1. Many of the species of birds, mammals and other animals appearing in historic records and of great interest in Palestine are now either extinct or threatened as they are now registered in the IUCN Red List. This is due to a variety of threats and constraints on wildlife and their habitats in Palestine. These include urban expansion and Israeli settlements, lack of land-use policies, illegal and/or uncontrolled hunting and mistreatment of wildlife, degradation of habitat. The latter results from destruction of vegetation cover, wetlands, steppes, migratory grounds and routes, decrease in prey and food resources, lack of solid waste management, uncontrolled tourism, and unsustainable agricultural practices.
2. There is a lack of human and technological capacity for biodiversity research, monitoring, documentation and policy and programme planning and implementation in Palestinian academic and research institutions, NGOs as the public and private sectors.
3. Palestine is considered as one of the favourite countries for nature tourism and bird watching due to its species diversity. BirdLife International has defined 395 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in the region, ten of which are located in Palestine. Much of the data related to birds and their habitats were compiled under the Israeli IBAs. Data are being updated, making it difficult to protect these areas properly.

Agenda for Action

Immediate Priority (implementation within 1-5 years)

1. Establish specialised training courses in natural resource management, focussing on plants and wildlife of major importance in Palestine and on participatory action research and collaborative management methods. This training will be fundamental to develop a Palestinian institutional and human resources capacity for protected area management. Field-based, problem-based learning should be emphasised. The target groups should include all stakeholders ranging from the local communities to research centres, the private sector, NGOs, and government institutions.
2. Revise university curricula and establish courses and workshops to train local specialists (ecologists, taxonomists, botanists, agronomists, and social scientists), but also specialists in plants, invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, in the conservation and management of biodiversity. This training should include some understanding of indigenous knowledge and practices for biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources.
3. Develop training programmes in ecotourism (including business development for the tourist market).
4. Enhance integration and co-ordination of policies, plans and legislation in relation to biodiversity conservation across the various sectors (fisheries, agriculture, rangeland management, protected areas, tourism, transport, etc.).

Mid-term Priority (implementation within 6-10 years)

• Strengthen the influence and capacity of non-governmental conservation and development organisations to promote biodiversity conservation.

Long-term Priority (implementation within > 10 years)

• Revise career incentives provided by the Palestinian government to increase the attractiveness of work in biodiversity related areas.

Notes

Establishing a training centre focussing on practical, applied and participatory skills can support Palestinian human resource capacity in the field of biodiversity. Men and women should be trained. Opportunities in other countries should be taken advantage of, but not emphasised.

Potential Partners

The Palestinian Authority including Ministry of Education, PEnA (Palestinian Environmental Authority), Ministry of Planning and International Co-operation, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Tourism, relevant Palestinian environmental and community-based NGOs, the local communities, the private sector, relevant international organisations including UNDP, UNESCO, the World Bank, IUCN, Bird Life International, Wetlands International, the British Council, local and international universities such as Bethlehem University, Bir Zeit University, Al Quds University, and others.