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Palestinian Ecological and Agricultural Organizations
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Contents
• Al-Ahliyeh College
• Arab Studies Society: Land Research Center (LRC)
• Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem
• Association of Environment Protection
• Center for Agricultural Services
• Development and Environment Association
• Environmental Protection and Research Institute
• Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME)
• Green Peace Association
• Local Committee for the Protection of the Environment
• MA'AN Development Center
• Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees
• Palestinian Energy and Environment Research Center
• Palestinian Hydrology Group
• Palestinian Society for the Protection of Environment
and Nature
• Renewable Energy Research Center (RERC)
• Soil, Water and Environment Institute
• Union of Agricultural Work Center (UAWC)
• Water & Environmental Development Organization
(WEDO)
• Water and Environmental Studies Center (WESC)
• Wildlife Palestine Society
Wildlife Palestine Society 
(WLPS)
P.O.BOX 89
Beit Sahour, Palestine
E-mail: wildlife@palnet.com
Website: www.wildlife-pal.org
Background
Wildlife Palestine Society evolved from Children for the Protection
of Nature in Palestine (CPNP), which was a project from the Lutheran
Schools and other private schools, upon their requests. WLPS was founded
unofficially in autumn 1998. Since then, WLPS has had clear and strategic
objectives regarding environmental concepts, protection of nature, and
preservation of diverse species while the CPNP main objectives and activities
concentrate on public and children awareness. The organization was officially
registered in the Ministry of Interior Affairs of the Palestinian National
Authority as an environmental, non-governmental, and non-profitable
organization. Wildlife Palestine believes that education of conservation
is the main pillar in the conservation movement of any country. WLPS
stresses the " Think globally, act locally" conservation philosophy.
WLPS does intensive work in the field of awareness and education. One
of the successes of WLPS is the inclusion of environment in the national
education curriculum of the Ministry of Education in Palestine. In addition,
WLPS is a part of the National biodiversity strategy and action plan
for Palestine and Palestinian Environmental Authority.
Activities
Wildlife Palestine Nature Conservation programs and projects include:
- Migrating Birds with no boundaries: This project was a joint project
that aimed to utilize bird migration as a perfect vehicle for cooperation
between nations in the region, and to emphasize joint educational
endeavors for students in Palestinian, Jordanian and Israeli schools.
The project is led by three organizations: The International Center
for the Study of Bird Migration in Latrun, established by the Society
for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) together with Tel-Aviv
University; Wildlife Palestine Society in the Palestinian Authority;
and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) in Jordan.
- Establishment of monitoring stations of the Wildlife (Flora and
Fauna) in three stations - Beit Jala, Jericho, and Gaza by 2001.
- Training of local and regional ecologists on nature conservation
and management.
- Education and promotion program: This program emphasizes education
and promotion of birds and habitats through its activities with school
and children, trips to nature reserves, and similar activities, production
of printing materials including posters, magazines and video tapes,
and inclusion of birds and wildlife conservation in national curriculum
for schools.
- Introducing Eco-Tourism concepts in the Palestinian society.
Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees
PARC
Jerusalem Office
P.O.Box 25128
Shu'fat, Jerusalem, Palestine
Tel: 02-5833818
Fax: 02-5831898
E-mail: env@pal-arc.org
Website: www.pal-arc.org
Background
PARC was established in 1952 as a volunteer organization for the awareness
and the guidance of farmers. In the sixties, the organization grew into
a non-profit organization working in the field of rural development,
enhancement of rural women's role and status, and protection of the
environment. The organization's main objective is participation in achieving
a sustained and integrated development for Palestinian society in order
to provide better quality of life. PARC offers extension of land resources,
raises awareness and provides support activities and services for individuals
and groups of organizations working in the same field. The organization's
aims include: Protecting and enlarging the amount of agricultural land
and its productivity, achieving comprehensive environmental development,
developing and optimizing the utilization of available water resources,
promoting and increasing all aspects of production abilities of rural
women, and empowering their role in the rural community, assisting in
establishing, building and supporting institutions, committees and unions
and mobilizing efforts in organizing individuals and groups in order
to realize PARC's objectives in all areas related to the work, enhancing
and achieving the development of the complementary agricultural activities,
accomplishing the aims and potentials of PARC's workers, expanding their
capabilities and raising their productivity skills, and developing and
realizing the dynamic financing of the organization.
Activities
PARC'S main objectives of integrated development for Palestinian society
have been achieved through their different departments. These include:
- Rural Women Development Department: the department implemented
its activities and projects in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with 34
women agronomists and social workers.
- Extension and Land Development Department: The program of Extension
and Land Development, through its three sections (Animal Production,
Plant production, and Land Development), focused on consolidating
the contribution of rural families to food security and the reclamation
and utility of lands as well as alleviation of the use of chemicals
in agriculture.
