Monday, January 24, 2011

"Biodiversity in the Middle East: two study cases " By Nura A. Abboud



Worldwide, population increases have caused a decline in biological diversity due to pressure on natural resources. The accelerated decline in biodiversity impacts both direct and indirect services, and leads to a negative impact on sustainable development opportunities. The drivers of change and pressure can be summarized in:
·        Human population growth and human actions are causing rapid ecosystem changes, both for living and non- living components in both terrestrial and marine habitats.
·        Agriculture, globalization, development, increasing demand for energy and climate change all are affecting biodiversity even though the details are not yet fully understood
It is important to increase appreciation for the value of biodiversity. Ecosystems services, through biodiversity, play a fundamental tile in maintaining and enhancing the well being of the world. Still, additional research is required to understand the relationship between the ecosystem and biodiversity. It is important to understand that people are part of the ecosystem and not separate from it. Human health, wealth, security and culture are affected by any changes in the ecosystem. Biodiversity has an intrinsic value of its own which is independent of the services that it provides it to the human being. But why biodiversity is important?
·        Direct values: biodiversity is the basis of the food production (agriculture and livestock), provides cultural ecosystem services, and enables energy production from biomass.
·        Indirect values: people rely on biodiversity without realizing it. Waste recycling by microbes, crop pollination by insects are both examples of the indirect value of biodiversity, as it is the enjoyment of a biologically rich landscape and seascape  
Efficient management is important, if biodiversity is not managed effectively, the loss of ecosystem services will affect both rich and poor people alike. However, it will affect more the poor people who depend directly on those services and live in more vulnerable places to the changes in ecosystem, and cannot afford alternatives.  
Jordan and Palestine are located crossroads between the European, Asian and African continents. Both countries are divided into three different bio-geographical zones: the Mediterranean, Irano -Turanian, and saharo-Arabian, these zones are key elements in supporting biodiversity, containing three main ecosystems: the terrestrials, marine, and wetland ecosystems. Both countries are situated at the center of unique biota, representing the biodiversity of dry lands. The natural ecosystems in the three countries support human activities in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, tourism, traditional and pharmaceutical health products and many others . These ecosystems are also important for their intrinsic value, and for protection of overall environmental quality
The Levant states located in the Middle East in general, and Jordan and Palestine in particular went through changes during the past two centuries from various anthropogenic activities. These changes threaten the natural ecosystems, which have been destroyed to make way for agricultural, industrial, or housing developments. Increases in population due to both natural growth and immigration affect both the agricultural land and natural resources utilization.  Species biodiversity particularly affected, with many facing extinction. Rare and endemic plant and animals are endangered, and microbial diversity is threaten   
Jordan’s Biodiversity:
Jordan is small country of about 90.000 Km2, which despite its small size is rich in biodiversity and has a vast variety of wildlife; an understanding of the biodiversity of Jordan requires study to reveal all its elements
Researchers identified the following reasons for biodiversity loss in Jordan:
1.   Accelerated habits destruction: natural areas and wildlife in Jordan has been severely affected due to rapid urban growth. A five-fold population growth and expansion of industry over the last 50 years has lead to over-explosion of the remaining land for agriculture, animal grazing , road building and other human activities, which has caused erosion , desertification ad fragmentation of the land and reduction or extinction of many wildlife populations
2.   The high demands on the limited water supplies of Jordan have led to overexploitation of water resources and a decline in its quality and general decline in biological systems
3.   Agricultural expansion let to ecological changes in two ways: decreases in population of some species due to alteration of their natural habitat, and over- exploitation of water resources. For some species, the lack of water forced the animals to move or die, although for others it has increased their population  
4.   Inappropriate agricultural practices: pesticides and fertilizers have contaminated soil and water resources. In appropriate use of machinery on marginal arid lands has encouraged soil erosion by winter and water
5.   Overgrazing:  overgrazing is widely recognized as harmful to ecosystems. Grazing animals, especially goats, prevent many of the plants they eat from regenerating. They also consume plants that wild animals depend on as resource of food. Overgrazing also may lead to desertification, which increases atmospheric dust; such dust creates a health problem for both humans and wildlife. Furthermore, overgrazing is harmful for the microbes in soil, which the health of the entire ecosystem depends on
6.   Desertification of the green surface in semi-arid lands: is severely affected by cutting down trees for fuel wood collection. This loss of trees causes the land to deteriorate rapidly.
7.   Land fragmentation: land use practices based inheritance traditions have led to the fragmentation of land into small parcels that usually lies on slopes. Plotting such land can cause it to deteriorate attempts to encourage farmers to consolidate landholdings by exchanging plots have not yet been successful
8.   Traffic and vehicle movement is increasing rapidly in Jordan. Vehicles that cross land without using the proper trails break soil’s crust, and make it vulnerable to erosion. Traffic can also kills animals such as amphibians and snakes as they cross asphalt roads
9.   Hunting and shooting: although Jordan is committed to the) CITES) illegal hunting and trapping is still occur, particularly of birds for food and snakes out of fear.
10.               Localized distribution: several small populations of species in Jordan have survived the anthropogenic activities in mountainous areas. These populations still face the risk of extension from invasive alien species running away from their own habitat destructions
Solutions:
Biodiversity has become a global interest, as the global conservation community has become increasingly concerned with dry land biodiversity and the benefits of its conservation and management
An agreement was signed in 1994 between General Corporation for Environment Protection and the United Nations Environment Program to collaborate on a project of the study of biodiversity in the Hashemite Kingdome of Jordan. The long-term objective of the study is the conservation and protection, as a form of insurance of global biodiversity. The short-term objectives of the study are to enhance corporation for the environmental protection of biodiversity in Jordan, to identify the basic needs for effective conservation and use of biodiversity on the national level, and to consider the socio-economic and environmental dimensions of biodiversity in Jordan. In addition, the country study helps identify what kind of support and funding is needed, and to investigate the benefits associated with the implementation of these measures
At the national level, the goal is to raise public awareness about nature as related to the conservation of biodiversity, and to direct national concern in different sectors about the conservation and management of Jordan’s natural habitat in a sustainable way
At the international level, Jordan ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1992. This convention has three objectives: biological diversity conservation, sustainable usage of its components and sharing of benefits. Jordan is working toward more profound strategic policies and actions to meet the requirements of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Decision makers in Jordan should be more aware of the threats facing biological diversity and the degree of its deterioration. An important development is a multidisciplinary approach that uses geographic information system (GIS) analysis. The plan should involve many stakeholders, including the government, local communities, and representatives research initiations and universities.
The following is a list of solutions which I suggest to solve the biodiversity problems in Jordan:
1.   Rehabilitating damaged ecosystems in order to promote biodiversity
2.   Designing water supply models and monitoring water quantity and quality for plant and animal biodiversity. To reduce pressure from the growing urban demand, a long-term water solution will require fundamental changes in national water policy and adoption of a large-scale  management by the Jordanian government
3.   Coordinating the implementation of the plan between the local communities, government agencies and the private sector. It is important to involve local communities in decision making regarding hunting ,water use and grazing
4.   Implementation of comprehensive plan, guidelines and national and international policies for sustainable development of arid areas, preservation of biodiversity , and adoption of strategies to prevent harmful practices such as overgrazing or over extraction of water
5.   The establishment of separated areas for biodiversity conservation, off-limits to grazing and other activities, and the monitoring of biodiversity in those areas
6.   Addressing the problems facing farmers, such as crop selection. There is currently a lack of information on alternative crops that are tolerant to water stress and water-saving irrigation techniques. Livestock owners need services such as grazing reserves and infrastructure for marketing milk and other products
7.   Establishment of centers for public education and raising of awareness of the value of diverse habitats, as well as developing sites for international scientific research
8.   Establishment of natural reserves to give Jordanians beautiful places to visit and preserve Jordan’s beauty for future generations. A network of protected areas for ecosystems species and genetic resources preservation must also be established
9.   Introduction of sustainable systems for farming , include disease control and crops that help to regenerate soils
10.               Application of regulatory measures such as rules and budgetary allocations for conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of resources and further conservation efforts
11.               Appropriate support and encouragement to Badia’s farmers to adopt new policies and new practices, such as water-saving irrigation techniques and plantings of sustainable crops such as date palms or honey production. The government- supported settlement of the area’s nomads will decrease grazing pressure on lands.
12.               Cooperation between national, international and regional conventions and plans
13.               Use of traditional knowledge for conservation of biodiversity
14.               Using the precautionary approach to prevent and limit the causes for reduction or loss of biodiversity  

