APN has briefed media representatives on its achievements in the areas of agriculture, food security and environment during a press conference held on December 2nd, 2015 to announce its annual dinner event.

 A large number of reporters and journalists supporting the group’s  land and environment causes were present. APN President Razan Zuayter said she expected the journalists to make the news with the organization and not only to report it.She said that since the group was founded in 2003, several programs have been launched to develop Arab capabilities to preserve the region’s natural resources and achieve food sovereignty.

On top of these achievements, was success in having the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) endorse a document, the first of its kind, dealing with food security in crises, wars and occupations.Among those present was Lebanese singer and activist May Nasr who spoke about her support for APN’s campaigns which serve the Palestinian cause. 77-year old Palestinian farmer Abdul Rahman Al-Qassem was also present. He is known to have won a court order to regain his land from within a Jewish colony where it had been confiscated after 31 years of struggle. He has since refused an offer for $28million and an offer to grant him and his family American passports to give up his right to the land. 

Speaking at the conference, APN Director Mariam Jaajaa said the annual dinner event aims to rally support for the Society’s third Million Tree  Campaign which involves planting 100 thousand tree saplings on Palestinian lands in 2016 to replace those removed by Israeli occupation authorities. She added that APN has so far planted 2,084,588 tree saplings helping around 23 thousand Palestinian households with 181,000 family members.

Proceeds of the annual dinner will be used for the Green Caravan campaign to plant thousands more of fruit tree saplings across Jordan to combat desertification and foster food security.  The campaign has so far targeted areas in Deir Alla, Ghor al-Mazra, Ruseifah, Samakiyah village in Karak, Tafilah, Zarqa, Salt, Sueleh, Marka and Wadi al-Qattar. Planting activities have also been carried out in schools across the country. APN will pursue its efforts in its program on food sovereignty and work to influence related agricultural and environmental policies through its representation of the Arab civil society in world and regional forums such as the Committee on World Food Security, the UN Governing Body charged with reviewing and developing agricultural policies.