- Environment, Irrigation and Technology Transfer Department.
- Training and Support Activities Department: The department executed
a number of activities through its different units. These include:
The training unit, the Consultancy unit, information and publication
unit, and ISO 9002 system.
- Institutional Building and grassroots relations Department.
Palestinian Hydrology Group
PHG
Jerusalem (Main Office):
P.O.BOX 25220
Jerusalem-Shufat
Tel:+972 2 6565887 or +972 2 6565890
Fax: +972 2 5857688
E-mail: Phg@palnet.com
Website: www.phg.org
Background
The Palestinian Hydrology Group (PHG) was established in 1987 as a
non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to developing and
protecting water and environmental resources; to insure more public
accessibility to adequate water supply sources and sanitary conditions,
especially in rural areas; and to develop a Palestinian water information
system. PHG is considered to be a major water information center, which
provides services and consultation for water professionals, graduate
students, journalists, politicians, local government councils, local
and international firms and decision makers.
PHG main objectives center on the following:
- Upgrading the socio-economic situation of marginalized and poor
communities.
- Empowering local communities, and lobbying governments to guarantee
community participation in projects and justice in service.
- Helping to build the infrastructure of water and environmental services,
- Supporting the role of women in society.
Activities
The group has accomplished a number of studies in the fields of water
and wastewater. Examples of these projects include:
- Integrated Rural Development (IRD): The main objective of this
project is to improve the socio-economic situation of the rural areas
in the northern part of the West Bank, improve the income level of
women and to improve their status within society.
- Conventional water resources rehabilitation and development.
- Fresh water supply Enhancement through rainwater harvesting.
- Sanitation.
- Water quality assessment in the Gaza Strip.
- Feasibility study for establishment of a desalination plant in Gaza.
- Catchment studies.
- Database and water information system.
- Workshops and training courses.
- Environmental awareness and water conservation.
Palestinian Society for the Protection of Environment
and Nature
PSPEN
Ramallah, West Bank
Palestine
Tel: 059657775, 050534297
Background
PSPEN was established in 1996 as an independent, non-profit, non-
governmental environmental organization. The society is registered with
the Ministry of Interior of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. PSPEN
was created by a group of environmental specialists dedicated to developing
human resources for the protection and the preservation of the nature
and environment in Palestine.
Activities
Over the years, the organization has expanded its activities and has
conducted a number of projects. These include:
- Establishment of environmental clubs and groups. The clubs aim
at protecting the environment and nature. PSPEN has established a
group called "The Youth of Nature". The group includes 35
volunteers from Nablus, Tulkarem, and Jenin areas.
- Holding an environmental workshop in cooperation with the SPNI.
The workshop gathered together a number of businesspeople and involved
a course on ISO1400.
- Creating guides (Al-Zanbaqa magazine) on different issues that are
related to nature, such as the importance of nature, how to deal with
it, and how to protect it. The project has been conducted in cooperation
with PIES.
- Documenting environmental problems that result from pollution from
Israeli industries which are located on the border, and which are
neither under Israeli or Palestinian jurisdiction.
- Reclamation of 400 dunum near Nablus. PSPN started working on this
land, motivated by the idea of building a national park. Later, they
decided to create a natural reserve for the protection of nature.
10,000 trees were planted there. Native plants, which are threatened
with extinction, have been grown in that area. The reserve will also
contain distinct Palestinian animals and birds. The reserve is meant
to serve as a center for strengthening environmental education and
nature conservation concepts and for representing the ecosystem of
Palestine.
- Regarding networking - the organization has started making contacts
with some Palestinian, Jordanian, Egyptian and Israeli organizations.
PSPEN had been cooperating with Artas Charitable Association. PSPEN
had contacts with the Jordanian Royal Society for the Protection of
Nature and visited the Dana Reserve in Jordan. In addition, PSPEN
had begun making contacts with some of the environmental organizations
in Egypt.
The Palestinian Energy and Environment Research Center
(PEC)
P.O. BOX 85
Nablus, Palestine
Tel: +972-9-2384803/4
Fax: +972-9-2384388
E-mail: perc@palnet.com
Website: http:\\home.palnet.com\~perc
Background
The Palestinian Energy and Environment Research Center (PEC) was established
in December 1993 in Jerusalem, following President Yasser Arafat's decision,
and with the support of SYNERGY program of the European Union (EU).
The main office was relocated from Jerusalem to Nablus City. PEC is
a national independent organization dealing with issues of energy, environment
and the development of renewable energy. The main aims of PEC are to
foster the development of renewable energies, to foster rational use
of energy and energy conservation in Palestine, to provide the Palestinian
National Authority with requested information and data in order to formulate
general policy regarding the energy sector, and to provide technical
consultancy.
