Newsletter January, February & March 2015

Challenging Occupation forces in Cultivation of Olive Trees twice in Hebron

Hundreds of volunteers and activists from APN and Palestinian groups and institutions were twice challenged by Israeli occupation soldiers and settlers as they worked to cultivate olive tree saplings in the area of Tal Rameeda in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank.

The Green Caravan on Its First Journey in Balqa’ Governorate

APN green caravan has embarked on its first journey into Eira forest in the Balqa’ governorate on a mission to plant thousands of tree saplings in the area.

APN Halts Attempts by Major Powers to Abandon the Agenda for Action on Food Security in Protracted Crises

The Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN), representing the Arab civil society in the UN Committee on Food Security (CFS), and as coordinator of the Working Group on Food Insecurity in Crises and Conflicts has organized a series of meetings at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, on the ‘Agenda for Action for Addressing Food Insecurity and Nutrition in Protracted Crises’ currently negotiated among world countries prior to endorsement in October, 2015

Fruit Trees to Be Grown in Jericho

APN has launched a project to plant fruit tree saplings in Jericho in cooperation with the Palestinian Farmers’ Union. The ‘Jordan Valley-Jericho Aghwar’ project, launched on April, 5th, 2015, involves planting 36, 000 saplings of citrus, seedless grapes, olives, pomegranate and guava trees. Three ponds with a capacity of 3000 cubic meter each will also be constructed, in addition to irrigation networks in a 15 dunum area which will be cultivated with winter vegetable plants to generate income for Palestinian farmers.

Greenhouses Renovated in Gaza

Fifty greenhouses, totally or partially destroyed during the Israeli war on Gaza in 1914 have been repaired. The repairs were executed by APN in cooperation with its partner in Palestine, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees. The project aims to provide support to fifty farmers and create jobs for 12 people in the region.

APN at the CFS Advisory Group Meetings in Rome

APN president Razan Zuayter, representing the Arab civil society, was invited to attend the meetings of the Committee on Food Security (CFS) Advisory Group in Rome. She attended the Group’s meeting on March,2nd,2015 and earlier, the preparatory meeting on Feb.

The Launch of the 'Land is Ours' campaign to grow trees around Palestine

More than a thousand volunteers and activists joined the launch event of the ‘Land is Ours’ campaign, part of the ‘Third Million Trees’ program adopted by APN to plant 4000 olive tree saplings in Palestinian lands including Jerusalem, Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Qalqilya, Toubas, Jericho, Toulkarm and Jenin. Initial cultivation includes:

APN and Ehtirafiya Academy Join Hands in Olive Tree Cultivation Campaign in Jordan

Seeking to instill the values of voluntary work and the spirit of strong attachment to the homeland, the International Ehtirafiya Academy’ female secondary school joined the Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN) in implementing a tree planting campaign in Jordan. The work involves planting of a thousand olive tree saplings.

Fruit Tree Saplings Planted in Jerusalem

APN has recently launched the ‘Fruit Tree Saplings’ project in an area north-west of Jerusalem as part of its third million tree program, in cooperation with the Palestine Rural Development Society.

APN Joins Moves Rejecting the Natural Gas Agreement with Israel

The Jordanian National Campaign opposing a gas export agreement with Israel has launched a series of activities including sit-in protests as well as awareness lectures designed to alert the public to the risks involved in such an agreement.

Jaja Speaking about Food Sovereignty in Beirut

The German Orient-Institut and Goethe Institut in Beirut have held a forum on food industry and policies in the Arab world. The forum held on March 15-17, 2015 with the participation of farmers, businessmen, activists, artists, politicians, chefs and academics.

New Water Wells Dug in Jerusalem Outskirts

Two water supply wells were recently dug and constructed in lands threatened with confiscation in the Palestinian villages of Qubeibah and Beit Exsa in occupied Jerusalem.

Tree Cultivation Campaign in Honor of Mothers

APN has launched a campaign to plant trees in Jordan and Palestine on Mother’s day which falls on March, 21st every year. The campaign seeks to underline the symbols of the generosity of giving, and originality shared by the mother and the land in a unique relationship. Hundreds of students from Ahliya, Arab Model and Amman National Schools took part in the tree planting operation and each received good wishes’ cards to their mothers.

Planting the Martyr’s Forest

APN joined civil society and student groups in a forest planting ceremony in honor of Jordan’s martyr pilot Ma’ath al-Kasasbeh. The event was held on February 8th, 2015 by the Ministry of Agriculture. Hundreds of Jordanians joined as 2475 trees were planted to build the new forest in the Sports City grounds. The forest planting honors the memory of al-Kasasbeh and the other martyrs of Jordan and symbolizes and stimulates continuity and the power of giving.

A New Cooperation Phase with the Land Research Centre in Hebron

APN has signed a new agreement with Land Research Centre aimed to restore and cultivate fifty dunums of Palestinian land in Ethna and al-Koam areas in the region. The agreement also provides for construction of 10 water supply wells.

‘If only you knew'

APN in collaboration with Sanabel landscape design and services delivered two awareness lectures at Ahlya Girls School in Amman as part of the group’s campaign launched in 2012 with the ‘If only you knew’ slogan idea.

Zuayter Takes Part in ESCWA Expert Group Meeting

APN president has attended ESCWA’s expert group meeting on Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus in the Arab region. The meeting held on March 24-25, 2015 in Amman aimed to build understanding of the overall scope of this nexus for advancing sustainable development; and to frame it within the context of the Arab region through the revision of case studies

APN Meets Al-ARD Group for Cooperation Talks

Talks have been held between APN and Al-ARD Group for Palestinian Agricultural Products focusing on cooperation issues. APN president Razan Zuaiter, manager Mariam Jaja and project manager Mohammad Qtaishat took part in the talks with Al-ARD Group manager Ziad Al-Anabtawi in Amman on March, 26th, 2015. The two sides agreed to hold a workshop on issues of concern to the two groups.

APN participates in a Symposium on Restoring Degraded Ecosystems

APN joined other organizations and groups at the Symposium on Restoring Degraded Systems organized by Jordan’s Royal Botanic Garden in cooperation with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the German Technical Cooperation Office (GIZ), Jordan Environmental Fund (JEF), Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) and the Ecological Restoration Alliance of Botanic Gardens.

APN Programs and Activities in the Media

A series of interviews in the various media outlets have featured APN programs and campaigns. Dubai TV interviewed APN president Razan Zuayter on the ‘Money Map’ program on March 7th, 2015. Radio Angham of Hebron, Radio Marah and Radio Mazaj FM also interviewed APN project manager Mohammad Quteishat during the same month where he spoke about Land Day and the ‘Land is Ours’ campaign launched by APN in collaboration with its allies in Palestine