The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) at
Bethlehem University was inspired by a dream of a young native zoologist
Dr. Sana Atallah who died at age 27. PIBS was founded in 2014 and opened
to the public in 2017 (http://www.palestinenature.org/about-us/history/ ).
It engages in research, education, and conservation of our natural world,
culture and heritage. We use knowledge to promote responsible human
interactions with our environment. PIBS started with land and a building
provided by Bethlehem University and donations from Prof. and Mrs. Qumsiyeh
($250,000) and from other individuals and mostly volunteer effort. Since
the establishment, we have published >110 scientific researches, conducted
>500 learning sessions, and implemented >40 sustainability and biodiversity
projects. Our work influenced local authorities to adopt policies and laws
that protect and regenerates nature and we were selected to build the
national report in compliance with the Convention on Biological Diversity
as well as lead the effort to build the National Biodiversity Strategy and
Action Plans. In 2022 we also revised the national Protected Area Network
increasing protection areas from 9% to 11% of land mass and including
adding new key areas. Examples of successfully implemented projects
include: preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage related
to nature and agriculture (funded by British Council, see
turathna.palestinenature.org) and working with four marginalized
communities including 20 farmers in each, women cooperatives, and schools
for sustainability via permaculture and ecotourism in an area that is now
designated a world heritage site (funded by Darwin Initiative-UK, see
almakhrour.palestinenature.org) .Our biodiversity center (including
molecular labs, animal rehabilitation unit, botanic gardens, and herbarium
see https://youtu.be/zbxuJ4YYLP4 ) was designated a national center by the
Environment Quality Authority and already helped researchers, students, and
visitors locally, regionally, & globally. To see the latest year
accomplishments:
https://www.palestinenature.org/annual-reports/PIBS-Annual-Report-2021.pdf )
*Who benefits from your work?*
The beneficiaries engaged with us in shaping projects that impacted their
lives. Examples include communities (e.g. https://youtu.be/MjdvsK6pkec),
students (https://youtu.be/AZOoOzXU7tQ) . All projects are done in a
participatory process with all sectors of our society but especially
marginalized communities producing educational modules, tailored programs
{e.g. for women, for recycling, for gardening etc.), producing national
strategies and action plans, redesigning and managing protected areas, .
Our work is recognized globally (e.g. participatory work with farmers
https://youtu.be/OrCsh1t4aKs ).
Through visits and workshops to visiting internationals and in their own
countries {>55 countries), thousands learned about nature and society in
Palestine and many (>270 so far) volunteered here enriching their own lives
while designing and implementing projects. Governmental and
non-governmental organizations use PIBS as a central knowledge base and
work with us for bridging science-policy-practice for
conservation/regeneration. This included collective work to produce the
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and the new protected area
network for the state of Palestine.
*Who benefits from PIBS work*
Through visits and workshops to visiting internationals and in their own
countries {>55 countries), thousands learned about nature and society in
Palestine and many (>270 so far) volunteered here enriching their own lives
while designing and implementing projects. Governmental and
non-governmental organizations use PIBS as a central knowledge base and
work with us for bridging science-policy-practice for
conservation/regeneration. This included collective work to produce the
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and the new protected area
network for the state of Palestine.
*Environment we work in*
Our remarkable achievements are impressive especially considering the
challenges in Palestine politically, economically, and socially. Over the
past 8 decades there was sociopolitical instability tied to
Israeli-Palestinian struggle. The conflict produced 7.5 million refugee or
displaced Palestinians. This also led to huge economic, social, and
ecological upheaval/damage. Palestinians were dislodged from a rural
agricultural economy to an economy dependent on humanitarian aid. The
conflict also impacts the environment (
https://www.palestinenature.org/research/Biodiversity–Conservation-and-Sustainability-in-Asia—Vol.-1_removed.pdf)
. Our role is to work for peace and for sustainability of all people of of
nature creating dynamic regenerative human and natural communities. Working
in this environment (political instability, patriarchy, economic
deprivation etc.) is challenging yet young people at PIBS conquer obstacles
and achieve much (see http://palestinenature.org and
https://www.facebook.com/PIBS.PMNH).