Activities
The center, in coordination with all the Palestinian Ministries and
national institutions, is executing many projects in Palestine. Among
these projects are:
- Providing electrical power to isolated clinics, communities and
agriculture by Solar Energy.
- Providing electrical power to the remote villages project.
- Energy conservation & demand side management in Taibah and Sikka
villages.
- Mediterranean Energy Information Network.
- Energy Research Station Project.
Future Projects include
- End-use measurement campaign of electricity specific uses in the
domestic sector in Palestine.
- Specific loans for efficient domestic appliances in villages connected
to diesel generators.
Soil, Water and Environment Institute
Agriculture Department-Hebron University
Hebron, Palestine
Tel: +970-2-2220995
Mobile: +972-2-50-499-536
Fax: +970-2-222-9304
E-mail: akrum@palnet.com
Background
The Soil, Water and Environment Institute was established in 1998
as a part of the department of agriculture at Hebron University to serve
the Palestinian community in environmental issues. The main mission
of this institute in serving Palestinian communities is achieved through
studies on soil, water and environment. The institute's main activities
center on: water and potable water (drinking water) in particular, sustainable
land use in semiarid areas, in reference to irrigation, ecology, wastewater
treatment, treated wastewater reuse in agriculture and irrigation, soil
analysis, classification and fertilization, and air quality analysis.
Activities
- Characterization of wastewater flow in Hebron area, especially
in Wadi al-Samen and Zeef .
- Sustainable land use project. The project concentrates on promoting
eco-agro use of land (agricultural use of land).
- Eco tourism in reference to the environment.
- People to people programs concerning wastewater and solid waste
reuse.
The Association of Environment Protection
Jenin, Palestine
Tel: 09-2385894
Background
The Association of Environment Protection was established in September
1996 as a non-governmental, non-profit, environmental organization.
The idea behind establishing this organization was mainly related to
the lack of local and national organizations that work in the environmental
field and the environmental disasters in Palestine, especially in Jenin.
Jenin has suffered, and is still suffering, from the pollution that
results from rock quarries, coal mines, solid waste buildup and sewers,
continuous urban development into natural reserves and the over hunting
and repeated violations against wildlife. The association's main goals
in protecting the Palestinian environment and minimizing the environmental
problems are achieved by activating society's role and expanding public
awareness.
Activities
- Currently, the organization is planning environmental summer camps,
and tree planting campaigns at the cemetery and at Jenin's entrance.
- The organization has also organized an awareness television advertisement,
which was broadcast on the local station.
- In the future, the organization is planning to implement more awareness
programs about rock quarries and coal mines and is planning on organizing
training programs for journalists and teachers in Jenin's private
and public schools.
- Working on posters and leaflets about wildlife in Jenin district.
The Center for Agricultural Services
(TCAS)
P.O.BOX 506
Hebron, Palestinian Authority
Telex: 970-2-2214440
E-mail: tcas@p-ol.com
Background
TCAS was established in 1986 as a Palestinian, non-governmental, non-profit
organization. At that time, the Palestinian community lacked a technical
body that could support farmers and families and guide them in getting
premium usage of their agricultural land in order to increase their
financial situation. TCAS was founded to be that body. TCAS was founded
by a group of specialized, dedicated experts who are interested in developing
the local community through programs and activities in the fields of
agriculture, environment, women, and water. TCAS's main goal is to improve
the agricultural sector capabilities through implementing modern and
suitable solutions for the problems facing farmers and inhabitants.
Activities
TCAS successfully completed many projects through their major units:
- Unit of model projects: This unit was established in order
to have a model production project with the following objectives:
helping farmers and those interested in investment in the agricultural
sector to adopt modern scientific techniques, creating job opportunities
for agricultural engineers and technicians, serving as an experimental
unit, functioning as a source of income to the center and helping
to support some of its activities.
- Services projects Unit: Since the foundation of the center,
this unit has focused on supporting the Palestinians through different
service projects. These projects include: land reclamation and new
agricultural roads, drinking water unit, springs and agricultural
cisterns, animal vaccination, and agricultural material distribution.
- Agricultural Extension Unit: The unit conducted a few projects,
which include: demonstration stations, training program, and the awarding
of scholarships, awards, and study visits.
- Women Development Unit: Under the WDU, the following programs
have been undertaken: service projects, training programs, an income
generating project, a credit program, and social activities.
- Environmental Unit: TCAS works on developing the environmental
sector different programs and activities: implementing environmental
awareness programs, organizing workshops, and distributing environmental
handouts.
