Raising capabilities of environmental Police

The Mahmiyat.ps project concluded a training tour to raise the capabilities of both the environmental police and the environmental quality authority inspectors in Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Jericho and the suburbs of Jerusalem. This was accomplished by sharing hands-on experiences in both informational and legal aspects, and sharing previous observations.

The training tour was conducted by the expert Saed Shomaly from the Palestine Society for Environment and Sustainable Development. The release of the European honey buzzard was overseen by Brigadier General Montaser Al-Tamimi, head of the Environmental Security Department in the Environmental Police. The bird had been found by an employee of the Ministry of Agriculture’s nursery in Kafr Malik, and was given to the Palestine Society for Environment and Development. Then the buzzard was rehabilitated and ringed in the Environmental Education Center. 

The tour included getting acquainted with types of birds sold in markets, learning about hunting tools used and sold, visiting bird shops in Ramallah, seeing model farms for breeders of wild and pet birds, and a meeting with Mr. Ahmed Abu Laban who is a member of the Palestinian Society of Pet Birds. There was also a tour of the Janata Reserve, which is close to the village of Beitillo, near Ramallah.

Dr. Issa Adwan, general director of the Environmental Resources at the Environmental Quality Authority, explained the importance of the project on many levels, including that the project will continue to train the environmental police and inspectors of the Environmental Quality Authority. Dr. Adwan also highlighted the goals achieved by the project, the national strategy for biodiversity, and the agreements signed. He spoke about the importance of nature reserves, their preparation and distribution, and the future plan to increase the area of ​​nature reserves in Palestine. Dr. Adwan also explained the threats facing the environment in general in Palestine.

Eng. Azmi Salman, head of the Forestry and Rangelands Department in Ramallah and Al-Bireh Agriculture Directorate, explained the obstacles and threats that the reserve faces, including waste left by humans. Mr. Salman also discussed the biodiversity that is unique to the reserve, including plants, birds and animals.

The training took place after several tours in the governorates of Jenin and Hebron, with the participation of the environmental police and inspectors from all governorates. This was in cooperation with the Palestine Society for Environment.