27 Aug 2021
This article is also available in Arabic
اقرأ بالعربية
The Mayor of Bethlehem, Adv Anton Salman, participated in the opening of the first environmental exhibition on biodiversity held in Manger Square and organized by the Environment Quality Authority in partnership with "Hans Seidel" Foundation, as part of the Palestine Reserves project, cooperated and coordinated by Lajee’ Center.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Salman welcomed the attendees and expressed his encouragement for such an exhibition in Manager square, especially since the exhibition is the first of its kind for biodiversity, natural reserves and eco-tourism in Palestine. The exhibition included 200 photographic paintings divided into 5 corners, plants, animals, reserves, eco-tourism, and birds.
Salman indicated the importance of concerting the efforts of all parties into developing programs to change behaviors towards environmental conservation, stressing the need for raising community awareness about this concept.
The Governor of Bethlehem, Kamel Hmeid, said that the exhibition is very important and sends several messages to the citizens on the significance of preserving the environment, in facing the Israeli arbitrary measures against the Palestinian environment, and that continues destructing and abducting the land and destroying the biodiversity in Palestine.
The head of the Environment Quality Authority, Jameel Al Mutor, said that this exhibition is the first of its kind within the framework of conserving biodiversity and biological diversity in Palestine, because biodiversity is important in achieving ecological balance, as any decline in its services will affect the balance in terms of food, air, plant reproduction, pest management, and biodiversity sustainability.
He pointed out that there is a national plan for preserving the biodiversity through a national strategy, which includes several interventions through activities in the reserves by preserving them and establishing new environmental pathways.
Al Mutor considered the violations committed by the occupation to be the most dangerous to the environment, the destruction of nature and biodiversity, the seizure of the land and the establishment of settlements and the Segregation wall, all led to an imbalance in the environment in the Palestinian lands.
The Environmental Unit Officer at Lajee’ Center, Shatha Al-Azza, expressed that in the center they have created an environmental unit that deals with various environmental issues and solidifies the relationship of the refugees with their land. Noting that they have achieved agricultural independence for 40 families by providing agricultural ponds on the roofs of their homes.
On behalf of the German "Hans Seidel" Foundation, Ikram Qatina, said in her speech that this exhibition was the result of joint collective efforts of members from the local community and the Environment Quality Authority. She emphasized the importance of tourism and rural development, by managing this sector jointly according to scientific and research studies, as it constitutes development and benefit to society.
After the opening ceremony, a visit of the head of the Environment Authority, the Governor of Bethlehem, and the former Minister of Jerusalem affairs to Bethlehem was followed to the Town Hall.
Related News
27 Aug 2021
27 Aug 2021
Bajo el tema "Nuestra cultura es nuestra identidad" El municipio de Belén se prepara para lanzar la convención de la diaspora del distrito de Belén lll la próxima semana
Read More
28 Dec 2020