The Local Committee for the Protection of the Environment
Nablus, Palestine
Background
The idea of the Local Committee for the Protection of the Environment
was initiated by Save the Children Foundation (SCF) in Nablus. In 1995,
SCF contacted a number of organizations and institutions concerned with
the environment. A meeting was held and 10 organizations and institutions
were selected to form the committee. These include: Al-Najah University
- water and environmental studies center, Nablus municipality - health
department, Small Hands Society, the United Nations, Palestinian Hydrology
Group, Save the Children, the education division in Nablus, Ministry
of the Youth, the rehabilitation program, that is based in the local
community, and the National Guard Forces - the medical services department.
Activities
The organization's main goal of enhancing the community's environmental
awareness is achieved by concentrating on working with children. The
committee's main philosophy for succeeding in its mission is based on
the idea of creating environmentally aware children who will be capable
of protecting the environment and who will have an influence on society
when they grow up. To achieve this goal, the committee, through the
Division of Education in Nablus District, has gathered the teachers
in the district and organized a workshop to educate them about environmental
concepts and in order to clarify the importance of such a committee
in the area, and to the concept behind its philosophy. The committee
also asked the teachers to form an environmental committee in each school.
These committees have been formed and they began their activities, under
the supervision of the Local Committee for the protection of the environment.
Activities included:
- Composing songs about issues related to the environment.
- Painting pictures that represent the environment and show some of
the problems from which the environment suffers.
- Organizing plays which relate to the environment.
- An environmental festival - which was the climax of the above mentioned
activities. The festival drew a large audience of concerned citizens.
- Organizing a children's writing contest for the writing of an environmental
story. Professors at Al-Najah University edited the stories that were
written by the children. The professors chose winning stories and
they were published and 10,000 copies were made. The stories were
distributed throughout the West Bank and the Gaza strip.
- Planning an environmental "snake and ladder" game to strengthen
environmental concepts among the children.
- Publishing a calendar containing environmental insignias and pictures
drawn by the children.
- Visiting the schools in Nablus District and participating in establishing
public services utilities.
- Holding a number of awareness programs that concentrated on two
main subjects: wastewater and solid waste.
Union of Agricultural Work Center (UAWC)
Ramallah
Tel-Fax: 02-2980316
Tel: 02-2954289
E-mail: uawc@palnet.com
Background
The idea of creating this organization happened in 1986, before the
establishment of the Palestinian Authority. During occupation, farmers
needed an organization to represent and protect them in the absence
of effective governmental agricultural departments. The Union of Agricultural
Work Committees (UAWC) was established in 1986 as a non-governmental,
non-profit, developmental organization and became the spokesperson and
representative for the farmers and their demands and complaints in both
the West Bank and Gaza. Once the Palestinian Authority took power, and
created an agricultural ministry, this organization began working and
coordinating their activities with them. The main goal of UAWC organization
is to protect the Palestinian lands from Israeli settlements and work
on the development of farmers' efficiency.
Activities
The Union of Agricultural Work Committees for the promotion of sustainable
development of issues related to agriculture and environment have achieved
its goals from programs and projects that have been conducted by its
different units:
- Training and Extension Units: The activities of the training and
extension units include: arranging field visits to different areas
in the West Bank and the Gaza strip, distributing agricultural pamphlets
in many areas, holding seminars and workshops on different subjects
related to agriculture, preparing broadcast programs that discuss
a wide range of agricultural and rural development aspects, training
of agricultural engineers, and establishing a training center and
an agricultural laboratory in the Gaza Strip.
- Women's unit. The activities of this unit included: implementing
courses in preserving nutritional foods and public relations, organizing
seminars related to rural women's awareness and distributing pamphlets
about Brucellosis and diseases that affect chickens in the summer,
including methods of treatment.
- Land development program: The work plan in this project includes
reclamation's leveling, planting various types of seedlings, digging
water cisterns and building retaining walls.
- Food for Work program
- Developing and exporting extra virgin olive oil.
- Building five nurseries in Khan Younis, Beit Lahya, Beit Hanoon,
Tulkarem and Al-Jalima-Jenin.
- Placing refrigerator units in Khan Younis and Beit Hanoon.
- Building green houses and planting in Khan Younis, Beit Lahya and
Beit Hanoon.
- Implementing nine salt-water treatment filters in Gaza.
Water & Environmental Development Organization
(WEDO)
P.O.BOX 844
Bethlehem, Palestine
Tel: +972 2 2747948
Fax: +972 2 2745968
E-mail: wedo@p-ol.com
Background
Water and Environmental Development Organization (WEDO) was established
in 1997 as a non-profit, non-governmental Palestinian organization.
WEDO was initiated by a group of professionals in water, sanitary, environment
with a practical as well as academic background in various disciplines.
