I return in June I intend to find out whether or not he collected specimens. Judging from his list he did not collect in the early spring, as many of the ephemeral species with short blooming seasons are not listed.
e. Meeting with Dr. Shatnawi, Dr. Hijazi, Dr. Burgan
I was able to meet with Dr. Shatnawi once, late in my stay. It was determined that this was not a good time to meet with Dr. Hijazi. Dr. Burgan was out of the country when Dr. al-Ayyash tried to contact her.
It would be more efficientand meetings would be more likely to take place if advance arrangements were made.
Remarks and recommendations
1. Overview of project status
It need not be emphasized that the project is at a critical juncture. Assuming, however, that UNESCO returns a positive response and the building permit is obtained, the project is well positioned to move forward. We have unanimous agreement on a preferred building design and two quality alternatives; the preliminary landscape concept has met with approval; the area for recreational development has been agreed upon; research toward the interpretive material is well underway. It is quite possible that UNESCO's involvement will give the project a more refined focus and a set of guidelines that all of the involved parties (USAID, IALC, BRDP, Department of Antiquities, WAJ, etc.) can look toward.
The UNESCO intervention in the process has already yielded at least one positive result: in the discussions leading up to the production of the report for UNESCO I became much more familiar with the detailed history of the project and the various interests involved from the beginning. This has given me, as a designer, a much stronger sense of the "program" – especially which aspects are flexible and which are fixed within the scope of the Terms of Reference.
I have asked Dr. al-Ayyash to provide me with the TOR's from Phase I and the proposed TOR's for Phase II. These will help me try to bring together the rather widely flung interests of USAID, IALC, the demonstration farm manager, the farmers' cooperative, BRDP, and – as far as possible – the environmental demands of a watershed area. The present overarching aim of the landscape design is to integrate these visions as far as possible while respecting the ecology of the watershed, the cultural history of the valley (this includes the present inhabitants as well as the antiquities), and the innate aesthetic of the landscape.
In our final meeting Dr. al-Ayyash recommended that I continue to work on the design on the assumption that the project will go forward. He also suggested that I make recommendations regarding off-farm planting (windbreaks, roadside landscape, etc.), so that they can be integrated into the larger picture. With all of this in mind, I would put forth the following initial recommendations. These are not intended to be exhaustive or final, but a list of suggestions to help begin to shape general guidelines.
2. Guidelines for landscape planting
The following recommendations are not exhaustive, but are preliminary and provisional, aiming to curb at least the broadest environmental abuse.
Recommendations:
a. Local native plant species only
Only native plant speciestypical to Sidd al-Ahmar should be planted in areas off the farm units (windbreaks, roadside landscaping, entrance area, landscaping around visitors center, recreational clusters and shade structures).
b. Structural diversity
These species should be selected with structural diversity in mind, i.e., a combination of low-growing plants, medium shrubs and trees.
c. Naturalistic massing
In "reforested" units trees should be planted in loose, naturalistic clusters, not in rows. This is strongly recommended for the whole area, if possible.
Rationale:
The aesthetic rationale for these guidelines is that we are working in an area of spectacular natural beauty into which we have already imposed enormous interventions. Naturalistic landscaping will accomplish two things aesthetically:
(1) Avoid further, conflicting aesthetic interventions. The water treatment plant and farm are already overwhelming visual statements – adding a third would be chaotic.
(2) Maintain the integrity of the architect's vision – minimal visual disruption of the landscape and direction of the viewer's gaze to the central activities of the project (farming and water treatment).
The ecological rationale is sixfold:
(1) Sidd al-Ahmar is a watershed-intensive area. The three wadis which transect the site from east to west empty into Wadi Umm al-Heiran and Siq Umm `Ilda, which lead directly into Wadi `Araba and the Ghawr. Our farming activities are already affecting the area in profound ways, and these connections with the larger ecosystem are reason for caution. All the species we introduce into Sidd al-Ahmar have the potential to be introduced into the entire watershed area every time it rains.