*Key challenges*
Our challenge is to be innovative in achieving sustainable human and
natural communities even with these challenges (poverty, conflict,
societal weeknesses etc). The challenges relate as follows:
-Climate change has effect on ecosystems of Palestine and we engage in
projects for mitigation and adaptation to this. See
https://www.palestinenature.org/education/
-Economic deprivation results in poverty and weak access to natural
resources (due to segregation wall and occupation practices such as control
of water). We addressed this by helping marginalized communities (refugees,
marginalized villages). For example see http://
almakhrour.palestinenature.org/
-Habitat destruction and ecological degradation are addressed via our
conservation & education efforts. e.g. see
http://www.palestinenature.org/conservation
<http://www.palestinenature.org/conservationl>
-We address outmoded systems of patriarchal society structure via enhancing
critical thinking and respect and via empowerment activities (e.g. half our
staff and half our beneficiaries are women)
*PIBS supports Natural Regeneration*
PIBS regenerates natural resources via 1) on the ground work on
conservation https://www.palestinenature.org/conservation and
sustainability https://youtu.be/2CFXt_h2JQM 2) promoting human and natural
diversity https://www.facebook.com/UnityDiversityProject , 3) Redrawing
protected areas 4) bridging science-policy areas, 5) saving endangered
species (e.g. https://www.menasci.net/sustainability.html Other independent
articles of relevance:
https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/biodiversity-and-hope-flourish-palestines-first-natural-history-museum
https://osme.org/2017/01/environmental-stewardship-via-a-nascent-natural-history-museum-in-palestine/
https://kuminow.com/Week-12-natural-resources-online-g
https://explorer-directory.nationalgeographic.org/mazin-b-qumsiyeh
Our institute and its museum, botanic and community gardens provide dozens
of educational modules that help thousands of beneficiaries (local and
international) annually to learn and change their behaviours vis a vis the
natural environment.
*PIBS supports social regeneration*
Social regeneration comes out of our empowerment projects for example:
-with educational activities that empower youth including environmental
clubs at schools (25 schools in the past three years). e.g.
http://youtu.be/AZOoOzXU7tQ
-our community garden open and used by refugee children in Bethlehem
-cultural heritage programs that enhance pride and reconnecting among the
native people including with their ancestors (e.g. see
turathna.palestinenature.org)
-see also
https://almakhrour.palestinenature.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Community-activities.pdf
Independent recognition of our regenerative social work can be seen in
awards like this
https://www.pkfeyerabend.org/en/2020/08/29/prof-mazin-b-qumsiyeh-courageux-artisan-de-la-solidarite-en-et-avec-la-palestine/
and this http://takreem.org/profile-details-305
Our institute and its botanic and community gardens are now an oasis for
social regeneration in a troubled part of the world and provide a place of
renewal and hope.
-Empowerment helps liberate our people from mental colonization
*Connectivity*
Locally we built relationships with many non-governmental and governmental
groups like the Ministry of Tourism (for ecotourism work and to
manage/protect world heritage site), Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of
Culture and the Environment Quality Authority. The latter is especially
important and we have almost daily contact regarding research, education
and conservation joint efforts. Volunteers came from over 45 countries and
our team spoke at and visited over 45 countries. We collaborated with >200
professionals and >35 institutions (NGOs, academics etc.) regionally and
globally.
All our work is collaborative (in research, education & conservation)
Examples of joint work:
-With Belgian academics and researchers for national conservation of
protected areas
-With Swiss colleagues on climate change educational material (including
animation videos)
-With academic colleagues in Jordan published over 20 research papers.
-With colleagues at Imperial College and Natural History Museum, London on
studies like environmental DNA funded by Royal Society
see also http://www.palestinenature.org/projects/
and http://www.palestinenature.org/partners/ (list of some partners)
*Sharing experiences*
We published on our experience and were invited to consult on building
similar facilities elsewhere. See as examples:
–http://www.palestinenature.org/research/143.-Qumsiyeh–Amr-Gulf-paper.pdf
–http://www.palestinenature.org/research/B55-Green-oasis.pdf
–http://www.palestinenature.org/research/124.Bioscience.pdf
–
https://www.palestinenature.org/research/125.-Role-of-museums-and-botanical-gardens-in-ecosystem-services-in-developing-countries-case-study-and-outlook.pdf