WEDO was established due to recommendations made for creating an environmental
organization to fill the growing gap between scientific research and
policy recommendations concerning wastewater, solid waste management
and environmental protection, on the one hand, and the absence of application
of this knowledge on the other hand. The founders of WEDO began their
work with an international environmental conference in which the main
participants were scientists from South East Asia, Africa, South America
and from other developing countries with environmental problems similar
to those found in the Middle East. The success of this conference gave
great moral support to the organization and their activities quickly
followed.
Activities
WEDO promotes a number of environmental programs and projects that
concentrate on environmental planning and development. The programs
include water quality control, water conservation, wastewater treatment,
wastewater reuse, and solid waste management and recycling. Examples
of previous and current work include:
- Wastewater treatment and reuse of treated water for irrigation:
In this project Duckweed-based methods are used for treating wastewater,
which will be used in irrigating crops in Jericho.
- A number of education and training programs "Bethlehem 2000."
These programs aimed to strengthen the infrastructure of Bethlehem
and organize health and environmental awareness campaigns. The programs
included training courses for WEDO employees for adopting child-to-child
methodologies in their home and school visits.
- Educational program about solid waste and the optimal method to
deal with this kind of hazardous material.
- West Bank Environmental Clean Up Project, in cooperation with the
Ministry of Education, to produce video tapes in three languages (Arabic,
English and Hebrew). In these tapes, WEDO showed the Palestinian present
environmental situation. They elucidated the sources of pollution
in Palestine, and the impact on the environment, resulting from the
open burning of solid waste, irrigation with wastewater, and pollution
of springs
- Wildlife project.
- Training courses for engineers on building sanitary systems.
Water and Environmental Studies Center (WESC)
P.O.BOX 7
Nablus, Palestine
Tel: +972-9-2383124
Fax: +972-9-2387982
E-mail: Anan@najah.edu
Background
The water and Environment Studies Center was established in September
of 1994 to meet the needs of the Palestinian community in the areas
of water and environmental control, maintenance and education. The partners
of and interested parties in the WESC include the Palestinian National
Authority, water departments and utilities, municipalities, village
councils, NGOs, international organizations, industries, farmers, as
well as individuals involved in analyzing and evaluating water and environmental
problems. WESC has four main laboratories (water, wastewater, soil,
and microbiological) and one technical administrative section.
Activities
Since its establishment, WESC has conducted several studies. Examples
of these include:
- Conducting a monitoring program of water resources and distribution
systems and reviewing its development
- Conducting a sanitation program in Al-Zababdeh village and its surroundings
(four other villages).
- Construction of a pilot wastewater treatment and reuse demonstration
plan.
- Carrying out a regional project on water resources planning and
management in Palestine.
- Studying water supply and demand development in the Palestinian
territories. The study was a multi-lateral project that was conducted
in cooperation with the German Institute of Technical Cooperation
(GTZ).
- Designing a training program for laboratory technicians and social
workers employed by the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees.
- Conducting a study on "Wastewater Recycling Supplied by Renewable
Energies in the Near East".
- Carrying out a project on " Irrigation Water Management in
Palestine".
- Establishing a Geographical Information System (GIS) unit.
- Conducting different Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for
infrastructure projects and industrial sectors in Palestine.
- Conducting a monitoring program of water.
- Carrying out a regional project on "Bacterial Re-growth in
Water Distribution Networks"
- Conducting a project on "Harvard Middle East Water"
Al-Ahliyeh College
Ramallah, Palestine
Tel: 02-2957380
Fax: 02-2957388
Background
Generation For the Protection of Nature is an organization that has
been established by the Latin Patriarchal Schools in the West Bank,
Gaza and Jordan to encourage, establish and promote more effective environmental
education. The focus of this program is on training, curriculum development
and on the establishment of GFPN clubs in schools in order to help students
take ownership of environmental activities. These clubs are designed
not only to promote awareness and understanding, but also to promote
student-centered activities for the protection of the environment. Students
are encouraged to become involved in advocacy and raising public awareness
by organizing campaigns on various.
Activities
The program's major goals of protecting the environment, promoting
durable development, and contributing to public awareness, have been
reached through a number of programs. Activities include:
- Establishment of clubs for Nature Protection for both students
and teachers. The activities of the clubs include holding lectures
on different subjects related to the environment, and participation
in international and local environmental ceremonies such as the international
and the Arab environmental days.
- Organizations of "clean up the world" campaign.
