Newsletter (May to August) 2020

APN and youth initiative 'Fazet Shabab' distribute hundreds of irrigation networks to help dozens of farmers continue cultivating their lands

APN distributed 324 irrigation networks on Thursday, June 16, 2020, to a group of farmers in the southern Jordan Valley to raise their productivity and improve the way they water their crops.

APN concludes the first phase of the 'Empowering Victims of Gaza' project and prepares for the second phase

APN has concluded the first phase of the project to empower the injured in the "return marches" in the Gaza Strip, which has succeeded in serving 39 casualties who support 210 people by distributing 700 pigeons and about 2,050 chickens, in addition to planting 5 dunums of fruit trees, as the organization seeks to start implementing the second phase of the project.

APN organizes webinar to discuss Israel’s plans to annex the Jordan Valley with grandson of Nelson Mandela and other global experts among guests

A number of Palestinian and international experts participated in a webinar organized via Zoom by the Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN) in cooperation with the Arab Network for Food Sovereignty (ANFS) and the Global Alliance for Food Sovereignty on Friday, July 10, 2020. Participants discussed the motives for targeting the Jordan Valley, the implications of the annexation, and ways to confront it, at the local, regional, and global levels.

The Garden of Colours: APN's first intervention in an educational setting in Gaza Refugee Camp

An area of 888 square meters has been transformed from a neglected and closed-off space into an oasis with interactive elements, to include a stadium for girls in the only school for girls in the camp. The garden came about from a collaboration between APN and Sanabel Landscape Design & Services.

APN and ANFS warn that Lebanon is at risk of an acute food crisis

On Thursday, August 6, 2020, the Arab Network for Food Sovereignty (ANFS) issued a statement about the massive explosion in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, last Tuesday afternoon, in which it warned of an acute food crisis that will face the Lebanese as a result of the destruction of the port, which housed the main silos for storing grain and wheat. 

Zuaiter calls for building strength and developing projects on the ground to counter the annexation of the Jordan Valley

Razan Zuaiter, who is president of APN and the Arab Network for Food Sovereignty (ANFS), delivered a speech at the conference 'United against the Deal of the Century and the Annexation Plan' on Thursday, July 12, 2020, at the invitation of the Arab Forum. The Arab Forum is composed of the Arab National Conference, the National Islamic Conference, the General Conference of Arab Parties, Al Quds (Jerusalem) International Foundation, and the Arab Progressive Front.

UN supports the work of APN as a Jordanian organization that was proactive during the lockdown that was imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19

During the lockdown that was imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19, APN implemented important work before most sectors began operating again.

900 families in Jerusalem benefit from APN's Home Gardens project

This specific project helped 900 Jerusalemite families to create their own gardens through the distribution of 70,000 tomato seedlings, 15kg of zucchini seeds, 10kg of cucumber seeds, 16kg of cowpea seeds, 10kg of okra seeds, and 15kg of bean seeds.

Al-Jazeera hosts Zuaiter to discuss food security in light of the COVID-19 crisis

Al-Jazeera hosted Razan Zuaiter, APN Chairwoman of the Board in a podcast (May 28, 2020). She spoke about policies that are related to food security and the fate of food security in the Arab world following lockdowns that were imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“You care for us as human beings first, and then the land comes second", a farmer from Madaba expresses her joy at partnering with the APN

“My joy today is indescribable,” uttered one of the women who, with APN support, finished cultivating the two dunums of land in Madaba Governorate she rents to invest and care for her family. (June 9, 2020). As part of the Green Caravan Program’s commitment to small farmers, APN provided the project with a 10 cubic meter water tank and enough cucumber seeds to fill two green houses two plastic houses.

On World Environment Day Al Jaajaa says, “ Wealthy countries must take responsibility for damages to the environment”

Hassan Al Jaajaa, one of the founders of the Arab Group for the Protection of Nature, spoke at a regional webinar for researchers and environmental experts, hosted by the Qatari Friends of the Environment Association on June 5, 2020 (World Environment Day).

APN supports a group of female day workers in the northern Jordan Valley and advocates to improve their quality of life

The Independent Union of Agricultural Workers in Jordan, thanked APN for its support of female agricultural day laborers, which had a good effect on their spirits during these exceptional circumstances and considering their wages already fall below the minimum wage.

Zuaiter: Plans to annex the Jordan Valley seeks to strip Palestinians of their ability to produce food

Razan Zuayter, the General Coordinator of the Arab Group for the Protection of Nature and President of the Arab Network for Food Sovereignty, spoke in a digital forum for activists and politicians to talk about the fate of food security in light of the Israeli entity’s "annexation decision.” The meeting was held by "Jordan BDS,” on June 18, 2020.

APN constructs a borehole on land threatened with confiscation in Qatanna village in Palestine

The Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN) constructed an agricultural borehole in Qatanna village near Jerusalem (May 2020) in partnership with the Al-Nahda Rural Society and with funding from the Quds Waqf for Wealth and Development Association. The borehole, which has the capacity of 80 cubic meters, was constructed to support the Palestinian farmer Jihad Shamasneh and protect agricultural land from the encroachment of Israeli settlements.

