This year’s Biodiversity’s Day theme is “Be part of the Plan.” But which plan are we talking about? It’s the Biodiversity Plan, part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The GBF outlines an ambitious global conservation strategy, aiming for humanity to live in harmony with nature by 2050, and includes four main goals for 2050 and 23 specific targets to achieve by 2030.
So, is PIBS part of the plan? Yes, we are! The institute’s mission is to research, educate about, and conserve our natural world, culture, and heritage while promoting responsible human interactions with the environment. This year marks our 10th anniversary, and for the past decade, PIBS has been actively contributing to the plan.
From our research efforts to community outreach initiatives, every project we undertake supports halting and reversing biodiversity loss. Whether it’s protecting endangered species, restoring degraded habitats, or promoting sustainable land management practices, we are dedicated to making a positive impact on biodiversity conservation.
In celebration of this important day, the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability, in partnership with the Cremisan Salesian Convent, organized an educational event at the Cremisan natural reserve, located within the South Jerusalem Hill protected area for first and second-grade students from SIRA School in Bethlehem, accompanied by their parents. The day-long program featured a forest hike in the Cremisan valley, during which children were introduced to the area’s diverse flora and fauna. Following the hike, an interactive educational activity enabled children to create two miniature ecosystems—one aquatic and one terrestrial—providing insight into the importance of ecological balance and the effects of disrupting it. Simultaneously, parents attended a workshop focused on Palestine’s abundant biodiversity, fostering discussions on conservation strategies.
