The Actions for Environmental Sustainability in Wadi Al-Zarqa Al-Ulwi technical report is a good source of information for the biodiversity strategy and protected areas of the Environmental Qality Authority.
The Actions for Environmental Sustainability in Wadi Al-Zarqa Al-Ulwi technical report is a good source of information for the biodiversity strategy and protected areas of the Environmental Qality Authority.
Gender Focus
The project coordinator was female. There were 493 beneficiaries including 200 students (more than 50% female) and 293 adults.
Notable Community Participation
There were 493 beneficiaries including 200 students (more than 50% female) and 293 adults. The feedback was positive and there will be a ripple effect for the environmental education/ awareness done via this project. As side benefit, the modules and experiences developed will be used by the project team and offered to others for future similar projects in other regions.
SWOT analysis will generate a set of plans and recommendations for management which will be used by scientists, stakeholders, government officials, local farmers and all the local people to ensure sustainability. This and along with the scientific knowledge will put together in the final report in which will be a comprehensive tool for further strategies and research.
In addition to that This project increases scientific knowledge for 3 young researchers of the team ?on an area little studied previously. Publications will help build the body of scientific literature for university students on areas like taxonomy (systematics), ecology, environmental management (including threats and mitigation strategies), ecosystem services, local sociological issues relating to environmental protection, and more.
Project Results
1.Geology, geography, threats etc. were evaluated through over 21 visits to the area. The team was able to observe and record many threats/risk factors on the area ranging from hunting, overgrazing, airplane noise pollution, solid waste dumping, burning, and some invasive species.
Flora: 195 species of plants. Among these classified plants, there are four rare species of plants and one invasive species.
Fauna: Among insects, we found 30 species of butterflies, 10 species of grasshopper, and 70 species of other insects. We also reported other invertebrates including 15 species of molluscs, three scorpions, spiders (many species being identified), annelids, pseudoscrpions, and collembolan. Among vertebrates, we recorded 88 species of birds, 14 species of mammals, 11 species of reptiles and amphibians.
Museum staff, contractors, and volunteers (local and international) were able to develop significant skills, knowledge, and enhance interest in environmental studies, environmental management, threats and mitigation.
Locals in the area like government officials, school officials, and municipal workers started to appreciate that this area is of high national significance and participate in our work. They were empowered (human capacity).
Scientists in other countries participated in species identification according to their specialists for example Prof. Zuhair Amr from Jordan (herpetology), Prof. Gardini from Italy (pseudoscorpions) and Prof Enke from Germany (Snails), and Prof Battiston from Italy (Mantids).
Staff of project contacted the local people from different areas around Wadi arqa on several field trips, where they introduced the project plans and later findings on the area. On some field trips, the local joined the team where they shared stories on what they used to see and find throughout the year years ago. Also, some locals hosted the museum team overnights during the fieldtrips that lasted for two or three days.
On environmental Education and Awareness, there were 493 beneficiaries including 200 students (more than 50 female) and 293 adults.
Long term benefits:
Scientific Knowledge: This project increases scientific knowledge for 3 young researchers of the team ?on an area little studied previously. Publications will help build the body of scientific literature for university students on areas like taxonomy (systematics), ecology, environmental management (including threats and mitigation strategies), ecosystem services, local sociological issues relating to environmental protection, and more.
Local engagement and sustainable development: This project generates environmental awareness especially among key stakeholders and children. This would have long term impact on environmental protection/ sustainability only of the protected area but also of the communities in the areas surrounding the protected area (Salfit, Deir Balout, Bruqeen, Kufr ADik, Deir Ghazzaneh, and Bit Rima).
There were 493 beneficiaries including 200 students (more than 50% female) and 293 adults. The feedback was positive and there will be a ripple effect for the environmental education/ awareness done via this project. As side benefit, the modules and experiences developed will be used by the project team and offered to others for future similar projects in other regions.
SWOT analysis will generate a set of plans and recommendations for management which will be used by scientists, stakeholders, government officials, local farmers and all the local people to ensure sustainability. This and along with the scientific knowledge will put together in the final report in which will be a comprehensive tool for further strategies and research.
