Ecotourism and Conservation of Biodiversity in Bani Naim - Palestine

Khaled M.S. Sawalha

This project aims to conserve wild Palestinian flora with focus on aromatic, medicinal plants and shrubs. To encourage and activate ecotourism by enjoying natural beauty and conservation activities.

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Palestinian flora is rich and diverse. Native plants are grown naturally on mountains, slopes, plains and valleys of the Palestinian land. Wild plants of eastern slopes of the West Bank face risks and challenges that make efforts of conservation very important to tackle not only natural threats like drought but also human actions. Climate change in the semi dry areas like the West Bank is obvious where drought, desertification and regional warming features are recorded. This makes the work of protection of plants is crucial through this project where targeted wild plants will be transferred to a natural site of a botanic garden. Live plants, seeds or plant specimens will be collected for growing, conservation, or exhibition. The botanic garden will be site of growing, propagation of plants and at the same time for scientific studies by researchers, students and experts. A botanic museum of the plant dried collections including herbarium specimens, wood, and other related materials will be exhibited for ecotourism. This will enforce the project objectives to enhance scientific community and public awareness on plants and environment.

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The project is the first of its kind in the area where wild flora is targeted for conservation and ecotourism. At the same time researchers of Palestinian universities and scientific institutions will be involved actively to invest in natural resources like plant biodiversity. It is expected that undergraduates, botanists, ecologists and tourist experts will cooperate to protect nature in Palestine. It is aimed also to get benefits of the regional and international experience in dealing with conservation of nature to be employed locally. The project will have wide interactions, exchange of visits, activities and training to enforce achievement of the project goals of conservation of plants and ecotourism using nature.

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