- Implementation of "One Blue Sky Above Us" program. This
is a joint program for Palestinian and Israeli schools in which three
schools from each side (Bir Zeit, Al-Ahliyeh, and Zababdeh) analyze
water and sewage effluent to learn more about the effects of pollution
on their environment. The program will run for one year and will consist
of one class meeting each week as well as field trips in which water
quality will be tested. Two joint trips will take place and the results
of the experiments done throughout the year will be shared. Also as
part of this program, an ecological bubble has been built in Al-Ahliyeh
College in Ramallah. This bubble provides a structure where many experiments
will be conducted within a controlled environment. There will be a
special focus on the cycle (Fida - which cycle?). Biological purification
of water will also be focused on, and a variety of plants, fish and
animals will be grown.
- Organization of environmental summer camps.
Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem
ARIJ
P.O.BOX 860
Caritas Street, Bethlehem, Palestine
E-mail: jad@arij.org
Website: www.arij.org
Background
Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem (ARIJ) was founded in 1990
as a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable development
in the occupied Palestinian territories and the self-reliance of the
Palestinian people through greater control over their natural resources.
ARIJ plays an active role in the local community as an advocate for
greater co-operation among local institutions, international and non-governmental
organizations. As a national research institute, it frequently provides
current data and research necessary to the formulation of position papers
and policy strategies on issues such as land and water resources. Moreover,
through its work with donor institutions and regional and international
experts, ARIJ promotes an environment conducive to the introduction
of new initiatives and ideas, and thus, serves as a facilitator in the
co-ordination of multilateral activities. Although initially conceived
to confront issues facing the agricultural community, ARIJ has since
broadened its agenda to include a wide spectrum of environmental concerns.
Early research priorities focused on cultivation in marginal lands,
livestock production, agro-industries, marketing, and water management
and utilization. Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem achieves its
goals through the work of its different units. These units include:
Geographical Information System (GIS), Remote Sensing and Land Use Unit,
Environment Research Unit (WERU), Biodiversity and Agricultural Research
Unit (BARU), Computer Unit and Resource Center, Environmental Resource
Planning and Assessment (ERPA) Unit, and Water Research unit and Rainfed
Farming Unit.
Activities
- Environmental Protection of the Shared Israeli-Palestinian West
Bank / Mountain Aquifer.
- Palestinian System for Environmental Resource Management (PSERM):
PSERM is a micro-computer based system designed for making projections
of water demand and consumption by the agricultural sector for each
crop and region in the West Bank.
- Promoting Land Use Assessment and Management in Palestine.
- Impact of urbanization on land use and local communities in the
West Bank.
- Testing the performance of a small scale activated sludge filtration
system for wastewater treatment in the West Bank.
- Promoting irrigation management systems for the optimization of
land and water resources in Palestinian irrigated agriculture.
- Monitoring Israeli colonizing activities in the West Bank and Gaza.
- Trans-boundary Air Quality Effects From Urbanization.
- Land use in rain-fed areas, implications on poverty and marginality.
- Localizing Agenda 21.
Development and Environment Association
P.O BOX 3662
Al-Bireh, Palestine
Tel: 02-2958434-2958435
Fax: 02-2952892
Background
The Development and Environment Association was established in 1993
as a non-profit, non-governmental organization for the purpose of developing
Palestinian society's awareness of the necessity of protecting the environment.
Activities
The Development and Environment Association emphasizes the development
of the concepts of the protection of the environment, and the development
of Palestinian society. Main activities of the organization focus on:
- Tree Planting.
- Parks cleaning.
- Public health programs
- Opening an information and data registration center.
- Providing help for the needy in the local community.
- Participation in developing national culture and folklore activities
and establishing a cultural center "Baladna".
Environmental Protection and Research Institute
EPRI
P.O. BOX 1175
Gaza City, Gaza
Palestine
Tel: 07-2822131/1762
Fax: 07-2823441
Background
EPRI was established in 1989 and registered officially in July 1991
as a non-profit, non-governmental organization in the Gaza Strip. The
institute was founded by a group of Palestinian scientists to protect
the Palestinian environment and to serve public interest by conducting
applied research, promoting public awareness and improve utilization
of natural resources. EPRI main goals focus on analyzing environmental
problems, through the conducting of scientific research, assessing environmental
priorities and solving problems associated with environmental health
impact, conducting monitoring programs, running impact assessment studies,
developing strategies to protect and control pollution, and developing
environmental planning, policies, awareness, education, and information
related to the environment.
Activities
EPRI has conducted research projects through regional, international
and national cooperation programs and has carried out several environmental
awareness and education programs. EPRI's projects include:
- Establishment of an environmental protection and research institute.
- Development of a stabilized ecologically acceptable pesticide formulation
for use in hot and sunny regions.
- Health impact study supported by the UNRWA
- Establishment of an environmental chemistry and toxicology laboratory.
- Environmental solution to problems caused by Anthropoids, which
is of public health importance in the Jordan Rift Valley and the Gaza
strip.
- Prevalence of Hepatitis C among blood donors in Gaza strip.