Promising results: APN visits Al Salt and the southern Jordan Valley to follow up on its projects there

The team visited farmers that APN has supported in cooperation with various partners. They found that most of the lands had a beautiful green cover, and especially ones were Molokhia seeds were planted. APN distributed 500 km of Molokhia seeds to farmers to cover approximately 100 dunums of southern Ghor lands.

Zuaiter warns organisations in Gaza that foreign funding does not always have clear intentions

Zuayter said that the worst option for agricultural associations is to wait, as conversations take place about funding cuts to agricultural projects. She suggested that local initiatives start in a timely and professional manner, in hopes that financiers will seek out such projects to share in their achievements.

APN elects its new Board of Directors (2020-2024)

The Board of directors of APN met on Tuesday, July 21, 2020, to review work developments, follow up on the latest projects and achievements, and to hold elections for the next four years and assign roles to the members.

APN sends an open letter to the Minister of Agriculture

APN sent an open letter to the Minister of Agriculture Saleh Al-Kharabsheh (May 27, 2020). The letter draws attention to local markets and how important it is for them to remain sufficient. There is an opportunity today, the letter points out, for decision-makers to reduce import and dependence on the international market. According to the letter, dependence on the international market makes our region even more fragile on top of other crises we are facing.

ANFS and APN meet with expert on the right to food at the United Nations

ANFS paid close attention to what the Special Rapporteur had to say about projects that are being implemented by the United Nations to establish the right to food in the world. APN, on the hand, indicated its priorities to overcome threats to food security in the Arab region.

APN builds a borehole in memory of Swar el-Dahab in Beit Anan village near Jerusalem

The Arab Group for the Protection of Nature constructed an 80-cubic-meter well on the land of farmer Hussam Mohamed Ibrahim, in the village of Beit ‘Anan, Jerusalem. Beit ‘Anan suffers from insufficient water accesses and frequent interruptions to the flow of water, especially in the summer. This well will help irrigate 6 dunums of village land.

APN revives agricultural land for 10 orphans in Al-Salt

Mohammad Qtaishat, APN’s Project Manager, explained that this activity aims to cultivate 10 dunums of lemon and grape trees for two agricultural families, one of which consists of 10 orphans.

APN warns of the repercussions of Israel's annexation plans at Yabous Centre seminar

APN Chairman of the Board,  Razan Zuaiter, warned of the repercussions of Israeli's annexation plan on Palestinian and Jordanian food security during a seminar that was held by the Yabous Centre for Consulting & Strategic Studies in the West Bank. 

APN participates in the meeting of the 'National Afforestation Project' at the invitation of the Ministry of Agriculture

Engineers Razan Zuaiter and Hassan Al Jaajaa represented APN at the meeting on July 16, 2020, at the invitation of the Minister of Agriculture and Environment Saleh Al-Kharabsheh. They discussed the implementation of the 'National Afforestation Project' that the Ministry of Agriculture recently launched to plant 10 million forest trees in the next 10 years.

APN speaks at panel discussion on economics and food security organized by ARDD

As a keynote speaker in an online seminar on "Social Economics and Food Security in the Arab World" (3 June 2020), Zuayter stated that the concepts of social protection and food security are complementary and interrelated, both protecting peoples in times of risks and crises. She likened their relationship to that of human dignity and bread.

APN sends trees to home gardens in Basira in Al Tafilah

The Arab Group for the Protection of Nature sent 150 fruit trees to 25 families living in Basira on Thursday, May 7, 2020, as part of its Green Caravan campaign in Jordan and in cooperation with the Basira Environmental Association.

APN participates in UN challenge on World Environment Day

APN participated in the challenge that was launched by the United National Environment Program (UNEP) Regional Office for West Asia on the occasion of World Environment Day.

APN plants apple trees to support home gardens in villages near Jerusalem

The project, part of the third "Million Tree" programme in Palestine, targeted 88 agricultural families in the villages of ‪Beit Hanina‬, Biddu, Beit Ijza, Beit Duqqu, Beit Surik, Beit Iksa, Al-Qubeiba, and Beit ‘Anan.

Zuaiter is invited by ILPS to lead global panel on political means to resisting hunger

Razan Zuaiter, General Coordinator of APN and Co-Chair of the Global Alliance for Food Sovereignty, chaired a webinar on Friday, June 19, 2020, at the invitation of the International League of People’s Struggle (ILPS), to talk about ways to resist policies which cause famines and threaten food security.  She addressed current policies related to food and agriculture during the Corona epidemic. 

APN: What happened in Karak Valley was destructive and someone must be held accountable

We at APN condemn what took place in Karak Valley in late June, which harms the environment and tourism and threatens agricultural lands that farmers tend to near those areas

APN: until we can achieve food sovereignty, providing food for people must go hand in hand with dignity and human rights

As PCFS co-Chair, Zuayter urged the members of the coalition to seize the moment to confront traditional forms of colonial control and those emerging from the coronavirus crisis.

APN discusses the possibility of formal partnerships with members of the Jordan Federation for Environmental NGOs

General Manager Mariam Al Jaajaa represented APN at a meeting of the Jordanian Federation of Environmental NGOs (July 21, 2020).

APN plants 50 trees in Jerash with the support of Al-Nisr Al-Arabi Insurance Company

APN planted 50 fruitful trees for the benefit of a farmer in the Governorate of Jerash. The activity was supported by Al-Nisr Al-Arabi Insurance and was implemented as part of the Green Caravan Program.