Indicators to be used to monitor the national target

Headline indicators

A.1 Red List of Ecosystems https://www.gbf-indicators.org/metadata/headline/A-1 

A.2 Extent of natural ecosystems https://www.gbf-indicators.org/metadata/headline/A-2 

1.1 Percentage of land and sea area covered by biodiversity-inclusive spatial plans https://gbf-indicators.org/metadata/headline/1-1 

3.1 Coverage of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures https://gbf-indicators.org/metadata/headline/3-1 

Binary indicators

1.b Number of countries using participatory, integrated and biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning and/or effective management processes addressing land- and sea-use change to bring the loss of areas of high biodiversity importance close to zero by 2030  https://www.gbf-indicators.org/metadata/headline/1-B 

National indicators outlined in the Action Plan (2023):

National indicators for Action 1.1: Approval documents and management plans, as well as faunal, floral, and threats pre-post assessment surveys

National indicators for Action 1.2: Published and adopted laws and regulations

National indicators for Action 1.3: Developed Forest national strategy, forests are included in the new law, and the law is approved, periodic reports on situation, published scientific papers related to forests in Palestine, and actual maps showing increase in forested areas.

National indicators for Action 1.4: Identification and announcement of micro-reserve; published studies of MR areas; adopted management plan

National indicators for Action 1.5: Number of biosphere reserves established; number of people and communities actively engaged, state of protection

National indicators for Action 1.6: Number of joint programs and activities concerned with nature conservation (the target value being 5)

National indicators for Action 1.7: Compare data gathered in 2025 to 2035 for 3-5 vulnerable species

Illustrating implementation of Action 1.1 (Establishment of an effective and well managed protected areas network): The revision of the PAN by IUCN in collaboration with key stakeholders in the SP resulting in 28 nature reserves, covering 10.01% of the total land area [Qumsiyeh et al. 2023 (doi.org/10.2305/ubea6691), UNEP-WCMC 2025(www.protectedplanet.net/country/PSE)].

Illustrating implementation of the Action 1.2 (Update of biodiversity conservation laws and regulation): There are instructions for Rich Biodiversity Areas (RBA) issued by the EQA in late 2025 which aim at the protection of the RBAs. Additionally, in the draft updated Environmental Law, the chapter regarding the protection of biodiversity areas reflect the commitment of the SP to the environmental conventions

Illustrating implementation of the Action 1.3: (Protect the very limited forests remaining in SP and expand it with adaptive natural cover): The protection of forests is included in the Agricultural Law, bylaws and MoA instructions. 

Illustrating implementation of the Action 1.4: (Develop Micro-Reserve (MR) when it is impossible to protect large areas): Jinsafut Vernal Pool was declared by EQA in 2022 (Qumsiyeh et al. 2022).

Illustrating implementation of the Action 1.5: (Develop biosphere reserves): The PAN update process identified a new potential biosphere reserve, AL-Arqoub (IUCN ROWA 2023).

Illustrating implementation of the Action 1.6: (Develop and implement plans for cross-border (trans-boundaries) cooperation especially in areas of KBAs and regions of special interest including exchange of expertise and knowledge and even joint management (e.g. Jordan River area with Jordan)): No information available

Indicators to be used to monitor the national target

Headline indicators

No headline indicator has been applied.

Other national indicators

National indicator for Action 2.1: Published plans; documents of projects; regulations on the four areas

National indicator for Action 2.2: Number of valley system springs that are protected after rehabilitation (target value for 2030: 3); Number of spring systems that are actually rehabilitated (target value 2050: 10).

National indicator for Action 2.3: Plans published; stakeholder consultation evidence; research on marine biodiversity along the coast concluded

Key challenges include ongoing pressures on freshwater ecosystems such as water over-extraction, agricultural encroachment, pollution, unregulated hunting, and climate-induced hydrological variability. Habitat fragmentation and land-use change further undermine ecosystem integrity, particularly in sensitive areas such as the Jordan Valley. Governance fragmentation and limited coordination between institutions also constrain effective management and enforcement.

A major structural constraint is restricted access to key biodiversity areas, particularly in Area C and the Jordan Valley, which limits monitoring, restoration, and enforcement efforts. In addition, financial limitations restrict the ability to move from planning and pilot interventions toward large-scale ecosystem restoration.

The situation in the Gaza Strip represents a critical and exceptional challenge. Widespread environmental damage, including the collapse of wastewater systems, contamination of coastal waters, and accumulation of debris, has created severe ecological risks and prevented implementation of marine conservation measures. Limited access and security conditions continue to hinder environmental assessment and monitoring.

To advance implementation, several approaches are recommended. These include accelerating the legal designation of priority wetlands as protected areas, strengthening inter-institutional coordination mechanisms, and expanding monitoring systems through a combination of field surveys and remote sensing. Scaling up community-based conservation approaches, such as micro-reserves, offers a practical pathway for protecting small and fragmented ecosystems. In parallel, ecosystem restoration efforts should prioritize pollution mitigation and nature-based solutions for water management. In the Gaza Strip, future efforts will need to focus on environmental recovery, including rehabilitation of wastewater infrastructure, debris management, and restoration of coastal ecosystems. Mobilizing international financial and technical support will be essential, including through the use of environmental damage assessments as a basis for recovery planning and donor engagement.