Green Peace Association
P.O.BOX 9
Al-Bahar Street, Deir Al-Balah
Gaza, Palestine
Telefax: 07-2531968
E-mail: greenpeace_gaza@yahoo.com
Background
Green Peace Association was established in 1996 in Deir Al-Balah,
the Gaza Strip, with the aim of preserving the Palestinian environment.
Early in 1996, with the creation of the Palestinian Authority, the need
for an organization that would work for the protection and preservation
of the Palestinian environment was essential. A staff of environment
specialists and educated people began this organization by publishing
reports on issues related to the Palestinian environment in different
newspapers in Palestine. These reports and ideas were then developed
under the umbrella of a non-profit, non-governmental organization, named
Green Peace Association.
Activities
Green Peace previous and current projects include:
- Tree-planting in Al-Muntar Cemetery, in cooperation with the Gaza
Municipality.
- Tree planting in Bir Zeit University.
- Tree planting in the main streets in Deir Al-Balah, Jabalia, and
the Middle Camps.
- Solving the shortage in drinking water in Bureij Camp by renting
a well, in cooperation with Bureij Municipality and Norwegian People's
Aid.
- Establishing a center for recycling solid waste.
- Running environmental summer camps for 600 children from the middle
area, and seminars in which international experts and specialists
participated.
- Voluntary beach and streets cleaning campaign.
- Establishing a public garden that will contain a natural reserve
and a zoo with rare animals and birds. This public garden will serve
as an educational center.
- Running a workshop about marine ecology and threat to fish diversity
in Gaza, in cooperation with PIES.
- Recycling of plastic waste, in cooperation with Plastic Art Center.
- Establishing greenhouses to provide cuttings for tree-planting programs.
- Cleaning Wadi Salka area in the Gaza strip. This area was considered
to be a pollution center in the Middle area in Gaza.
Arab Studies Society: Land Research Center (LRC)
P.O. BOX 20479
Jerusalem, Palestine
Tel: +972-2-6264089
Fax: +972-2-6288448
Mobile: 050-507931
E-mail : lrc@palnet.com
Website: www.lrcj.org
Background and objectives
The Land Research Center (LRC) was established in Jerusalem in 1986
as a branch of the Arab Studies Society and as an independent, non-governmental,
non-profit Palestinian organization. Ever since its establishment, the
Center has been conducting a number of general activities to accomplish
its goals and general objectives. The Center's objectives are:
- Protecting Palestinian land.
- Safeguarding Palestinian agriculture from Israeli violations.
- Preserving the Palestinian's basic rights to housing and land ownership
- Developing Palestinian agriculture and expertise
- Conducting research as well as producing publications on issues
related to land, agriculture and training.
- Making full linkages in shape and content between Arab Jerusalem
and the remaining parts of occupied Palestinian territories, taking
into consideration that Jerusalem is an integral part of the West
Bank.
- Working for the restoration of collective popular action with the
aim of preserving land and agriculture, and with an emphasis on the
prominent role of women in these areas.
Activities
- Documenting, following-up and defending more than 200 lands, roads
and settlement cases.
- Publishing a number of statistical based reports and studies on
Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
- Preparing a study on Palestinian olive oil production in terms of
quantity and quality, and exploring the possibilities of marketing
abroad.
- Participating in many local and international conferences and seminars
and presenting working papers prepared and presented by the centers'
staff.
- The Agricultural Development Project which involves: implementing
a number of agricultural family projects, implementing two land reclamation
projects, implementing two small livestock projects, implementing
a number of agricultural training projects, and implementing a project
on the "Inventory of the Soil resources of the West Bank and
the Gaza Strip.
- Monitoring Israeli colonizing activities in the Palestinian West
Bank and Gaza.
MA'AN Development Center
MA'AN Head Office Address
P.O. BOX 51352 OR 5179
Ramallah, Palestine
Telefax: 00 972 2 2954451/2959565
00 972 2 2986796/2986698
Gaza Branch Office
P.O.BOX 5165
Gaza, Gaza Strip
Telefax: 00 972 7 2823712
E-Mail: maanc@palnet.com
Internet Site: www.maan-ctr.org
Background
MA'AN Development Center is an independent Palestinian developmental
and training institution established and registered in Jerusalem in
1989 as a non-profit, non governmental organization. MA'AN was founded
by a group of Palestinians who wanted to make a concrete contribution
to the development of Palestine's national economy. MA'AN's early activities
took place within the context of the Intifada, which was based on principles
of non-lethal resistance and the incorporation of self-sufficient developmental
initiatives in health, education, agriculture and so forth. Launching
its work in the area of food processing and quality control, MA'AN worked
with unregistered, and mainly, women's cooperatives and collectives
to create income generating projects that worked towards national autonomy
for the Palestinians. Today, MA'AN continues its work in these fields
but has broadened its mandate to encompass initiatives to strengthen
Palestinian institutions, develop the rural and agricultural sectors
and contribute to the creation of income-generating projects.
