شارك معهد الأبحاث التطبيقية القدس- أريج في المنتدى الثامن لحماية الطبيعية للاتحاد الدولي لحماية الطبيعة 10-12 تشرين الثاني – عمان الاردن “The Applied Research Institute- Jerusalem (ARIJ) participated in the IUCN ROWA 8th Regional Conservation Forum”

The Applied Research Institute- Jerusalem (ARIJ) participated in the IUCN ROWA 8th Regional Conservation Forum
10-12 November 2015 – Amman, Jordan 

The Applied Research Institute- Jerusalem (ARIJ) participated in the 8th Regional Conservation forum held in Amman, Jordan from the 10th -12th November 2015, through its delegate Mrs. Roubina Bassous/Ghattas, Head of Biodiversity and Food Security Department.

Under the title "Innovative Natural Solutions: Motivating change" The 8th Regional Conservation Forum (RCF) was held in Amman by the International Union for conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the gracious co-hosting of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan through the Jordanian Ministry of Environment: HE Dr. Taher al Shakhshir and the presence of HRH Princess Basma Bint Ali and the Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature – Ms. Inger Andersen. The Regional Conservation Forum (RCF) aimed at providing governments, NGOs, partners and the private sector a platform to engage; to discuss key conservation issues as well as provide an opportunity to prepare for an effective programme and discuss membership business. The forum gave an opportunity for IUCN members and partners, as well as the wider conservation community to prepare for its effective regional participation in the 2016 World Conservation Congress (WCC) that will take place in Hawai'i from 1 to 10 September 2016.The forum brought together 150 representatives of governments, NGOs and the business sector from West Asia, 2 Regional Councilors, Regional & National Committees, Commissions, Experts, Partners and Donors, State members and Regional decision makers. 

ARIJ participated with a Palestinian delegate of 5 IUCN members in the RCF; who had the chance to raise the voice of the Palestinians and their concerns about nature conservation in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip. These concerns and the necessary involvement of IUCN in areas of conflict like Palestine were emphasized during a meeting with the IUCN president Mr. Zhang Xinbeng, who showed great concern about Palestine engagement in IUCN and its commissions, councils and committees. 

During the forum ARIJ; represented by Mrs. Roubina Ghattas has several interventions related to the role of IUCN in the region and its program for 2017-2020 that was initiated as a draft; in addition to building several partnerships with NGOs, semi-NGOs, and GOVs institutions and getting introduced to several experts at the IUCN commissions who attended the forum. This is an attempt to better adopt the nature conservation solutions through regional platforms; in response to the IUCN’s program 2017-2020, the Biodiversity Strategy 2011-2020 and the Convention of Biological Diversity – Aichi targets.