Newsletter October to December 2019

The Arab Group for the Protection of Nature Launches its New Website

Exploring the website both in Arabic and English, APN followers will be able to read about the Group's events and campaigns it carries out, join in implementation and voluntary work in various fields of activities by filling out special forms. They will also be able to contribute financially online to its work.

APN Signs an Agreement with the Arab League’s Agricultural Arm

On Wednesday (9th of October), APN signed an MoU with the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development to discuss collaboration between the two institutions to enhance the ability of Arabs to protect and sustain their natural resources and establish sovereignty over them.

After 13 Years, APN’s Initiative Succeeds in Holding Israel Accountable for Its Environmental Violations in Lebanon

Today, 13 years later, APN’s efforts to protect nature have yielded great victories in the face of Zionist aggressions, which do not take into account Arab environmental or human rights. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in November by the overwhelming majority demanding that Israel pay an immediate $ 856.4 million compensation to Lebanon, due to the massive oil spill along the Lebanese coast resulting from an Israeli air strike during the war on July 15, 2006.

APN and Albalqa Creativity Institute Launches the Hakourah Bayouda 2 Project to Grow 10 Thousand Trees in Al-Salt

APN joined by Al-Balqaa Creativity Institute have launched an agricultural project to plant ten thousand fruit tree saplings in fifteen villages in Al-Salt governorate.

The Arab Group for the Protection of Nature has launched a project to empower those injured in the “Great March of Return” in Gaza. 

The first of its kind, the project supports the resilience of the injured and their families by providing a source of income and enhancing food security in the villages of Al-Wusta Governorate. The project includes planting fruit trees and vegetable seedlings, providing irrigation networks, and distributing flocks of birds (poultry and pigeons) to beneficiary families.

Hundreds of Trees Planted, Marking the Launch of a New Agricultural Program 

In the first manifestation of the 'Cultivate Your Land' campaign, APN has planted 500 fruit trees in the lands of three farmers in Al-Faihaa area of  Madaba Governorate.  The planting work on November 23rd, 2019, was carried out with the participation of employees of the Arab Media Network ( Mazaj FM & Radio Dahab) along with volunteer students from The American University.

APN Gives 16 Awareness Lectures to 850 Students

As part of its mission, APN has given 15 awareness lectures in November and December to young students around the city of Amman. Students totalling 850 between the ages of 9-17 in 13 schools were enlightened on the importance of agriculture and its role in providing sound environmental climate.

APN Concludes a Strategic Partnership with the University of Jordan

APN signed an agreement with the University of Jordan on Sunday, 15th of September, under which students of the Faculty Foreign Languages ​​will participate in APN’s activities that support the local environment and Jordanian farmers as part of their mandatory community service requirement. 

On the Eve of the 2019/2020 Agricultural Season, APN Plants 700 Tree Saplings in Cooperation with Naua and the Bank of Jordan

APN Project manager Mohammad Qteishat said that the new season holds an agenda of activities targeting a number of locations in the central, southern and northern regions of Jordan Valley, in addition to other locations in Madaba, Aqabah, Maan and Irbid. The new plans, part of APN’s Green Caravan program involve planting more than 15 thousand fruit tree saplings over a period of six months.

APN Denounces Netanyahu’s Statements on the Jordan Valley

Rami Barhoush, Chairman of APN’s Board, condemned Netanyahu's electoral promise in the strongest terms, pointing out that this is blatant evidence of the expansionist ambitions of "Israel" in the region coupled with persistent attempts to abolish the Palestinian cause in flagrant violations of all international laws.

The Agricultural Research Centre Implements a Training on Permaculture in Partnership with APN

Organizers are looking to generalize this model, which is characterized by its low cost and ability for growth in dry environments with the least amount of water. It is hoped to generalize it in other regions of the Kingdom in order to reinforce the idea of self-sufficiency for small farmers.

APN Concludes an International Conference in Amman with the Attendance of 45 Participants

Participants at a conference held in Amman have announced in a statement that conflict and fragility constitute a major global threat to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They noted that approximately 1.8 billion people live and are affected by these conflicts, and this segment is the poorest in the world. The three day conference on 'Development and Humanitarian Assistance in Wars and Conflicts" was hosted by Arab Group for the Protection of Nature and the Arab Network for Food Sovereignty (ANFS), in partnership with The CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE) Working Group on Conflict and Fragility.