Activities
- Organizing training programs in food processing and quality control
techniques.
- Sponsoring a conference on "Israeli measures against Palestinian
workers from the Occupied Territories in Israel and the impact on
the Palestinian economy".
- Establishing two permacultural centers: MARDA in the West Bank and
Khuza'a in the Gaza Strip.
- Initiating five agricultural development projects for 20 marginalized
farmers
- Holding four training workshops on poultry raising.
- Implementing a vocational program for women in house maintenance
skills, including carpentry, plumbing, interior decoration, electrical
wiring and installation, and small household equipment maintenance.
- Implementing a training program in food processing quality control.
- Conducting a study day in Gaza entitled "Financial, Tax and
Legal Measures against Inflation."
- Conducting a training course for rural women on permaculture techniques.
- Running a Child to a Child pilot project, in cooperation with the
Khuza'a Permaculture Center. Children were trained in community activities
and participated in discussions on socio-related topics.
- Implementing the project "Empowering Palestinian Rural Women."
- Conducting a study on artificial corals.
Renewable Energy Research Center (RERC)
P.O.BOX 7
Nablus, Palestine
Tel: +972-9-2386167
Fax: +972-9-2387982
E-mail: marwanma@najah.edu
Background
The Renewable Energy Research Center (RERC) at Al-Najah National University
was established in 1996. RERC is concerned with system design, research
development, feasibility studies and education in all conventional and
renewable energy fields, energy management and conservation. RERC enjoys
a special relation with the Palestinian Environmental Authority (PEA),
which makes it a significant member of the Palestinian Energy Scientific
Center (PESC) established by PEA.
Activities
The center, in coordination with all the Palestinian Energy Authority
and national institutions, has conducted many projects in all conventional
and renewable energy fields. Among these projects are:
- Determination of wind energy potential in different areas in Palestine.
- Determination of the global environment.
- Determination of solar energy potential in different areas of Palestine.
- Determination of weather parameter functions in Palestine to determine
relative humidity, pressure, ambient temperature and rainfall.
- Economic feasibility of energy conservation.
- Promotion and outreach of energy management and energy conservation.
- Energy efficient system.
- Recycling of wastewater using solar energy and reuse of treated
water in agriculture.
- Establishment of a laboratory for testing solar heaters.
Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME)
P.O. Box 9341
Amman, Jordan 11191
Tel.: +962 6 5866602/3
Fax: + 962 6 5866604
P.O. Box 55302
Anata junction, East Jerusalem, 97400
Tel.: +972 2 5324667/7
Fax: +972 2 5324692
E-mail: info@foeme.org
Website: www.foeme.org
Background and objectives
Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) is an umbrella organization,
representing leading environmental non-governmental organizations in
the MiddleEast. FoEME was founded as EcoPeace on December 7, 1994 at
a historic meeting in Taba, Egypt where environmental organizations
from the Middle East met with the common goal of furthering sustainable
development and peace in their region. FoEME's area of activity is not
defined by political boundaries, but by environmental considerations
and shared ecosystems; it extends from the Mediterranean in the west
to the desert plains beyond the rift valley in the East. FoEME's major
goals are the protection of the environmental heritage, the promotion
of sustainable development and the creation of necessary conditions
for lasting peace. FoEME meets its goals through initiating and managing
projects focusing on transboundary ecosystems, strengthening and unifying
its member organizations and increasing public awareness and concerns
about environmental problems. FoEME promotes its goals through serving
its member organizations by providing networking, capacity-building
and information sharing. This includes holding workshops and conferences,
distributing a quarterly newsletter and representing the Middle East
region in international programs for initiating and managing projects
focusing on transboundary ecosystems (e.g. the Dead Sea Basin, the Gulf
of Aqaba, the Eastern Mediterranean, etc.), or on environmental issues
of interest to the whole region, such as water, renewable energy and
environmental impacts related to international trade.
Activities
- Regional development plan for the Dead Sea Basin.
- Addressing environmental impact of trade by the implementation of
studies on this impact on the Mediterranean Free Trade Zone.
- Public participation in water management through supporting community
awareness and local solutions to some of the regions water problems
and promoting conservation equity and sustainable water use.
- Renewable energy demonstration program.
- Monitoring investment in the Middle East through the undertaking
of independent environmental assessments of new projects associated
with the peace process and raising awareness concerning the relationship
between investments and sustainable peace with governments, private
investors, financial institutions and the media.
- Sustainable tourism for the Gulf of Aqaba.
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