Preface by the Head of the Palestinian Environmental Authority

The rich traditions that the civilisations of Palestine had developed over time for the wise and sustainable use of natural recourses survived until recent decades. For example, the Bedouins managed the use of rangelands efficiently by taking advantage of seasonal variations in their carrying capacity. Farmers used many indigenous varieties and friendly environmental techniques for the production of food for subsistence and export. Fishing communities benefited from the riches of the sea in keeping with its biological cycles. Thus, Palestine had both the potential for keeping up with an increasing population and providing for its development and prosperity.

This picture, however, changed drastically due to severe social and political changes. The occupation of the Palestinian lands by Israel forced the traditional users of the biological resources to crowd on to an ever-shrinking land and water resource base. This reality brought with it, among other problems, the rapid depletion of the biological diversity.

The Israeli occupation of our lands for more than 30 years has left us with many social, political, economic and environmental problems. Living under occupation, with our land and its resources out of our control, we have had no option but to put more pressure on what little of the natural environment is left for us to use for subsistence and survival. In addition, the already tight pieces of agricultural land that Palestinian farmers are tilling are diminishing every day by toxic wastes and pollution dumped by Israeli settlements in illegally seized Palestinian lands.

Now, as we are well on our way towards statehood and sovereignty, an urgent agenda for strategic action must be initiated to ensure the sustainable development of the country. This brings with it a grave responsibility for stewardship over our resources. It is after all, this very biological diversity thais the goose that lays the golden egg of resources for sustainable development of our country, now and in the future. Protection of the environment and its biological diversity is not a luxury for the Palestinians, but a fundamental necessity for survival and prosperity.

As an emerging country, we are taking urgent steps to address our local environmental problems. At the same time, we are slowly waking up to the realities of global environmental disasters caused by the inhabitants of this earth.

Protecting biodiversity in Palestine will have many economic benefits. It will create job opportunities in a wide-range of biodiversity programmes, including the management of natural resources, protected areas, land use, etc. In addition, we need to invest in the protection of our biological resources in order to attract the myriad of pilgrims to the holy lands to enable them to visit the ecological riches of Palestine as well as its ethnic, religious and cultural diversity.

It was these realisations that led the Palestinian Environmental Authority (PEnA) to undertake, with welcome international assistance, the Biodiversity and Action Plan for Palestine (BSAPP). The development of the BSAPP, which has taken place as a collaborative effort involving both the civil society and agencies of the government, is very timely. Many factors are threatening the survival and continued capability of biodiversity related resources to meet national and global needs. The most serious threats result from the delayed hand-over of our land resources, causing undue pressure on the meagre amount of land already in our possession, and the risk of rapid unsustainable development.

The approval by H.E. President Yasser Arafat of the BSAPP clears the way for all stakeholders– government institutions and the civil society alike– to sit down together to work out clear collaborative agendas of action. PEnA offers all its resources and good will to all institutions of the government and the civil society to implement together the practical implications of BSAPP’s strategic proposals and recommendations.

Special thanks are due to H.E. President Yasser Arafat for his continued support of the indispensable work of environmental protection with which PEnA is charged.

Our great gratitude goes for the generous support of the international community, particularly the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme and its Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP), the Swiss Development Co-operation (SDC), and the technical assistance provided by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

We are also thankful for the ceaseless efforts and dedication of our Project Manager, Dr. Mahir Karaki, whose capable direction and co-ordination of this complex task have resulted in a timely BSAPP.

The development of the BSAPP is the product of a consultative process that involved a technical Task Force as well as all stakeholders including selected local communities. These institutions and individuals are listed in this volume. To all who helped with this process, our deep gratitude.

Dr. Sufian Sultan
Project Co-ordinator