Newsletter Jan, Feb, Mar 2016

“Our Land, Our Identity” project to plant 54,000 fruit seedlings in Palestine

Under the slogan “Uproot one tree… we replant ten”, and in order to support the resistance of Palestinian farmers to hold on to their lands, Arab Group for the Protection of Nature with the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC) launched the project “Our Land, Our Identity”, which aims to cultivate more than 54,000 fruit seedlings across Palestine.

Arab Network for Food Sovereignty Boycotts FAO CSO Consultation with Letter of Protest to the FAO Director General

Arab Network for Food Sovereignty (ANFS), of which APN is a co-founder and the current Secretariat, took the decision to boycott the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Civil Society Consultation scheduled to take place before the next ministerial Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC).

APN Reveals the Dynamics of the International Policy Platforms in the Arab Food and Nutrition Security Blog

As one of the rare voices of Arab Civil Society at international platforms, APN was requested to contribute with a blog story to the Arab Food and Nutrition Security Blog. Since the launch of the blog in 2014 leading policy makers, researchers, national and international experts have been participating with their insights on.

APN Accredited to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

In March, 2016, Arab Group for the Protection of Nature received accreditation with observer status to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). UNEP, established in 1972, is the primary agency which coordinated environmental activities within the United Nations.

The Green Caravan Implements Agricultural Activity Facilitated for People with Disabilities

Arab Group for the Protection of Nature, in collaboration with Masar Initiative and with funding from the Jordan Dubai Islamic Bank, carried out an activity in which 150 trees (apricot, peach, cherry, almond, and monthly-fruiting lemon) were planted in Burqush and Wadi Rayan.

Launch of “Zeitoun Khair” Project in the Palestinian Territories

In a new step to preserve land in danger of confiscation, APN launched the “Zeitoun Khair” project in partnership with the Arab Center for Agricultural Development (ACAD) and the Palestinian Voluntary Work Committee in occupied Palestine.The “Zeitoun Khair” project aims to cultivate 7000 olive saplings across 19 regions affected by the Apartheid Wall and threatened by settlement expansion.

APN Contributes Case Study on the Impacts of Occupation on Agricultural Markets in Palestine to Rome-based Committee on World Food Security

Arab Group for the Protection of Nature has contributed a case study on agricultural markets in Palestine to the Rome-based Committee on World Food Security (CFS), as part of a process on connecting smallholders to markets, organized by the Civil Society Mechanism of the CFS.

“A Tree for Every Child”, a Green Celebration in Al-Bayoudeh Village

In a display of harmony between different sectors of civil society, Arab Group for the Protection of Nature in collaboration with the local community in al-Bayoudeh village launched the campaign “A Tree for Every Child” in order to return to the land and achieve food sovereignty. The campaign saw the distribution of 400 fruit trees – one for each child in al-Bayoudeh Secondary School for Girls.

APN President Razan Zuayter Elected to IUCN West Asia Regional Committee

APN President Razan Zuayter was elected to serve on the West Asia Regional Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) by her colleagues at the Jordan National Committee meeting in March of this year.

Construction of water collection systems in the Gaza Strip

As part of the relief program launched by APN to revitalize the agricultural sector in Gaza and support the resistance of Palestinian farmers, APN carried out a recent project in Gaza with support from the Jordanian Engineers Association and in cooperation with the Palestinian Farmers' Union.

APN and Integrated Technology Group (ITG) plant 780 fruit trees in Wadi al Qatar and Ghor Haditheh

In a series of three events organized by Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN) and held in collaboration with Integrated Technology Group (ITG), 780 fruit trees (olive, pomegranate and citrus) were cultivated in Wadi al-Qatar and Ghor Haditheh.

APN Honours Mothers by Planting Trees

In March of this year, Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN) launched its annual Mother’s Day campaign, recognizing that both mothers and the earth are symbols of giving.

APN and partner organizations demand the United Nations to take action towards releasing political prisoner and hunger striker Mohamed AlQeeq, immediately and unconditionally

A vast audience of institutions, unions, popular and grassroots movements and political parties as well as journalists demonstrated to demand the release of the Palestinian prisoner and journalist Mohamed Alqeeq yesterday evening (Sunday) in front of United Nations headquarters in Shmeisani/Amman.

Al Mayadeen Hosts APN President in TV Interview

Al Mayadeen’s TV program ‘Metro’ hosted President of Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN) Razan Zuayter for an interview with Reyhan Younan, in which they discussed the importance of olives, both socially and economically. Zuayter also spoke about APN’s various activities in Palestine, the Arab world, and in global platforms.The program also hosted APN volunteer activist Leen Jabri.

Despite occupation interference volunteers of the Million Tree Campaign plant seedlings in the village of Qasra

Dozens of APN volunteers planted 200 olive trees in the village of Qasra near the settlement of Majdoleem in the Nablus governorate, despite the presence of Israeli occupation soldiers, who attempted to disrupt the tree planting.

APN and Rotary Club of Amman Citadel plant olive trees in Jordan

As part of APN’s Green Caravan program, with the support of the Rotary Club of Amman Citadel, volunteers carried out the planting of 200 olive trees in Wadi Al Qatar on the outskirts of Amman.

Campaign to Drop the Gas Deal celebrates the anniversary of the Battle of Dignity

APN partnered with a delegation from the Jordanian National Campaign to Drop the Gas Deal with the Zionist State to lay a wreath on behalf of the campaign in front of the statue of the Unknown Soldier on 21st March, 2016, in celebration of the 48th anniversary of the Battle of Dignity, under the title “Our dignity is to drop the gas deal with the Zionist enemy”.

APN Continues Engagement in Climate Change Agenda in Jordan and the West Asia Region

Representatives from Arab Group for the Protection of Nature participated in multiple conferences in January and February 2016 on the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21) and the Rio Conventions.

Jordanian Federation for Environmental NGOs meet at the Dead Sea

APN participated in the Strategic Planning Workshop of the Jordanian Federation for Environmental NGOs, which was held on February 24th and 25th, 2016. The workshop aimed to develop a roadmap for the Federation for the coming years, as well as a framework of corporate governance.