Jordan is committed to study its biodiversity to conserve its natural resources and ensure the sustainable use of its resources. It is also hoped that Jordan Biodiversity study will be the basis for cross-cultural cooperation and exchange, resulting in scientific integration between Jordan and the rest of the World.
The result of applying there principle across several areas will be a visible recovery and improvement of Jordan’s ecosystem. Additionally, new jobs will be created as part of the conservation efforts
Palestine’s Biodiversity problems:
The case of Palestine is different from other nations; biodiversity is under threat from a variety of pressures. The geographic, political and socioeconomic uniqueness of this area are driving forces behind its biodiversity loss, Sustainable development currently cannot be achieved, and environmental protection is difficult without sovereignty over its own natural resources.
In Palestine, unplanned urban expansion and accelerated population growth at a rate of 3.5- 5.0% has lead to over-exploitation of natural resources. Overgrazing is a common problem in Palestine, as part of over-exploitation. Other problems include desertification, deforestation and unplanned forestry activities, pollution, invasive alien species and hunting. These activities all create pressure on the ecosystem and will increase the risk of losing historical, cultural, economical and environmental values of Palestinian biodiversity
The political status makes the situation more complex. Israeli authorities has control over Palestinian natural resources , and Israeli settlements have added to population pressure and let to habitat fragmentation and centralization of peoples in smaller spots of land.  As settlements to continue grow in the occupied Palestinian territories, stress on natural resources and pollution will increase. The segregation wall is affecting genetic exchanges in the topography and natural stream paths, as well as increased soil erosion.
It’s clear that encouraging institutional, international and regional cooperation and coordination is needed and is particularly important to Palestinian ecosystems and biodiversity. A biological survey is necessary in order to monitor changes in the Palestinian ecosystems.  National guidance is required, as well as national and international funding for these activities. Appropriate development organizations should encourage research in ethno-biology to identify plant and animal species used by local people, which will prevent species from being irretrievably lost.  Still, it is necessary to improve the Palestinians’ knowledge and understanding of biodiversity values, so people can conserve their natural resources.

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I am well educated molecular microbiologist holding many degrees in the field, have very good Experience in Environmental Leadership, crisis management as well as organizing events. I have my own Environmental project that will be applied soon inshalla (if God wants) Like swimming, hiking, camping, planting, drawing and arts in general