Guide to Trees and Shrubs from Palestine

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Publication Year: 
2003
Publisher: 
Biodiversity & Environmental Research Center, BERC, Til, Nablus, Palestine
Language: 
Arabic
Description: 

The word “Biodiversity” was born in 1986 during the National Forum on Biodiversity, held in Washington, D.C., under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences and the Smithsonian Institution. By 1992, biodiversity, as a key topic of the “Earth Summit” on the environment, held in Rio, has become one of the central issues of scientific and political concern worldwide.    It has now become more evident to mankind that the diverse plant species composing the ecosystems have developed many unique structural, chemichal, and physical characteristics, and that they utilize many diverse strategies that ensure the functioning of the ecosystems of our planet. It is therefore, imperative that man should conserve and sustain these plants for present and future use.    Plant biodiversity matters to us in a variety of ways. Apart of the important aesthetic and ethical dimensions, part of our existence depends on direct use of plants, including trees and shrubs.    As part of the Biodiversity & Environmental Research Center, BERC, efforts towards the conservation of plant biodiversity, this book “Guide to Trees and Shrubs from Palestine” is intended to contribute to the implementation of the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). namely the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from access to genetic resources.   The book has been prepared as a working guide for readers in general, for nature lovers, and for conservation educators, technicians, and practitioners. In presentation, the guide is organized into three chapters. Chapter one is a general introduction on the topography of the West Bank and Gaza. soil, climate, phytogeographical regions, and vegetation units. Chapter two describes general propagation methods of plants, selected strategies for the propagation of threatened plants, and ex situ conservation methods. Chapter three provides a description of fifty two mainly natural trees and shrubs, including their morphology, habitats and geographical distribution, uses (in industry and energy. environment, medicine, food, folkloric medicine, culture etc.). and propagation methods. Plants are also illustrated with photos. so that the reader can use the descriptions and photos for identifying the plants in the field.

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