The Jinsafut Vernal Pool Micro-Reserve: Under Action 2.2, the designation of a vernal pool in Jinsafut as the first “micro-reserve” in Palestine serves as a key success. This move effectively protected a critical habitat for the Syrian spadefoot toad (Pelobates syriacus) and rare plants. It proved that small-scale, site-specific interventions can be highly effective in protecting biodiversity within fragmented landscapes where larger protected areas are difficult to manage.

Evidence-Based Planning for the Dead Sea Wetlands: Through Action 2.1, a science-based project funded by CEPF and DIMFE produced a detailed management plan for the Dead Sea protected area. This initiative was effective in mapping previously undocumented data on Wadi El Mallaha and other systems. It provided a clear baseline of threats, such as agricultural encroachment and water over-extraction, which is now used to guide national conservation priorities.

Watershed-Scale Management in Wadi Zomar: The Wadi Zomar initiative demonstrates the effectiveness of a holistic, ecosystem-based approach. By moving from isolated site protection to catchment-level planning, this initiative has successfully linked pollution reduction and water governance with the physical rehabilitation of degraded watercourses.

Filling Data Gaps through Academic Collaboration: Scientific studies, such as the ecological assessment of Wadi Qana (2023), have been effective in providing the EQA with the technical foundation needed for long-term monitoring. These collaborations have successfully bridged the gap between academic research and national environmental policy.

Indicators to be used to monitor the national target

Headline indicators

A.3 Red List Index https://gbf-indicators.org/metadata/headline/A-3 

A.4 Proportion of populations within species with effective population size >500 https://gbf-indicators.org/metadata/headline/A-4 

4.CT.1 Number of (a) plant and (b) animal genetic resources for food and agriculture secured in either medium- or long-term conservation facilities

Other national indicators

National indicator for Action 3.1: Evidence of plantation and protection of planted trees (photos, documents/reports) of minimum 200 hectares

National indicator for Action 3.2: Evidence of operation and referral to the national center created

National indicator for Action 3.3: Plan & research database published on CHM

National indicator for Action 3.4: Plans adopted and implemented by MOA as evidenced by actions on the ground

National indicator for Action 3.5: Approval of master plans by MOLG

National indicator for Action 3.6: One central garden and at least 4 other gardens in Palestine operational; Minimum two new seedbanks operational for both domesticated plant varieties and some rare wild plants.

National indicator for Action 3.7: Red lists generated for local threatened species and habitats per IUCN criteria

Localized “Greening Belts” and Rangeland Rehabilitation: Under Action 3.1, the Ministry of Agriculture has successfully implemented afforestation and rangeland rehabilitation programs. These initiatives have proven effective in stabilizing soils and restoring ecosystem resilience in Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian ecological zones. By introducing drought-resistant native species and fodder shrubs, these programs have not only supported biodiversity within KBAs but also strengthened the resilience of pastoral communities against desertification.

NGO-Led Wildlife Rehabilitation Success: While a central national unit is still in development (Action 3.2), the EQA's collaboration with environmental NGOs has proven to be an effective interim solution. These organizations operate small-scale sites that provide essential rescue, treatment, and release services for injured or confiscated wildlife. This collaborative approach has successfully filled critical gaps in national capacity, ensuring that native species receive immediate care despite limited centralized infrastructure.

Conservation of Heirloom Crop Varieties: Under Action 3.6, the decentralized network of seed banks, operated by NARC, BERC, PARC, and UAWC, has been effective in preserving Palestine’s agricultural genetic heritage. These institutions have successfully collected and conserved traditional landraces and crop wild relatives adapted to local conditions like salinity and drought. These community-led and institutional seed banks serve as a critical defense for food security and the maintenance of genetic diversity in the Fertile Crescent.

Preliminary IUCN Red List Assessments for Flora: Despite the absence of a complete national survey (Action 3.7), the production of the “IUCN Red List Assessment of the Flora of the State of Palestine” serves as a high-impact example of effectiveness. By delivering conservation assessments for vascular plants, this work has provided a scientific foundation for a national plant conservation strategy and identified specific pressures on threatened flora, demonstrating the value of academic and NGO contributions to national reporting.

Urban Invasive Species Management: Efforts under Action 3.5 have effectively utilized urban environmental interventions to address threats to native biodiversity. Specifically, work to prevent the spread of invasive species like the Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) and Ambrosia confertiflora within urban green spaces has helped maintain and restore habitats for native species in densely populated areas.

CHALLENGES

Implementation of National Target 4 continues to face significant structural and contextual challenges.

A primary challenge is the political and security context, which limits the ability to conduct systematic environmental monitoring, enforce regulations, and advance formal negotiation processes. Restricted access to large areas, particularly in Area C and conflict-affected zones, constrains field-based data collection, verification of environmental damage, and implementation of conservation measures.

