3.1 Biodiversity in Palestine and in the garden
Al Sheikh (2019) noted 1,612 plant species which belong to 117 families in Palestine. However, further surveys are likely to raise that number (Al Sheikh and Qumsiyeh 2021b; Pahl and Qumsiyeh 2021). A preliminary meta-analysis identified 600 plant species either rare or of concern in the West Bank (Al Sheikh and Qumsiyeh 2021a). 187 of these species are endangered, 171 very rare, 238 rare, and four already extinct. The fieldwork done here allowed us to compare data from Mediterranean areas nearby to data on plants found in the garden as well as build our herbarium collection.
An intensive study of the plants of the garden gave us a list of 381 species of which 63 are rare (data available at https://www.palestinenature.org/botanical-garden/PMNH-Flora-List.pdf). This is very high for an area of this size (12 dunum) at this latitude and located inside an urban area. Selected species were introduced into the garden for either education or conservation value including: Anacamptis papilionacea, Anacamptis pyramidalis, Arbutus andrachne, Calicotome villosa, Cynara scolymus, Laurus nobilis, Myrtus sp., Narcissus tazetta, Neotinea tridentate, Ophrys lutea, Ophrys umbilcata, Orchis papilionacea, Orchis anatolica, Pancratium parviflora, Parkinsonia aculeate, Rosa rubiginosa, Rosmarinus officinalis, Ruscus sp, Salvia fruticose, Stryax officinalis, Wasingtonia
In addition to the plants, the garden boasts diversity of mushrooms (Coprinellus micaceus, Omphalotus olearius, Psathyrella bipellis, Suillus collinitus, Trametes hirsute, Volvopluteus gloiocephalus) and rich animal diversity. Visitors especially enjoy two groups: butterflies and birds. A total of twenty-nine species of butterflies were documented belonging to five families (Papilionidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Hesperiinae and Nymphalinae). Three species are noted year-round while most appear during from late February to Early May (Abusarhan et al. 2016). The garden has rich invertebrate biodiversity of over 1500 species.
Reptiles observed include Testudo graeca, Eiresnis decemlineatus, Eirenis rothi, Platyceps collaris, Dolichophis jugularis, Hemorrhois nummifer, Typhlops vermicularis, Chalcides ocellatus, Heremites vittatus, Ablepharus rueppellii, Ophisops elegans, Phoenicolacerta laevis, Chamaeleo chamaeleon, Stellagama stellio, Hemidactylus turcicus, Mediodactylus kotschyi, Ptuodactylus guttatus, Mauremys rivulata. 49 species of birds have already been recorded in the garden (list at https://www.palestinenature.org/botanical-garden/PMNH-Birds-List.pdf) including resident, winter visitors, and migratory species (may of the latter were noted after introduction of the artificial pond discussed above. Breeding species in this small area including doves, bulbuls, Palestine sunbirds, house sparrows, hooded crow, and the Syrian woodpecker. Unfortunately, the invasive and damaging Myna bird Acridotheres tristis is also nesting here (Handal and Qumsiyeh 2021).
The only resident amphibian of the garden was the common Bufotes sitibundus. However, when we built the aquatic rain harvesting ecosystem we introduced two more species, Hyla savygnyi and Pelophylax bedriagae. A native fish species was also introduced (Garra rufa from Wadi Qana). Mammals observed here include rodents (Acomys cahirinus, Apodemus mystacinus, Mus musculus), shrews (Crocidura Leucodon), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), mole rat (Spalax leucodon), and four species of bats (Pipistrellus kuhli, Pipistrellus savi, Rhinopoma hardwiki, Tadaria teniotis).
3.2 Structure of the garden
The garden operates as part of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) at Bethlehem University whose vision is sustainable human and natural communities. The garden project fits within the mission of PIBS to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of Palestine by research, education, and actions of conservation. The structure for PIBS and for its garden was developed collectively with volunteer and expert participation. A desktop study was followed by meetings with people concerned and input from visits to more than 15 global botanic gardens both in developed and in developing countries. Two of the authors also attended in person and online a management program held by International Association of Botanic Gardens held in Shanghai, China. These extensive consultations were distilled in the general goals of the garden:
1) Develop Applied research that guides policy: To study the flora of Palestine including phenology, ecology, ecosystem, and threats with the aim of protection. The acquired knowledge, books, database and samples produce applied research that guides policy (for example our work with the Environment Quality Authority on national strategies and action plans). We set up a herbarium and engage in field trips to produce both data and ideas which also served in development of the garden.
