ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND PROTECTED AREAS IN PALESTINE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES Report submitted to The Hanns Seidel Foundation 2 Foreword This publication bases on the report “Environmental conservation and protected areas in Palestine: Challenges and Opportunities” by Dr. Mazin Qumsieh, Betlehem University and Dr. Zuhair Amr, Jordan University of Science and Technology, which have been contracted by Hanns Seidel Foundation for this task. The report has been written in the framework of a project funded by the European Union’s Partnership for Peace initiative. The aim of the report is to portray the current state of nature protection in Palestine, to fathom the potential for improved environmental conservation and nature reserve management, and to suggest priorities for future environmental protection efforts. The current version is the result of an intense review process, which involved Palestinian Experts, the Environment Quality Authority as well as the team of Hanns Seidel Foundation. In addition to that, it has been edited to improve the reading. Hence, the original report written by the contracted authors has been considerably altered and shortened. Such a review always requires compromises between the original text and all the studied opinions. Often, such a compromise will not entirely please neither the authors, nor the reviewers and the contracting party. Nevertheless, we have carried out a lot of effort to harmonize all positions and to include the very many recommendations and comments, while keeping to the original. All mistakes and inaccuracies, naturally, can be entirely attributed to the contracting authority, which is the Hanns Seidel Foundation. Our foundation would like to thank the authors of the report and all other contributors for their insight and effort. We hope that the report will help to intensify the incumbent discussion on nature protection in Palestine. The first seven chapters of the publication focus on the current setting and the Palestinian stakeholders of environmental conservation. It hereby discusses, among other topics, environmental education and challenges, especially regarding nature reserves managed by the Palestinian Authority. The eighth chapter provides a list of priorities and recommendations that could represent a yardstick for future efforts of Palestinian environmental stakeholders and the international donor community. Richard Asbeck Representative of Hanns Seidel Foundation in Jerusalem III ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND PROTECTED AREAS IN PALESTINE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES Version has been reviewed and shortened by the Hanns Seidel Foundation Disclaimer This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. Its content are the sole responsibility of the involved organizations and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. © All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction, ISBNISBN 978-3-88795-531-1978-3-88795-531-1 distribution and translation. No part of this work may be reproduced or processed, duplicated or distributed using electronic systems in any form (photocopy, microfilm or other procedures) without written permission from the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The Hanns Seidel Foundation holds the copyright for this publication. 9 783887 955311 IV TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................................................. V List of Figures .............................................................................................................................................................................. VI Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................................................................. VII Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................................ X 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Definitions and Scope of Work ................................................................................................................................ 1 2. Data Collection (Including Databases) ..................................................................... 3 2.1 Scientific Research ........................................................................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Observing Biodiversity and Recording Global Data ................................................................................... 4 2.2.1 Biodiversity Data Collection Locally .............................................................................................................. 6 3. Governmental Structures and Compliance with Conventions and Treaties ......... 9 3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................... 9 3.2 Governmental Structure Related to Biodiversity and Conservation ................................................ 9 3.2.1 The Environmental Quality Authority (EQA) ............................................................................................ 9 3.2.2 The Ministry Of Agriculture ................................................................................................................................ 12 3.3 Legal Framework .............................................................................................................................................................. 13 3.3.1 Palestinian Environmental Law ....................................................................................................................... 13 3.3.2 Agriculture Law No. 2 (2003) ............................................................................................................................. 15 3.3.3 Water Laws ................................................................................................................................................................... 15 3.4 Conventions and Treaties Related to Conservation .................................................................................... 16 3.5 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) ............................................................................................................. 19 3.5.1 Regional Level MOUs ............................................................................................................................................. 19 3.5.2 National Level MOUs .............................................................................................................................................. 19 3.6 Key Governmental Entities Concerned with Nature Protection ......................................................... 20 3.7 National Priorities ............................................................................................................................................................. 21 3.7.1 National Environmental Strategy ................................................................................................................... 21 3.7.2 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) ............................................. 22 3.7.3 Convention on Biological Diversity (2015 EQA Report) ................................................................... 22 3.7.4 National Spatial Plan (NSP) ................................................................................................................................. 24 4. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) .............................................................. 25 4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................... 25 4.2 Non-Governmental Organizations Related to Conservation and Biodiversity .......................... 26 4.3 NGO Analysis and NGO Cooperation .................................................................................................................. 27 5. Education .................................................................................................................... 29 5.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................... 29 5.2. Elementary Education .................................................................................................................................................. 30 5.3 University Education ...................................................................................................................................................... 31 V 5.3.1 Undergraduate Level ............................................................................................................................................. 31 5.3.2 Graduate Level ........................................................................................................................................................... 33 5.4. Educating Citizens for Action ..................................................................................................................................