The situation in the Gaza Strip represents a critical constraint, with widespread environmental damage resulting from the destruction of infrastructure, contamination of land and water resources, and accumulation of debris. These conditions significantly hinder both environmental assessment and recovery planning (UNEP, 2024; UNEP, 2025).

Institutional challenges also persist, including limited financial and technical capacity to coordinate environmental monitoring, legal actions, and inter-agency responses. Data gaps remain significant, particularly in areas where access is restricted or where environmental damage cannot be independently verified.

To address these challenges, several approaches are recommended. Strengthening collaboration between national institutions, civil society organizations, and international partners is essential to improve data collection, monitoring, and reporting systems. The use of remote sensing, geospatial analysis, and standardized methodologies can help address access limitations and improve data reliability.

Further integration of environmental considerations into legal and policy frameworks is needed, including the use of international environmental and human rights mechanisms to support accountability and protection efforts. Scenario-based planning and adaptive management approaches may support biodiversity conservation under current conditions, including community-based conservation initiatives and other effective area-based conservation measures.

Looking forward, continued development of a robust scientific and legal evidence base will be critical for informing future negotiation processes and ensuring that biodiversity and environmental considerations are adequately reflected in any future political frameworks.

The NBSAP (2022) and the Action Plan (2023) prescribe the following actions for implementation under National target 5:

Action 5.1: Reduce and eventually eliminate habitat degradation related to ecosystems (especially in KBA's & PAN)

Action 5.2: Set a management plan responsible for controlling fires to reduce habitat damage

Action 5.3: Control domesticated and feral animals to reduce impact on the environment and human health

Action 5.4: Develop a program for assessment of wildlife impact on human health (zoonotics), wildlife harm to human health like snakebites, and otherwise minimize human-wildlife conflict

Indicators to be used to monitor the national target

Headline indicators

4.CT.3 Human–wildlife conflict indicator

Other national indicators

National indicator for Action 5.1: GIS maps comparing 2025 to 2035 showing evidence, reports etc.

National indicator for Action 5.2: Plan adopted and certified by relevant authorities, evidence of implementation on the ground

National indicator for Action 5.3: Three centers established and operational

National indicator for Action 5.4: Actual facilities with manuals of operations and publicized information as to who to go to address certain things (like pandemics, epidemics, snakes etc.)

Scientific Red Listing to Prioritize Habitat Management: Under Action 5.1, the Biodiversity and Environmental Research Center (BERC) published the first comprehensive Red List assessment of wild plant species in the West Bank (2025). This work effectively identified specific species threatened by overgrazing and urban expansion, providing a technical baseline for the EQA to prioritize which habitats require urgent intervention to prevent further degradation.  Reference: BERC (2025) - Red List of Wild Plants

Community-Led Habitat Restoration: The effectiveness of grassroots involvement is demonstrated by the World Vision International (2025) projects. These initiatives successfully engaged local communities in planting native trees and restoring degraded landscapes. By improving habitat quality at the local level, these projects have reduced the pressure on wildlife to enter human-dominated spaces for resources, thereby indirectly mitigating potential conflict.

 Reference: https://www.wvi.org/newsroom/west-bank/promoting-community-led-action-adapt-climate-change-west-bank

One Health Framework for Zoonotic Risk Mapping: Under Action 5.4, research led by Al-Khatib et al. (2023) effectively mapped institutional mechanisms for pandemic preparedness. The study identified 43 zoonotic diseases in Palestine and categorized 23 as high priority (notably Brucellosis and Rabies). This case illustrates the effectiveness of using an integrated “One Health” approach to identify gaps in laboratory capacity and inter-sectoral communication between the Ministries of Health and Agriculture.

Epidemiological Surveillance of Wildlife Injuries: A detailed study on scorpion sting incidents (2023) analyzed over 2,000 cases across four districts. This research proved effective in identifying high-risk seasonal windows (June–October), allowing health authorities to better prepare for wildlife-related injuries and tailor public awareness campaigns to the months when human-wildlife interactions are most frequent. Reference: Handal et al. (2023) - Epidemiology of Scorpion Stings

Targeted Research on High-Conflict Species: Academic studies have effectively identified the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) and Arabian Wolf (Canis lupus arabs) as the primary drivers of economic loss for farmers and herders. By documenting specific impacts, such as the destruction of crops in Nablus and predation on livestock, these studies have provided the evidence needed to move toward site-specific mitigation strategies rather than generalized wildlife management.

Indicators to be used to monitor the national target

Headline indicators

6.1 Rate of invasive alien species establishment https://gbf-indicators.org/metadata/headline/6-1 

Binary indicators

6.b Number of countries adopting relevant regulations, processes and measures to reduce the impact of invasive alien species https://www.gbf-indicators.org/metadata/headline/6-b 

National indicators outlined in the Action Plan (2023):

National indicators for Action 7.1: Reports by relevant authorities with documentation for meeting relevant outputs in the national plan

Institutional Capacity Building (SIDA Program): The “Strengthening Palestinian Environmental Action Program” has been effective in providing the EQA with the funding and technical framework necessary to manage pollution. This program successfully established the governance foundation required to move from high-level strategies (like the NSSWM) to actual environmental auditing of landfills and transfer stations. Reference: EQA Terms of Reference - SIDA Support, https://www.gpc.pna.ps/diwan/resources/dbFiles/6415_0.pdf).

