The following programs and activities
are being executed or agreed upon with some Donor Countries.
- Project Proposal on the "Formulation of Environmental Law":
PEnA started formulating an Environmental Law that will
reflect the current status of catastrophic environmental resources in Palestine
and will put forward the framework for the management, monitoring and implementation
of activities, leading to the sound use and protection of natural resources. The
Palestinian Environmental Law will represent the bases for elaborating necessary
mechanisms and instruments for a better and a clean environment.
- Project Proposal on the "Organization of a Phytosanitary Service and
Actions to support Dry Land and Agriculture in Palestine". Data about the
sanitary status of crops in Palestine are scanty and erratic. Little is known
about pests and pathogens that are common to other Mediterranean Countries. Damages
to national agriculture can be devastating, that's why the need of applied measures
is crucial to prevent the entry and spread of pests and diseases. The implementation
of the Phytosanitary Service and Actions project, which is considered a Biological
and Technological innovation applied to agriculture, will preserve the ecosystem,
increase its productivity, and help in drawing the interest of young people in
agriculture.
- The proposed Project on "Strengthening the Palestinian Environmental
Action Plan Program": Supported by the Italian government, this short-term
project aims to assist PEnA in formulating an environmental strategy and action
program through a multi-disciplinary and a participatory approach. It also helps
to draw the attention of Palestinian key players to any shortages in implementing
the proposed environmental plan.
- The essential intent from the "Proposed
Industrial Environment Training Program"
is to promote human resource capacities and institutional framework
through training
and short courses on industrial resources management.
- Netherlands Project "Support towards Palestinian Environmental Action
Program" which includes four project proposals for "Life
Capacity Building",
namely: "Wastewater
Treatment and Solid Waste Management, Integrated Industrial Pollution Control
and Environmental Impact Assessment".
- A proposed project by the World Bank about "Environment/Solid Waste
Grant for Project Preparation", which will be funded by the Japanese
Government and supervised by the World Bank (in the process of agreement).
- A Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan Project funded by GEF through the
UNDP and executed in collaboration with IUCN. This one will prepare a mechanism
for action and framework for Biodiversity conservation and management along with
an assessment survey on the state of Biodiversity, Protected Areas and Nature
Conservation in the Palestinian Territories.
- A Canadian Project on "Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)":
being signed recently between PEnA and Environment Canada, and is being implemented
starting November 1997. The program aims at establishing an EIA Unit within PEnA
that concentrates on providing training in this field to trainees from PEnA and
other PA ministries and institutions.
National Activities executed through the Initiative
to Combat Desertification:
- "Combating Desertification in the Palestinian Jordan Valley as an approach
towards Sustainable Development". It is a sub-regional collaborative program
that's comprised of Jordan, Palestinian Authority, and Israel to examine the potential
for Sustainable Development through Combating Desertification in the Jordan River
Valley. The Inter-governmental Negotiation Committee (INCD) of the Convention
to Combat Desertification funds it.
- "Sewage Water Treatment Project" funded by the USAID and executed
at Al-Aroub Agriculture school near Al-Aroub Refugee Camp.
- Rangeland Management Project; funded by the Swiss Government through the Initiative
to Combat Desertification and executed in various places in the West Bank, namely
the south part of Hebron, at Al-Samo'u (Samera), Dahrya, and South East Jenin.
- Germplasm Conservation in the Arid Lands of Palestine, funded by the Government
of the Republic of Korea and will be executed by PEnA at about three sites of
the Palestine Territories.
- The Development of Orchard Trees &Economic Forestry in the Central Highlands
of the West Bank. Supported by the Republic of Korea and is executed at many places
of the West Bank, including Al-Aroub near Hebron and Nabi Musa shrine near Jericho.