Browse the Arabic Version of This Web Site

The CSBE project on water conserving landscapes is primarily funded by WEPIA (Water Efficiency and Public Information for Action), a program being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The CSBE project on water conserving landscapes is concerned with the development of aesthetically pleasing landscapes that also conserve the use of water.  Such aims can be achieved through a variety of means, which include using native and drought tolerant vegetation, making maximum use of rainfall runoff, and incorporating hard-covered ground surfaces (consisting of materials such as pebbles, stone, brick, and concrete) in landscape designs, rather than relying exclusively on surfaces covered with vegetation.

Considering Jordan's scarce water resources, implementing the principles and practices necessary for the creation of water conserving landscapes is of paramount importance. However, such principles and practices are not widespread in Jordan, and this project therefore aims at disseminating and promoting them in the country. Consequently, this project hopefully will contribute to developing, on a wide scale, environmentally and climatically sensitive water saving landscaping solutions that are both creative and attractive, and that can be applied to open areas ranging from small private gardens to public parks.

The project was initiated in March 2001 and will continue until the end of 2004.  The components of the project include publishing information in both Arabic and English on water conserving landscapes in the form of posters, brochures, and booklets.  In addition, CSBE has devoted this section of its web site to publishing detailed information on the subject of water conserving landscapes.  The project also has been involved in organizing interactive workshops that train participants in the principles and practices of creating water conserving landscapes. Furthermore, the project encompasses an implementation phase that incorporates the design and construction of a model water conservation demonstration garden.  Another component of the project is to provide technical assistance to Jordanian community based organizations for the development of nurseries specialized in the propagation of native drought tolerant plants.

This project is carried out in association with the University of Arizona in Tucson, an internationally recognized center for research and teaching related to landscaping for water-scarce environments. 

Project teams:

CSBE:

Deema Aburizik, Research and Coordination Officer

Mohammad al-Asad, Director

Dalia Husseini, Research and Coordination Officer

Saja Jardaneh, Financial Officer

Hania Maraqa, Research and Coordination Officer (up to June 2002)

Stephen Mcllwaine, Coordination Officer (up to February 2002)
Majd Musa, Web Site Administrator and Research Officer

Lara Zureikat, Technical Manager

University of Arizona:

Richard G. Brittain, Assistant Research Professor, School of Architecture

Val L. Little, Manager, Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona

Margaret Livingston, Assistant Professor, School of Landscape Architecture

Project consultants:

Osman Akoz: Photographer
Tania al-Attia:  Horticulturist

Mazen Daqqaq: Horticulturist
Maher Qishawi: Botanist

Special thanks are due to Mr. Shuja' al-Asad for his invaluable help in editing the Arabic language publications for the project, and to Mr. Abd al-Rahim Jardaneh of Tuneib Farms and Nursery for contributing the venue for workshops and seminars organized within the context of this project. Both have made their contributions to the project on a pro bono basis.

We welcome any comments or enquiries you might have concerning the water conserving landscapes project at landscapes@csbe.org.
 

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