Grassroots Circular Economy Models: Effectiveness in Action 8.2 is demonstrated by volunteer-led start-ups and community groups using mobile applications to coordinate recycling. Notably, engineering initiatives have successfully prototyped the reuse of construction rubble into building materials. These decentralized models are proving to be effective, low-cost alternatives in areas where large-scale recycling infrastructure is restricted by political constraints. Reference: Palestinian CHM - Threat Mitigation

Transition to Biological Pest Control: Under Action 8.3, the Ministry of Agriculture has successfully disseminated guidelines for Integrated Pest Management (IPM). By replacing chemical pesticides with biological alternatives, this shift has proven effective in reducing the “Pesticide Environment Concentration” and protecting pollinators in sensitive agricultural zones. Reference: National Agricultural Sector Strategy (2017-2022)

Ecosystem-Based Liquid Waste Treatment: The use of aquatic plants, such as Azolla sp., for sewage purification has been identified as an effective, low-cost method for nutrient removal. This ecosystem-based approach, alongside the establishment of the Rafah sewage treatment facility (facilitated by the ICRC), represents a critical step in reducing the 113 million liters of untreated sewage currently impacting the Mediterranean coast. https://www.arij.org/,  Costa et al., 1999, Costa, Maria & Santos, Maria & Carrapico, Francisco. (1999). Biomass characterization of Azolla filiculoides grown in natural ecosystems and wastewater. Hydrobiologia. 415. 323-327. 10.1023/A:1003824426183

Solid Waste Reduction: Community-Led Initiatives serve as a grassroots model for this action. Volunteer groups and start-ups are using mobile applications to facilitate recycling and engineering solutions to produce building materials from construction rubble, directly contributing to the reduction and recycling of non-organic waste. Details of these initiatives are available on the Palestinian CHM (https://ps.chm-cbd.net/threats & https://ps.chm-cbd.net/publications).

Pesticide Reduction: The promotion of Biological Pest Control illustrates this action. The Ministry of Agriculture, guided by the National Agricultural Sector Strategy, is implementing measures to replace chemical pesticides with biological alternatives and integrated pest management (IPM). Specific guidelines for biological control have been disseminated to farmers to reduce reliance on agrochemicals and protect local biodiversity (source NBSAP 2022).

Development of the National Biosafety Framework: With funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), EQA successfully finalized the NBF in 2021. This comprehensive document proposes the structure for the NBC and establishes a detailed risk classification system (Classes I-IV) for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). This framework serves as the essential roadmap for all future biosafety regulation and implementation in the country.

Capacity Building Initiatives: To support the implementation of the framework, Palestinian academic institutions have established specialized centers to build local technical capacity:

• The UNESCO Biotechnology, Educational and Training Center (UNESCO-BETC) at Bethlehem University https://www.bethlehem.edu/ic/unesco-betc/ : This center plays a critical role in training scientists and students in plant molecular biology and diagnostic techniques, directly addressing the need for human resources in biosafety.
• The Palestine - Korea Biotechnology Center at Palestine Polytechnic University https://biotech.ppu.edu/en : This center provides advanced laboratory facilities for molecular biology and genetics, supporting national efforts to improve food security and preserve local genetic resources while managing biotechnology risks.

Integration of Academic Research into National Reporting: The effectiveness of the biotechnology programs at Bethlehem University and AAUJ is demonstrated by their role in drafting the Fourth National Report on the Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol (2021). This collaboration shows a successful bridge between academic technical expertise and national regulatory reporting, ensuring that Palestine’s biosafety status is communicated accurately to the international community.

Establishment of Risk Classification Standards: A key effective outcome of the National Biosafety Framework (NBF) was the creation of a four-tier Risk Classification System (Classes I-IV) for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). This system has already begun to be used as a technical guideline for researchers in local laboratories to standardize safety protocols, even while full legislative enactment is pending.

The Palestine-Korea Biotechnology Center as a Technical Hub: The center at Palestine Polytechnic University (PPU) has effectively provided the high-tech infrastructure necessary for molecular diagnostics. By centralizing advanced genetics research, it serves as a practical model for how the proposed National Biosafety Committee (NBC) will eventually conduct risk assessments on imported Living Modified Organisms (LMOs). Reference: Palestine-Korea Biotechnology Center

Public Access through the CHM: The activation of the Biosafety node on the Palestinian Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) has been effective in providing transparency. It ensures that the 2021 Framework and related legal reviews are publicly accessible to stakeholders, fulfilling the Cartagena Protocol's requirement for information sharing. Reference: Palestinian CHM - Biosafety Node

Indicators to be used to monitor the national target

Binary indicators

16.b Number of countries implementing policies to promote sustainable consumption https://www.gbf-indicators.org/metadata/headline/16-b 