2) Conserving plant species that are rare and threatened in Palestinian by in situ and ex situ conservation. This includes propagation of such species in the garden and a scientifically aided into their restored native habitats (combination of in-situ and ex-situ measures)
3) Mainstreaming: Providing the public, researchers, and decision makers information on plant diversity in Palestine. That task will be achieved by programs of environmental education and awareness using the plants and animals of the garden as examples. We also expanded our visits to marginalized communities and refugee camps in the past three years and in 2021 acquired a mobile educational unit that will allow us to take the museum and herbarium specimens, brochures and other educational modules to more communities.
4) Clearing house mechanism: The institute is indexing data collected at its website http://palestinenature.org and was contracted to collect the data for the clearing house mechanism for the whole state of Palestine. The collected and indexed data cover the fauna, flora, protected areas, ecosystems, environmental threats and more. This will increase access to information and benefits the exchange with and between other institutions
6) An oasis of tranquility in an area of conflict and increased urbanization: The garden provides a peaceful and beautiful aesthetic green space in strongly urbanized and environmentally stressed region. In the urbanized areas of Palestine, public green-spaces are rare and that the human population faces daily tense situation inflicted by the existing conflict. Visitors may use the garden to relax and recover from daily stress.
We will develop the garden further by creating functional productive units that serve the sustainable use of the ecosystem services provided by the environment to humans and also act as educational modules. Human interventions will be planed and applied in a way that enhances the existing biodiversity while maximizing use of space:
1) The horticultural work in the garden is rooted in both permaculture and utilitarian principles. For example, a highly disturbed area was recently (2018–2019) developed as a children community and exploration area because it harbored minimal biodiversity. The playground added plants that enriched biodiversity in that corner of the garden. To reduce soil erosion in this hilly area, we repaired and enhanced existing stone terracing and introduced the use of trenches running perpendicular to the run-off direction.
2) As reaction to the limited availability of water and space we build a greenhouse with aquaponics and hydroponic systems. We use it to produce fish and plant products while educating visitors about horticulture, aquaculture and the underlying nutrient cycles. Farmers and engineers from Gaza were trained here as multipliers. One graduate student from Switzerland used our system to conduct his master thesis on the subject (Kessens 2016).
3) In order to enhance the number of pollinating insect species and individuals, insect hotels and local beehives were introduced.
4) Ex-situ conservations: Palestine has a large number of endemic, rare and endangered species highly impacted by habitat destruction in the Palestinian areas (Al Sheikh and Qumsiyeh 2021a, 2021b; Pahl and Qumsiyeh 2021). Some (especially from the orchid family and the genus Iris) were translocated into the garden for ex situ conservation.
5) A mushroom room was created in an abandoned warehouse area. This acts to diversify volunteer food sources and acts as an educational model.
6) The rain harvesting aquatic ecosystem was built in 2014 in the lowest area of the land. As noted above (3.1) this attracted migrating birds and we did introduce few aquatic plants and animals.
7) Medicinal and herbal plant areas were developed and are popular with visitors (as biocultural heritage and ecosystem service).
8) Hugelculture systems and community garden were developed to provide agricultural space for 30 families from 3 refugee camps and city residents from the surrounding area. These people are trained here on the principles of environmental-friendly plant production and benefit from the production of their own vegetables. Organic waste forms a large part of the outcome of managing gardens and farms. The proper disposal of such material is often neglected and done in a environmentally unfriendly way (thrown into the environment and hereby reducing the area of agricultural land or area for the botanical garden To avoid such situations in future we educate visitors on the proper disposal mechanism of organic waste and its use in sustainable production as fertilizer. The Compost and vermiculture areas are critical educational and utilitarian tools in our botanic garden. Organic waste in Palestine constitutes 60–65% of the generated waste and increasingly visitors, school, and university groups adopted these methods for home and institutional use.
9) The exploration playground was constructed using recycled material like tires and olive oil press mats. It contributes space for children to play and learn about the biodiversity and agriculture. The space is popular especially in light of shortage of such spaces for children in urban areas of Palestine.
10) Our garden introduces the development and use of sustainable energy (solar power and biogas). That system provides on one hand energy for the garden and on the other hand it also serves and educational purposes. Motors for the hydroponic and aquaponics systems as well as the pumps of the wells are powered by solar energy. Biogas is used by volunteers for cooking (partially).
Other amenities for visitors, researchers and workers of the garden include storage for work equipment of the staff (tool shed), bathrooms (including a compost toilet), molecular laboratories, herbarium, and three greenhouses. The pathways serve as the underlying structure of the garden and are planned to preserve biodiversity while being utilitarian. The garden plan, its design and the subsequent construction of pathways facilitates the movement of staff, volunteers and visitors. Seven rest areas provide space for visitors and volunteers to sit during their visits or work-sessions in the garden while at the same time enjoying the scenery and the surrounding biodiversity.
During the COVID19 lockdowns, we did a video and shared it over social media and with our large email list (nearly 50,000 emails). You can see this at https://youtu.be/7cBil5ahC6o