Since the beginning of life/Time Palestine has been God's unique gift to the World. A sacred home to the Worlds’ great Faiths, Palestine is also a natural habitat for many of the worlds’ most magnificent, rare and endangered birds, mammals and plants.

    Replete with ancient religious and archeology sites, the high dessert environments are harsh, but lovely settings, for both human and animal families. The fertile Jordon valley, the cradle of agriculture in the Middle East, is home to a unique wildlife and ecosystem which is currently under severe threat. With its environmental and historical heritage characteristics, the potential is surely present for a solid tourism base for both local & international travelers.

    The varying geographical and climates are represented by the Mediterranean Sea, the long shore line of Gaza, the Jerusalem Mountains, the eastern slops and the Rift "Jericho and EL-GOUR" valley. Within a small area the biodiversity is truly astounding: more than 2720 plant species "Flora Palaestina" and around 520 birds dwell /resident or migrate through this compact ecological area. Many avian species journey all the way from Africa to Europe through small land bridges in the south and center of Palestine.
    In addition, more than 70 species of mammals and thousands of other insects, reptiles and amphibians are represented in this compact but diverse stretch of land.

    A part from natural phenomena, the most sacred sites of many faiths, such as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Nativity Church are found in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Many visitors are surprised to find that Jericho, the oldest City in the world and Nablus with its famous Mt. Jerzim inhabited by the Samarians, are still lively, important sites. Let us not forget the long, slender land of Gaza and its famous Wadi bounded by the Mediterranean Sea. On a clear day, from the wondrous Jerusalem Mountains, tourists and residents alike enjoy the site of the mountains of Jordan across a valley view which differs only slightly from Biblical times.
 

    Today's’ Tourism is closely related to both environment and nature. Visitors want to see and understand not just the tourist sites but they want to learn about the ecosystem which supports the natural and heritage places. And members of the local society take pride in showing their heritage and are willing to help keep places clean and green when they have the chance to encourage visitors. Tourism in turn helps provide an improved standard of life for those who protect important sites.

    Included in the concept of ecotourism are all the steps needed to establish programs such as producing and marketing tourism programs that cover the cultural, natural and environmental resources of the country . Consequently, tourists can come and enjoy themselves in these places where they can watch nature and birds while mingling with the native people such as Jericho city and the Jericho Wildlife Monitoring Station…They join in ancient festivals "Artas, Taybah, Biet Sahour & Battier Festivals" , national and religious ones that have existed thousands of years ago, even before Jesus Christ. Bird Ringing/ banding is one of the scientific activities that enables the tourists to learn more about birds, they can be taught to perform a useful task and at the same time to consider extending their visit in the country and spend more money.

    It has been agreed that the ecotourism is a vital sector and has to be dealt with on the national scale. Some national and global organizations have focused their activities on this topic.
    Some sites in Palestine have been selected to be models for these new concepts that combine the cultural heritage and nature such as the Jerusalem Wilderness "St. Saba Monastery/Bethlehem, Masafer Bani Naeem/Hebron, Wadi Quilt "St. George site" and Jericho city…..

PWLS Objectives on Eco Tourism:
• To promote sustainable use of natural & cultural values of Natural and Cultural Heritage sites in Palestine.
• To help in conservation and monitoring Nature and Cultural Heritage sites in Palestine.
• To Promote the Inventory of the Cultural and natural sites in Palestine.
• Build up local capacity in conservation & Eco Tourism nationally and regionally.
• Promote Eco Tourism & other sustainable development program in Palestine through our local communities and Travel Agencies.