Other national indicators

National indicator for Action 11.1: Data on responsible consumption and production produced by MOE with monitoring by EQA show positive change

National indicator for Action 11.2: Records of review that shows actual studies and rational for approvals/disapprovals (actions taken) including compiling a public database

National indicator for Action 11.3: Evidence of law implementation via cases brought to court, penalties levied, and records of corrective actions

National indicator for Action 11.4: Records of building licensure and approvals/disapprovals of building plans

National indicator for Action 11.5: Plan approved by government, funding sought/secured

National indicator for Action 11.6: Evidence of enforcement and regulations being implemented on the ground

The Palestinian Museum in Birzeit (Green Building Case): Under Action 11.4, the Palestinian Museum serves as a leading example of the effectiveness of green building standards. As one of the first buildings in the region to receive LEED Gold certification, it demonstrates how energy-efficient design, water conservation, and environmentally sensitive construction can be successfully implemented in the Palestinian context. This project acts as a technical benchmark for the future development of national green building criteria. Reference: The Palestinian Museum - Green Building Profile

UN-Habitat Green Infrastructure Guidelines: To support Action 11.5, the development of design guidelines in collaboration with UN-Habitat has proven effective in providing municipalities with a framework for sustainable public spaces. These guidelines promote the use of native vegetation, green corridors, and climate-adaptive materials in urban road design, helping to shift municipal planning toward biodiversity-supporting infrastructure. Reference: UN-Habitat Palestine - Sustainable Urban Planning

Capacity Building through the Palestine Green Building Council: The work of the Palestine Green Building Council illustrates an effective approach to institutional strengthening. By training architects, engineers, and developers in sustainable construction, the council is successfully building the local expertise required to implement vertical urban expansion and biodiversity-friendly urban design, bridging the gap between national policy and private sector practice.

Incremental EIA Strengthening: Despite resource constraints (Action 11.2), the EQA has successfully initiated capacity-building programs for staff in environmental sampling and monitoring. These incremental steps are improving the technical oversight of Environmental Impact Assessments, ensuring that development projects begin to move toward more scientifically grounded biodiversity field surveys.

Indicators to be used to monitor the national target

Headline indicators

C.1 Monetary benefits received https://gbf-indicators.org/metadata/headline/C-1 

C.2 Non-monetary benefits arising from access and benefit-sharing instruments https://gbf-indicators.org/metadata/headline/C-2 

Other national indicators

National indicator for Action 12.1: Guidelines for ecotourism developed, National training program developed, database for certified and licensed tour guides is developed, NGOs for ecotourism who have been duly trained (syllabus as evidence), existing tour paths have been evaluated (or reevaluated) included research on the biodiversity of the area

National indicator for Action 12.2: Regulations and policies in place to help

National indicator for Action 12.3: Number of women involved increased dramatically over base-level of 2023

National indicator for Action 12.4: Records of workshops, feedback on workshops (before and after evaluations)

“Sedo Al Muzare” – Digital Preservation of Traditional Knowledge: Under Action 12.2, the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) developed an innovative mobile game application designed to teach younger generations about traditional Palestinian seed conservation and sustainable land management. This tool effectively bridges the gap between historical heritage and modern education, ensuring that traditional ecological knowledge remains accessible to the youth. Reference: PIBS - Bethlehem University

The “Mobile Museum” Caravan for Environmental Education: To support Action 12.4, PIBS launched a mobile museum initiative that reached over 80 schools in 2025 alone. This initiative was particularly effective in reaching marginalized and underserved villages that cannot easily visit central museums, providing direct access to biodiversity education and healthy living concepts to those most isolated from national infrastructure.

Nisa’ Al Shams (Women of the Sun) – Women’s Leadership in Nature: Under Action 12.3, this NGO established a women’s club in 2025 specifically focused on medicinal plants, permaculture, and ecotourism. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of grassroots empowerment, where women are not just project participants but are taking active leadership roles in managing ecosystem services and generating conservation-linked income.

Mainstreaming Ecotourism through Civil Society: While a national plan is still in development (Action 12.1), organizations like the Palestine Society for Environment and Sustainable Development successfully organized over 100 field trips between 2022 and 2025. These trips effectively promoted environmental awareness and connected local and international visitors to Palestine’s natural heritage, providing a practical model for how ecotour paths can be managed with minimal environmental impact.

Sustainable Eco-Tourism Initiative in Nablus: An-Najah National University implemented a localized initiative that successfully linked ecosystem restoration with nature-based tourism. This project serves as an effective case study for how academic institutions can drive rural development and raise environmental awareness through the practical application of ecotourism principles.

Indicators to be used to monitor the national target

Headline indicators

10.1 Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture https://gbf-indicators.org/metadata/headline/10-1 

10.2 Progress towards sustainable forest management https://gbf-indicators.org/metadata/headline/10-2 

Other national indicators

National indicator for Action 13.1: Evidence of programs developed and implemented; networking possibilities; established seed banks and gene banks

National indicator for Action 13.2: Targets achieved as evidenced by records, documents, spot checks etc.

