Ecotourism Opening a Natural Window to Palestine

1 RTICLE Ecotourism Opening a Natural Window to Palestine By Mazin Qumsiyeh and Elias Handal The common blackbird (Turdus merula) is native to Palestine. hat can Palestine offer besides historical and religious sites, Asia, and Africa, in the western part The Mediterranean Zone flora has great food, and culture? Since the Nakba of 1948, most of the Fertile Crescent where humans characteristic trees such as oaks and people who have come to Palestine as tourists have engaged first developed agriculture. Its unique Pistacia. The plant cover decreases in religious tourism, cultural tourism, and occasionally political geography and geology have given proportionally as we head south tourism. But because most of the world, including Palestine, is Palestine more biological diversity than and east into Irano-Turanian then W still “wilderness,” an alternative kind of tourism, ecotourism, some countries ten times its size. The Saharo-Arabian flora with pockets of has grown significantly over the last few decades. Some tourists come to Palestine diverse habitats cover five ecozones: Ethiopian-Sudanese flora. This creates in order to appreciate our “untamed” nature. This phenomenon is tied to the growth the central highlands, the semi-coastal diverse habitats for animals that of the environmental movement, especially since we have begun to realize how region, the eastern slope, the Jordan include over 500 species of birds, over much habitat destruction is caused by humans (and human-induced climate Valley, and the coastal region. Palestine 100 mammals, over 100 reptiles, and change). Ecotourism should help preserve the environment since it may encourage also spans four biogeographical thousands of species of invertebrates. people who live in key areas to value and benefit from the riches of these areas. As regions (Mediterranean, Irano- Thus, Palestine is a treasure for nature we learn to better respect nature and the environment, ecotourism has become a Turanian, Saharo-Arabian, and lovers, and its many trails provide catchword used by many all around the world. Ethiopian-Sudanese subtropical). ample opportunities to observe, enjoy, In Palestine, we are very familiar with terms such as nuzha and shat’ha, which Climate is moderate with mild winters and photograph not only stunning refer to going out to enjoy nature hikes. The older generations tell us of times and warm, dry summers in most nature views but also plants and when agriculture coexisted with the natural environment, creating a tapestry of areas, but this is also variable within animals. sustainability. With an area of 27,000 km2, Palestine is located between Europe, rather short distances. Snowy Mount During the past few decades, various Hermon is barely 100 miles away from movements have focused their the semi-tropical climate in the Jordan efforts on helping the local economy Valley. The landscape is spectacular, (devastated by colonialism) through from lofty mountains in the Galilee launching several initiatives that and the central highlands to the lowest aim to bring alternative tourists to point on earth in the Dead Sea region Palestine. Ecotourism seemed a at 400 meters below sea level. Rainfall logical choice, considering the beauty is between 1,000 mm in the highest of the landscape and the rich fauna mountains to less than 50 mm in and flora. Various trails have been arid regions. Temperatures also vary designed that sometimes mix local from freezing to over 35°C during the cultural tourism with ecotourism.* This summer months in the Wadi Araba is a new phenomenon that has met areas. 38 39 valley is also threatened by expanding Israeli colonies such as Gilo, Har Gilo, and the Gush Etzion settlement Palestine offers great sites complex. The potential of this valley has been under careful investigation not only for religious and for nearly three years, and three cultural tourists or persons projects that relate to this area (one interested in experiencing that focuses on biodiversity mapping, the local repercussions of one on developing local communities, world politics, it also offers and one on preserving cultural heritage gems and treasures for relating to the environment) aim to map the area’s biodiversity and generate lovers of nature. a management plan that protects, values, and promotes the humans, animals, and plants of the valley. This is not an easy task. But PIBS’s team The Syrian spadefoot toad can be found only in the Jinsafut temporary rainfall pond near Wadi Qana; it is extinct is supported by partners that include in other places in Palestine and Jordan. To increase its population, the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and the National Geographic Society and Qana Protected Area. Subsequent Sustainability has raised tadpoles ex situ and successfully returned them to the Jinsafut pond. British scientific colleagues who not recommendations aimed to develop only help ensure the high quality of the and implement a management plan that would foster environmental with some significant success. Now Case Study 1: In the Bethlehem district scientific study but also work with local education and conservation. The is the time to enhance these trails and there is a spectacular valley called farmers and schools to ensure that the project searched for temporary rainfall respond to those who are asking about Al-Makhrour; the name refers to the valley’s cultural and natural heritage is ponds and studied the Jinsafut pond, how best to protect and preserve the water seepage over ancient limestone valued and protected. the only currently known location of environment while at the same time rocks. Al-Makhrour is located in the Case Study 2: Changes in the the Syrian spadefoot toad. It recorded offering maximum benefit to people. northwest area of Bethlehem City with environment and habitat affect animals the flora and fauna of the pond and Trail design must be based on scientific its World Heritage Site of the Church of and plants and may lead to extinction monitored the changes that occur principles that respect the ecosystems the Nativity. Its Mediterranean habitats of species. A good example of such throughout the seasons. Efforts to (including nature and people) that they are the last natural pristine areas in an area under severe threat is Wadi locate other similar ecosystems have hope to serve. Bethlehem University’s the increasingly urbanized Bethlehem Qana. In partnership with Belgian proven unsuccessful, as the Syrian Palestine Institute for Biodiversity district. Surrounding the valley are Development Cooperation and the Royal spadefoot toad (Pelobates syriacus) and Sustainability (PIBS) is devoting the ancient communities of Beit Jala, Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, and the aquatic flower (Ranunculus significant resources and expertise to Husan, Al-Walaja, Al-Khader, and Battir. a project was developed that initially peltatus) were found only in this address such issues. Let us take two The latter village (including parts of Al- focused on studying the ecosystems area. The toad is extinct in Jordan case studies as examples that have Makhrour Valley) is also on UNESCO’s in the northern transition zone of Wadi and was found nowhere else in the great potential for ecotourism. list of World Heritage Sites. But the The rare aquatic flower (Ranunculus peltatus) can be found in Wadi Qana, near Bethlehem. A walking trail leads from Beit Jala to Battir through Al-Makhrour Valley. 40 41 أول ﺻﺮاف آﻟﻲ 42 43.

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