JERICHO –Activities for the first Palestinian environment festival, sponsored by
president Mahmoud Abbas, "22-25/3/2007 in Jericho . Sa’eb Erekat, chief
negotiator for the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), mayor of Jericho,
the governor of Jericho Dr. Sami Masllam, and the deputy minister of tourism and
archaeology, Marwan al-Toubasi, Mr. Hazem Qumsiyeh the PWLS Chairman and other
Representative Organization attended the opening ceremony.
The festival opened at Jericho ’s Botanical Garden "The Jericho Wildlife
Monitoring Station", where American supporter, Trudi Morse " www:the-temple.net/trudy,
gave a speech calling for the protection of the environment.
Dr. Erekat said that protection of environment and nature is
preserving their national identity, adding that Palestinians need to be educated
about the environment so they understand the consequences of their actions, and
he said also.. that we are proud of the Palestine Sunbird to carry our national
state name in the coming future and we have to have it as our Protection
movement as our future logo..
Dr. Musalem, the chairman of the Tourism Promotion Committee and governor of
Jericho, stressed the importance of the bird Ringing "Banding" and called on
participants to be ambassadors for the environment wherever they live and
migrant. He also gave an overview of the botanical garden and gave credit to the
Wildlife Society for saving many birds from extinction after the establishment
of the Jericho Wildlife Monitoring Station.
Deputy Minister of Tourism and Archeology, Marwan al-Toubasi, said that
the tourism industry in Palestine depends on security and
stabilization, and recently amount of tourists coming to Palestine has decreased
because of Israel policies.
Mr. Hazem Qumsiyeh.. said.. that our nature needs our help and especially
the protection of one of our endemic birds " Palestine Sunbird" ..which is our
dreams to have it as our national bird, and we do believe that the net work
between all of our GO's and GO's will benefit our conservation work for our
future..
Everyone present at the festival toured the botanical garden and watched the
process of ringing "banding" birds for research and protection purposes. The
festival was on gained in cooperation with the Jericho governorate and
municipality, the tourism Promotion Authority the Ministry of Tourism, the Papal
delegation, Environment Quality Authority, , al-Quds University , the Wildlife
Society and the Birdlife International…and others.
The festival visitors were around 1000 people from all around of the Palestinian
districts and from around 9 international communities who are living in
Palestine and the American lady Ms. Trudy came especially to attend this
festival..
