The intent of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of Palestine (BSAPP) is to provide a strategic basis for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the Palestinian Territories. The development of the BSAPP was funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the UNDP/PAPP and executed by the Palestinian Environmental Authority (PEnA).
Institutional concern with the environment in Palestine has developed with the creation of PEPA and, later, the EPD. These were established to lead the working group on the environment during the multilateral negotiations. PEnA was created by a Presidential decree in late 1996 and was charged policy, regulation and implementation of environmental protection and conservation programmes and activities.
In late 1997, both the GEF and the Swiss Development Co-operation (SDC) approved complementary projects to support the elaboration of the BSAPP. The GEF project, which was administered by UNDP/PAPP, is a part of a larger regional programme that includes both Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. The SDC component was co-ordinated by IUCN which has provided continuing support in facilitating the planning process through advice on the development of work plans, organisational structure, terms of reference for national and international technical working groups, and review of interim technical reports and assisting the Project Manager with the finalisation of the BSAPP.
As the national executing agency, PEnA is the focal point for the implementation of the BSAPP. Staff specialists from PEnA were assigned to various tasks of technical support for the activities of the project. A National Steering Committee for Biodiversity in Palestine was formed comprising representatives from various government institutions, non-governmental organisations and academic establishments. The Committee advised the project manager on the elaboration of the BSAPP, reviewed various reports of the technical working groups and acted as a forum for discussion to achieve consensus on the main approach and components of the BSAPP.