National indicator for Action 13.3: Plan development records (with stakeholders)

National indicator for Action 13.4: Procedures and policies records; show change in behavior and knowledge of fair trade

National indicator for Action 13.5: National program for expanding green spaces has been developed and the program records and data on implementation shared on CHM

National indicator for Action 13.6: Program established and supported

Integrated Ecological Management in Olive Orchards: Under Action 13.2, the MoA has effectively moved toward eco-friendly farming by distributing carob trees to olive farmers. This initiative serves as a practical example of biological pest control, where the carob trees support natural predators of olive pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. This is complemented by the distribution of electric cutting tools to encourage mechanical vegetation management over herbicide use. Reference: MoA Achievements of the General Directorate of Agricultural Extension (2025)

Large-Scale Home and Community Garden Expansion: In response to food security challenges (Action 13.5), the MoA successfully distributed millions of seedlings across the West Bank between 2022 and 2025. This initiative has proven effective in increasing household-level dietary diversity and resilience. By pairing seedling distribution with training on composting and water-use efficiency, the program has effectively turned residential spaces into biodiversity-friendly production zones.

Domestication of Native Wild Species for Afforestation: Under Action 13.6, the General Directorate of Forests and Rangelands has shifted its strategy toward planting approximately 100,000 native seedlings annually, including oak, pistachio, jujube, and sumac. This approach has proven more effective than traditional afforestation because these species are naturally drought-resistant and support local beekeeping and medicinal plant harvesting, thereby linking forest conservation directly to local livelihoods. Reference: Sustainable Afforestation Procedures Manual (2024)

Strengthening Local Value Chains for Food Sovereignty: Under Action 13.3, projects implemented with the UNDP have effectively reduced food loss through improved post-harvest handling of dates, grapes, and olives. By establishing direct market linkages between farmers and retailers, these initiatives have shortened supply chains, reducing the environmental footprint of transportation while ensuring a fairer economic return for local producers. Reference: UNDP - Strengthening Local Agricultural Value Chains in Palestine (2023)

Conservation Agriculture (CA) Adoption: The transition to “no-tillage” and intercropping with legumes in olive systems has demonstrated effectiveness in improving soil fertility and water retention. This approach, supported by FAO (2023), has allowed farmers to maintain productivity despite increasing rainfall variability, proving that biodiversity-enhancing soil management is a viable climate adaptation strategy for Palestinian agriculture.

The NBSAP (2022) and the Action Plan (2023) prescribe the following actions for implementation under National target 14:

Action 14.1: Encourage and expand biodiversity research programs

Action 14.2: Develop biodiversity capacity building (research and practice) and mainstreaming programs that ensure gender equality

Action 14.3: Develop a functional clearing house mechanism that serves all needs for biodiversity areas (education, conservation, knowledge acquisition and dissemination, resource mobilization)

Action 14.4: Expand existing institutes of biodiversity and establish other similar centres

Action 14.5: Create a database of medicinal and herbal plants including methods of conservation

Action 14.6: Develop programs to ensure women hold minimum 40% of conservation jobs (at government and non-government levels) and participate equitably and share benefit (monetary and non-monetary) from biodiversity resources and knowledge generation

Action 14.7: Install weather stations across all habitats and make use of the remote sensing and GIS data

Indicators to be used to monitor the national target

Headline indicators

20.CT.1 Total amount of funding to promote development, transfer, dissemination of environmentally sound technologies

Other national indicators

National indicator for Action 14.1: Research hub website and linked to CHM; Publications in reputable journals (minimum 120) and all publications related to Biodiversity shared on CHM; there is evidence of bridging science-policy-gap by showing use of research in setting national policies and producing actions on the ground

National indicator for Action 14.2: Programs functioning and graduating knowledgeable individuals. Data on program, participants, beneficiaries, stakeholders

National indicator for Action 14.3: CHM up and running and enriched with data and photographs especially of threatened species; CHM used to write national reports; Wildlife photographer’s knowledgeable about the usage of it

National indicator for Action 14.4: Institutional websites and their annual reports

National indicator for Action 14.5: NARC (MOA), Academic centers, NGOS

National indicator for Action 14.6: Program publications and communication evidence

National indicator for Action 14.7: Number of weather stations installed; quantity and quality of data collected and evidence use of the data in research and conservation

Establishment of the National Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM): Under Action 14.3, the EQA successfully launched the Palestinian CHM in 2023. The platform now serves as the central digital repository for national biodiversity policies, species data, and CBD reports. This mechanism is the first of its kind to link Palestinian biodiversity data to the global CBD network, facilitating international knowledge exchange. Reference: Palestinian Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM)

Academic Leadership in Biodiversity Documentation: Action 14.1 and 14.4 are exemplified by the work of the Palestine Museum of Natural History (PMNH) and PIBS. These institutions have moved beyond basic research to produce over 100 scientific publications in international journals, effectively bridging the gap between local field data and global scientific knowledge. Their research specifically targets under-documented areas such as Palestinian mammalogy, parasitology, and native flora inventories.

