National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Palestine
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National Biodiversity Strategy And Action Plan For Palestine (A Regional Project) January 1999 Published by Palestinian Environmental Authority (PEnA). Copyright: (1999) Palestinian Environmental Authority (PEnA). Reproduction of this publication for education or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without the prior permission from the copyright holders provided the source is quoted. Reproduction for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without the prior written permission of copyright holders. Citation: Palestinian Environmental Authority, National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Palestine, PEnA, Hebron (Palestine), 1999. First Edition 1999 ISBN ………… Design and lay out …………. Printed by …….……… . Available from Palestinian Environmental Authority; PO Box: 830 Hebron, West Bank Palestine Email: [email protected] National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Palestine Page 1 Table Of Contents Foreword by President Yasser Arafat ..................................................................... 9 Preface by the Head of the Palestinian Environmental Authority ....................... 11 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. 13 BSAPP Executive Summary .................................................................................. 14 Introductory Note ................................................................................................... 18 BSAPP IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT................................................................................................... 18 BACKGROUND ON THE BSAPP .................................................................................................................... 18 BSAPP OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................... 19 GAPS AND DRIVING FORCES AFFECTING THE BSAPP .................................................................................. 20 THE BSAPP FORMULATION PROCESS ......................................................................................................... 21 GUIDE TO THE READER ............................................................................................................................... 23 Part I. National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Palestine (BSAPP) . 25 A VISION FOR PALESTINE ........................................................................................................................... 25 BSAPP GUIDING PRINCIPLES ...................................................................................................................... 25 OBJECTIVE 1: THE CONSERVATION OF PALESTINE’S BIODIVERSITY ......................................................... 27 OBJECTIVE 2: THE SUSTAINABLE USE OF PALESTINE’S BIODIVERSITY. .................................................... 30 OBJECTIVE 3: THE ENHANCEMENT OF LOCAL AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF PEOPLE’S ATTITUDES AND PARTICIPATION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY AND THE SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIODIVERSITY ..................................................................................................... 33 OBJECTIVE 4: THE EQUITABLE SHARING OF BIODIVERSITY BENEFITS WITHIN PALESTINE ......................... 36 OBJECTIVE 5: THE DEVELOPMENT OF PALESTINIAN INSTITUTIONAL AND HUMAN RESOURCE CAPACITY IN THE FIELD OF BIODIVERSITY ........................................................................................................................ 39 MONITORING AND EVALUATION ................................................................................................................. 40 PRIORITIES FOR BSAPP IMPLEMENTATION .................................................................................................. 45 Part II. Priority Initiatives–Project Profiles .......................................................... 53 1 DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF A PALESTINIAN PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM ....................... 54 2. DEVELOPMENT OF MANAGEMENT PLANS/STRUCTURES IN DESIGNATED PROTECTED AREAS BASED ON BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS AND INVENTORIES ................................................................................................. 59 4. IMPLEMENTATION OF BIOSAFETY MEASURES ON BIOTECHNOLOGY IN PALESTINE ........................... 65 5. HABITAT RESTORATION (INCLUDING RANGELANDS, FORESTS, SACRED GROVES AND INTEGRATED AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS) ................................................................................................................................... 68 6. COLLABORATIVE MANAGEMENT OF BIODIVERSITY IN PALESTINE .................................................. 71 7. COMBATING DESERTIFICATION AND COPING WITH THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE .... 75 8. ELABORATING AND ENFORCING A NATIONAL LEGISLATION/LEGAL FRAMEWORKS ON BIODIVERSITY 78 9. ESTABLISHING A BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION AND SOCIAL EDUCATION CENTRE ........................... 81 10. PROMOTION OF ECO-TOURISM/ECONOMICAL ASPECTS OF BIODIVERSITY ........................................ 84 11. COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT IN GAZA AND THE DEAD SEA ......................................................... 87 12. ESTABLISHMENT OF A GENE BANK IN PALESTINE ........................................................................... 90 Part III: Situation Analysis .................................................................................... 94 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WEST BANK AND GAZA ............................................................................. 94 THE BIODIVERSITY OF PALESTINE ............................................................................................................... 96 PROTECTED AREAS IN PALESTINE .............................................................................................................. 107 FORESTS IN THE WEST BANK .................................................................................................................... 110 AGRO-BIODIVERSITY ................................................................................................................................ 114 LIVESTOCK AND RANGELAND ................................................................................................................... 121 MARINE AND FRESHWATER BIODIVERSITY ................................................................................................ 122 WATER RESOURCES IN THE WEST BANK ................................................................................................... 127 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Palestine Page 2 THE SOCIETY AND ECONOMY OF PALESTINE .............................................................................................. 129 DEMOGRAPHIC OUTLOOK.......................................................................................................................... 129 HEALTH ................................................................................................................................................... 131 EDUCATION .............................................................................................................................................. 132 THE ECONOMY ......................................................................................................................................... 133 INFRASTRUCTURE ..................................................................................................................................... 138 ECONOMICS OF BIODIVERSITY IN PALESTINE ............................................................................................. 139 Threats to Biodiversity in Palestine ..................................................................... 149 REVERSING THE TREND TOWARDS BIODIVERSITY LOSS IN PALESTINE.......................................................... 164 LEGAL ISSUES OF BIODIVERSITY ............................................................................................................... 168 ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS ................................................................................................................. 169 ANNEX I. ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................... 173 ANNEX II: ARTICLES 6 AND 26 ....................................................................................................... 175 ANNEX III. BACKGROUND TO THE BSAPP ....................................................................................... 176 ANNEX IV: SUMMARY OF THE TWELVE PROJECTS ............................................................................ 180 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................ 184 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Palestine Page 3 List Of Tables Table 1: BSAPP’s Objectives .............................................................................................. 14 Table 2: Priority Initiatives (Projects) for BSAPP ................................................................ 17 Table 3: Logical Framework for BSAPP ............................................................................. 41 Table 4: Indicative BSAPP Workplan ................................................................................. 42 Table 5: Priority Initiatives (projects) for BSAPP ...............................................................