PALESTINE: “LAND OF OLIVES AND VINES CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF SOUTHERN JERUSALEM, BATTIR” World Heritage Site Biodiversity Conservation Plan December 2019 Output of Project: “Biodiversity Conservation and Community Development in Al-Makhrour Valley in Bethlehem, Palestine” 1 PALESTINE: “LAND OF OLIVES AND VINES CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF SOUTHERN JERUSALEM, BATTIR” World Heritage Site Biodiversity Conservation Plan Copyright © 2019 Bethlehem University (BU) Published by: Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS)/Palestine Museum of Natural History (PMNH) – Bethlehem University (BU) Mar Andreas Building Al-Karkarfa, Bethlehem, Palestine Tel: + 970 2-2773553 email: [email protected] Website: https://www.palestinenature.org Writers: Mrs. Roubina N. Ghattas – Pioneer Consultancy Center for Sustainable Development (PCC) Contributors: Prof. Mazin Qumsiyeh-PIBS/PMNH – BU, Mr. Mohammad Mahassneh – Environment Quality Authority (EQA), Arch. Marwa Adwan- Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA), Dr. Anton Khalilieh – Nature Palestine Society (NPS), Mr. Elias Handal - PIBS/PMNH – BU, Dr. Rami Arafeh – Polytechnic University (PPU), Mrs. Enas Haferi – PCC. Cover: Photo taken by Roubina N. Ghattas at Al Makhrour Valley – Beit Jala Side Citation: Ghattas, R., (Wr.), Qumsiyeh, M., Mahassneh, M. (Eds.). 2019. Biodiversity Conservation Plan for PALESTINE: “LAND OF OLIVES AND VINES CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF SOUTHERN JERUSALEM, BATTIR”. State of Palestine. Acknowledgment: We extend our gratefulness to our partners, supporters and stakeholders who contributed to develop this Biodiversity Conservation Plan for the WHP, “Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines—Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir, Palestine”; namely Environment Quality Authority, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Ministry of Agriculture, Municipalities of Beit Jala and Battir, and Village councils of Husan, and Al Walajeh localitlies. We deeply thank the local communities of the mentioned localities for their effective contribution during the development of the plan. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support for this publication and the overall project from Darwin Initiative fund whose official policy or position is not necessarily reflected in the views and opinions expressed herein. We thank the National Geographic Society for their supplementary funding for some of the biodiversity exploration work. 2 I. Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION FOR CONSERVATION APPROACH OF BIODIVERSITY at WHP 10 1.1 International Conservation Frameworks ..................................................................... 10 1.2 National Conservation Frameworks of Relevance ..................................................... 12 1.2.1 National Cultural Heritage Legislations .............................................................. 12 1.2.2 National Natural Heritage Legislations ............................................................... 13 1.3 Related Current National Conservation acts at WHP ................................................ 14 2. RATIONAL AND PURPOSE BEHIND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION PLAN (BCP) .................................................................................................................................................. 16 2.1 Objectives behind BCP at WHP ..................................................................................... 16 2.2 Interrelations with UNESCO and MoTA conservation approach on site ............... 16 2.2.1 In relation to MoTA Conservation Approaches on site ..................................... 16 2.2.2 In relation to UNESCO - WHC Conservation Approaches on site .................. 22 2.3 Structure and Approach of BCP .................................................................................... 23 2.4 Methods of Compilation and Community Participation ........................................... 24 3. BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE ............................................................................. 26 3.1 Physical conditions and Land Use ................................................................................ 27 3.2 Ownership and Management Structure ....................................................................... 31 3.3 Significant values and physical attributes ................................................................... 32 3.4 Ecosystem services and human well being .................................................................. 35 3.4.1 Socio-economic environment and importance of WHP ..................................... 36 3.4.2 Natural Resources and Importance of WHP ....................................................... 42 4. ASSESSMENT AND INVENTORY FOR FLORA AND FAUNAL COMPONENTS .. 511 4.1 At Habitat level .............................................................................................................. 511 4.2 At Species Level ............................................................................................................. 533 4.2.1 Floristic Diversity on Site........................................................................................ 53 4.2.2 Faunal Diversity on Site .......................................................................................... 55 4.2.3 Avi-Faunal Diversity on Site ................................................................................ 567 4.2.4 Mushrooms/Fungi on site ................................................................................... 577 5. BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION VALUES AND TARGETS ...................................... 578 5.1 Habitats of High Conservation Value .......................................................................... 58 5.1.1 Habitats of High Conservation Value for Plant Biodiversity: ........................... 58 5.1.2 Habitats of High Conservation Value for Animals: ........................................... 62 5.1.3 Selected Habitats of Priority for Conservation at WHP ..................................... 63 5.2 CONSERVATION TARGETS AT SPECIES LEVEL ................................................... 68 5.2.1 Plant Species of High Conservation Value ........................................................ 680 5.2.2 Animals and Birds of Conservation Value at Species Level ............................ 724 6. THREAT AND PRESSURES FACING CONSERVATION TARGETS ............................ 75 6.1 Identification and evaluation of direct pressures and threats to conservation targets ............................................................................................................................................ 75 6.2 Assessment of pressures, threats and management constraints according to RAPPAM .................................................................................................................................... 901 3 6.3 Vulnerability of WHP ..................................................................................................... 96 7. CONSERVATION STRATEGY AND MEASURES ............................................................ 99 7.1 Overall vision and Management Goals ........................................................................ 99 7.2 Conservation Goals, Strategies and objectives .......................................................... 990 7.2.1 Long term Goals for WHP .................................................................................. 1000 7.2.2 Conservation Strategies and Objectives ........................................................... 1021 8. IMPLEMENTATION OF CONSERVATION STRATEGY .......................................... 10605 8.1 Action Plan for Conservation Strategies of the Planning and Enabling Phase. 10607 8.2 Action Plan for Conservation Strategies of the Environment and Related Regulations Enhancement phase…………………………………………………………....109 8.3 Action Plan for Conservation Strategies for Biodiversity Conservation and Restoration Phase .................................................................................................................. 12416 9. MONITORING PLAN .......................................................................................................... 138 10. References: ...................................................................................................................... 14529 II. List of Tables, Figures, maps List of Tables Table 1.1: List of relevant biodiversity conventions and planning frameworks ...................... 9 Table 3.1: Total population number, locality area, and cultivated area (in dunums) by targeted locality .............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. Table 3.2: Total area (in dunums), crop type, and number of livestock, in the targeted localities, 2017 ................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. Table 3.3: Socio-Economic Importance of WHP ......................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Table 3.4: Biological Importance of WHP ................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Table 5.1: WHP habitats of high conservation value by type, physical characteristic and value ................................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. Table 5.2: Distribution of selected species by conservation area of priority at WHP ...... Error! Bookmark not defined. Table 5.3: Endemic species found at WHP and their abundance ............ Error! Bookmark not defined. Table 5.4: Plant species