Climate-Smart Monitoring for Biodiversity and Agriculture: Under Action 14.7, the expansion of the meteorological network has shown direct effectiveness in risk management. The installation of electronic monitoring stations and early warning systems—implemented in coordination with the FAO and the Green Climate Fund, now provides real-time alerts. This integration of climate data is essential for understanding habitat shifts and vulnerability to drought, directly informing both conservation planning and agricultural resilience.

Innovative Gender-Inclusive Outreach: To address Action 14.2 and 14.6, PIBS and the Nature Palestine Society have implemented mobile education initiatives, such as the Environmental Caravan, which reached over 80 schools in marginalized villages in 2025. These programs prioritize the participation of women and girls in field-based learning, demonstrating a successful model for mainstreaming gender equality in environmental education and research outside of urban centers.

GIS and Remote Sensing for Ecosystem Analysis: Academic and governmental studies have effectively utilized GIS and Remote Sensing technologies to map land-use changes and ecosystem vulnerability. These tools have been used to produce spatial analyses that are now critical for the EQA in identifying “biodiversity hotspots” that require immediate protection or restoration, moving the state toward a more data-driven conservation model.

The NBSAP (2022) and the Action Plan (2023) prescribe the following actions for implementation under National target 15:

Action 15.1: Use of locals in the data collection process as a method of mainstreaming and upload to CHM and/or available data acquisition portals.

Action 15.2: Develop new programs (curricular and extracurricular) in Palestinian universities in areas of biodiversity and sustainability.

Action 15.3: Develop and implement the mass communication strategy and action plans for mainstreaming biodiversity through the media.

Action 15.4: Develop programs with ministry of education to change Palestinian school curricula and enhance extra-curricular activities including environmental clubs.

Action 15.5: Make yearly and monthly national themes for biodiversity as well as calendar of key days for biodiversity.

Action 15.6: Develop programs to integrate biodiversity values into university systems at all levels (staff, faculty, students) including developing green academic institutions.

Action 15.7: Develop youth programs including by use of museums of natural and cultural heritage as well as botanic gardens.

Action 15.8: Designate other national fauna and flora similar to the Sunbird (national bird) and Faquaa Iris (national plant).

Indicators to be used to monitor the national target

No suggested headline indicator

Other national indicators

National indicator for Action 15.1: Data uploaded on CHM, iNaturalist, observation.org etc. from amateur naturalists in Palestine (checked by professionals). Workshops records.

National indicator for Action 15.2: Programs started and students are enrolled in it, published studies. 

National indicator for Action 15.3: Mainstream and social media coverage.

National indicator for Action 15.4: Before and after school curricula showing change to increase biodiversity conservation.

National indicator for Action 15.5: Actual record of thematic work activities by stakeholders.

National indicator for Action 15.6: Evidence of programs, minutes of meetings, actual implementation starting.

National indicator for Action 15.7: Evidence of new institutions, new programs, and number of beneficiaries increased dramatically (100% by 2030).

National indicator for Action 15.8: Adopted national new animals by 2030 and programs to disseminate info on them under way.

The NBSAP (2022) and the Action Plan (2023) prescribe the following actions for implementation under National target 16:

Action 16.1: Create a National Biodiversity Oversight Committee (NBOC) of effective partners and stakeholders to manage and implement NBSAP.

Action 16.2: Increase capacity building for government officials related to biodiversity.

Action 16.3: Develop programs for training school teachers and professors to teach courses and modules related to biodiversity.

Action 16.4: Revisit signed agreements and put biodiversity issues on agenda of negotiations over our natural resources.

Action 16.5: Join four international treaties after ensuring proper mechanisms for compliance and benefits: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Convention on Wetlands (RAMSAR) 1971, CMS (Convention on Migratory Species) - Bonn, and Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds.

Action 16.6: Reforming governance and administrative organization of relevant sections of EQA, MOA, and NGOs to ensure efficiency and efficacy of operations related to biodiversity conservation.

Action 16.7: Develop programs to encourage further work via regional and global networking with relevant entities (planetary responsibility).

Action 16.8: Develop NGOs and introduce branches of existing environmental institutions in poorly served areas.

Action 16.9: Developing plans for regular contact between researchers and policy makers to ensure that the gap between science and policy is bridged.

Action 16.10: Provide legislative and outreach actions to private sector to encourage green and biodiversity protective business practices.

Indicators to be used to monitor the national target

Headline indicators

No headline indicator

Other national indicators

National Indicator for Action 16.1: Bylaws of NBOC adopted and published; meetings with relevant stakeholders with meetings minutes showing actions.

National Indicator for Action 16.2: Program training material (including syllabus, subjects, videos, power points etc.); Program attendance sheets; inclusion of biodiversity in other governmental strategies.

National Indicator for Action 16.3: Actual training material (including syllabus, subjects, videos, power points etc.); Program attendance sheets, records of training workshops.

National Indicator for Action 16.4: Decisions taken by PLO and the State of Palestine documented and disseminated.

National Indicator for Action 16.5: Actual signed agreement and ratification; reports submitted for signed conventions.

