A team from the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability – Bethlehem University just concluded tours in Cyprus, Jordan, and Lebanon. The aim of the tour was to 1) visit protected areas and study management structure that allow us to conserve Palestinian areas and fauna and flora (project funded by National Geographic Society), 2) visit seed banks and gene banks as we start our own to help protect endangered plant varieties (project funded by United Methodist Committee on Relief and a Swiss donor), 3) develop collaborations in areas of research and environmental awareness and conservation regionally. In Cyprus, the team visited a national park and attended the fifth Mediterranean Plant Conservation Week (https://cyprusconferences.org/). In Jordan, we visited the new Royal Botanic Gardens, Al-Mujib Biosphere Reserve, and three protected areas (Yarmouk, Shawmari, Al-Azraq). We were hosted by the Roya Society for Conservation of Nature but met also with faculty from Jordan University of Science and Technology.
In Lebanon, visits included an urban forestation project, Al-Shouf biosphere reserves, several ‘himas’ (community led protected areas) throughout Lebanon, a bird watching station, the Lebanese Environment Forum, the International Center for Agriculture in Dry Areas (ICARDA.org) and Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR.org). The facilities of ICARDA and CGIAR include experimental agricultural research stations, herbarium, and seed banking.PIBS team also had visits with amazing people like Lebanese Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani, RSCH director, Prof. Zuhair Amr, Dr. Mounir Abi Said, Dr. Kamel Mohanna who was nominated for the 2025 Nobel Prize (see also amel.org), veteran scientists Georges and Henriette Tohme (inspiring), and even a brilliant taxidermist. These meetings with key people allowed us to set-up long term collaborations and build regional networks to enhance biodiversity conservation while also enhancing BU’s regional outreach.