‘Al-Khader Grapes’ and ‘Qalqilya Guava Festival’, Fruitful Results of the One Million Tree Program in Palestine

The “Green Grape Tent”, a popular grape market in south of Bethlehem, witnessed a productive involvement with APN by farmers of Al Khader town that produced substantial amounts of grape boxes as part of the Million Tree Program in Palestine.Later in October, APN joined Palestinian farmers at the fourth Guava festival held in the town of Qalqilya.

With the Support of Investment Bank, 750 Tree Saplings Planted by APN for the Benefit of 7 Farmers

With the support of the Investment Bank, 750 trees have been planted by APN for the benefit of 7 farmers in the northern Al-Shouneh city in Irbid governorate.

During an International Conference in Rome, APN: The World Must Bring an End to Wars in the Region if It Wants to Combat Climate Change

APN's general coordinator , President of the Arab Network for Food Sovereignty, Razan Zuayter has said that wars and conflicts seriously disrupt social, environmental and natural resources structures, and that they threaten the region's ability to mitigate and adapt to climate change. She stressed that it is not possible to talk about combating climate change without looking at the political dimensions associated with it. 

APN Plants 500 Tree Saplings in Madaba in Partnership with “Zain”

APN organized an agricultural activity in collaboration with Zain Telecom on Saturday (12 October 2019) in the Fayhaa area, west of Madaba Governorate, during which 500 fruit trees (olives, citrus fruits and almonds) were planted. 

APN Presents a Paper during an Arab League Meeting

APN has participated in the meeting of the Sub-committee on the Eradication of Hunger in the Arab Region, at the headquarters of the Arab League General Secretariat in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

APN Enables a “Um Sadam” to Invest in Her Land

The widow of farmer Hassan Mohammed Diab (Om Saddam) along with her kids were on the verge of selling their land due to their inability to invest in it.  Om Saddam expressed her overwhelming happiness for being able to cultivate and maintain her land, pointing out that this will bring sustainable economic returns for her and her orphaned children.

The Arab Network for Food Sovereignty Discusses Its Future Plan of Action in Amman

The Arab Network for Food Sovereignty (ANFS) has discussed at a meeting in Amman its administrative and financial reports, its strategic plan and new members’ requests. Fourteen Arab members of the network attended the meeting of its executive bureau on October 9, 2019.

During the IUCN meeting in Kuwait, APN Warns of the Environmental Impacts of Wars and Conflicts in the Region

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world's largest international conservation group, has over 1,400 members from governments, governmental institutions, and civil society organizations.

‘The Green Caravan’ Lands in Madaba and Plants 500 Tree Saplings

A group of students have volunteered joining APN’s team in planting around five hundred fruit and stone fruit trees in Faiha’a area west of Madaba governorate. The work which will benefit three farmers was carried out in cooperation with Madaba Women’s Society. 

APN Speaks at the Regional Food Security Meeting Held by ESCWA in Amman

Eighty participants attended the meetings including representatives of the governments of Arab countries, and delegates from specialized regional and international organizations. During the fifth session, APN Manager Mariam Al Jaajaa gave an introductory presentation on the Framework for Action for Food Security and Nutrition in Protracted Crises, a framework that materialized at the Committee on World Food Security in the Italian capital, Rome.

‘The Green Caravan’ Plants 300 Fruitful Trees in Cooperation with Audi and Ahli Banks

As part of APN’s Green Caravan Program, 200 citrus tree saplings have been planted in Sbaihi area in Al-Salt governorate north of the capital city of Amman. 

APN: I am Afraid the Economic and Social Council Meetings are to no Avail if No Effective Agricultural Solutions Are Reached

Razan Zuayter, the co-founding member of the Arab Group for the Protection of Nature, directed a question to the Minister of Agriculture Ibrahim Al-Shehadeh about the reasons that led Jordan to import 80% of its food from abroad.

APN Implements the Will of Late Farmer ‘Abu Ali Al-Shatti’ in the Central Jordan Valley

Responding to the wish of Jordanian farmer Abu Ali Al-Shatti who died several weeks ago, to plant his land in the central Jordan Valley area, APN carried out the cultivation process in coordination with the Ahliyya for Agriculture Society.  

The Peoples’ Coalition on Food Sovereignty Concludes its Regional Meeting in Amman

The Regional West Asia and North Africa Conference of the People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS) has stressed the importance of exerting more effort to protect natural resources (water, land, seeds) and to promote local products that meet food sovereignty principles. A session was also devoted to discuss the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the region. The meeting was held in Amman on November 11, 2019 and attended by nine organizations.