National Indicator for Action 16.6: Evidence of operational efficiency and efficacy by data.

National Indicator for Action 16.7: Program is developed and being implemented, List of global organizations, networks, signed MOUs.

National Indicator for Action 16.8: Evidence of increased efficiency and productivity via annual reports and summary reports from EQA; New NGOs created.

National Indicator for Action 16.9: Evidence provided by policy being guided by research (overseen by NBOC).

National Indicator for Action 16.10: System in place; records kept, number of modular institutions following green practices

Indicators to be used to monitor the National target

Headline indicators

D.1 International public funding https://gbf-indicators.org/metadata/headline/D-1 

D.2 Domestic public funding https://gbf-indicators.org/metadata/headline/D-2 

D.3 Private funding https://gbf-indicators.org/metadata/headline/D-3 

National indicators outlined in the Action Plan (2023)

National indicator for Action 17.1: Indicators: The Environmental Trust Fund has been developed; local campaigns and projects implemented via the ETF

National indicator for Action 17.2: Plan shown to be created and is working; Palestinian biodiversity has gained attention regionally and globally through financial support, increased twinning programs and international partnerships/memberships; increased volunteer support from abroad and locally

National indicator for Action 17.3: Records of successful training (gender ratio 50:50), before and after surveys

National indicator for Action 17.4: Records summarized on CHM, links to websites of institutions where all data should be visible

Illustrating Action 17.1 (Environmental Trust Fund - ETF): The ETF is a central component of the 2022 NBSAP, designed to “support local campaigns and environmental projects”. While the ETF itself is in the establishment phase, its design is informed by past challenges in resource mobilization identified in the 6NR. As a foundational step, the EQA has successfully secured targeted support from international partners for strategic projects. A key example is the support from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), which has funded the development of Palestine’s national biosafety framework, the national strategy for invasive species, and updates to environmental laws. This demonstrates a successful model of securing international funds for high-priority national environmental actions, which the future ETF will manage and scale. (2022 NBSAP, 2021 6NR).

Illustrating Action 17.2 (Marshalling Resources & Visibility): A primary case study for this action is the “Mahmiyat.ps” project https://mahmiyat.ps/ , supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF). This initiative established the first comprehensive web portal for Palestinian nature reserves. It directly addresses the goal of making Palestinian biodiversity “globally visible” by providing an accessible, high-quality online database of flora, fauna, and protected area information. This platform serves as a critical educational and ecotourism tool for both local and international audiences. Furthermore, Palestine has successfully marshaled resources through partnerships with the EU Partnership for Peace Programme (PfP), which has since been renamed the EU Peacebuilding Initiative (EUPI) https://www.eeas.europa.eu/node/12391_en. As listed in the 6NR, this program funded cross-border cooperation projects such as “Promoting Israeli Palestinian cross border cooperation in nature conservation and eco-tourism” and “Raptor pest control as a sustainable resource management model in the Jordan Valley”. (2021 6NR)

Illustrating Action 17.3 (Capacity Building, especially for Women): Capacity building is a continuous effort by governmental, academic, and non-governmental stakeholders. Between 2015-2020, the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) at Bethlehem University trained over 7,000 individuals, and the Land Research Center trained 2,800 people in environmental work. This action is strongly linked to the national gender strategy, which recognizes women as “agents of positive change”. The 2022 NBSAP builds on the EQA’s 2013 agreement with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs by explicitly requiring fundraising training to maintain a 50:50 gender ratio to ensure women's full participation in environmental management. (2021 6NR, 2022 NBSAP)

Illustrating Action 17.4 (Transparency & CHM): Action 17.4 is being implemented by establishing the necessary platforms for transparency. The Palestinian Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) https://ps.chm-cbd.net/node/4 has been updated as part of the 2022 NBSAP process. This platform, along with increased data sharing on global portals like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) https://www.gbif.org/, establishes the technical infrastructure for transparency. As of 2021, Palestinian partners had contributed over 203,000 biodiversity occurrence records to GBIF and over 24,000 observations to Observation.org https://observation.org/. This demonstrates a strong commitment to data transparency, which the action plan now extends to financial data for all biodiversity projects, to be summarized on the CHM. (2021 6NR, 2022 NBSAP).

National Targets 4, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13

Agricultural practices are shifting toward conservation, including the reduction of tilling and the planting of carob trees for biological pest control in olive orchards. Climate adaptation and mitigation are guided by the National Adaptation Plan and Nationally Determined Contributions. Environmental police are monitoring local markets to regulate wildlife trade. Ecotourism and public awareness are expanding through platforms like Mahmiyat.ps, and grassroots initiatives involve women in nature-based activities. Evidence of environmental damage caused by occupation is being systematically documented.

Mechanisms to share benefits from nature are developing primarily through the documentation and reuse of traditional agricultural knowledge. The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) created the “Sedo Al Muzare” digital application to teach youth about traditional seed conservation and land management. Organizations like Nisa’ Al Shams actively involve women in medicinal plants, nature conservation, permaculture, and ecotourism, providing local income opportunities while preserving ecological heritage.