This study presents a first-stage rapid assessment of the potential (and where figures are available, actual) impact on
the environment in Jordan of the influx of Syrian refugees fleeing the ongoing crisis in Syria since 2011. The study
addresses five priorities:
(i) water quantity and quality
(ii) soil degradation and rangelands
(iii)biodiversity and ecosystem services
(iv) air pollution
(v) hazardous waste and medical waste.
This study is intended to inform a future comprehensive environmental assessment and definition of offset
programmes to minimize the cost of ecosystem degradation brought about by impact of additional population
numbers on Jordan’s already challenged natural resource base.
The rapid assessment has been developed through the review and synthesis of existing literature, including national
state of the environment reports and national environmental strategies and action plans. It has followed the DriverPressure-State-Impact-Response
(DPSIR) framework methodology, which was developed to describe the relationships
and interactions between society and the environment. The DPSIR approach is based on causality in which human
activities cause a change in the environment, which in turn stimulates a management response, typically a policy.