FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES
National Network
Palestine
Address
Mar Andreas Building Al-Karkarfa StreetCountry
City
BethlehemMobile Phone
+972598939532Telephone
02-277-3553E-Mail (2)
mazin@qumsiyeh.orgE-Mail (3)
pibs@bethlehem.eduE-Mail (4)
ahandal@bethlehem.eduWebsite
Click HereYear of Establishment
2014Contact Person1
Prof. Mazin QumsiyehJob Title 1
Founder and DirectorContact Person 2
Amal HandalJob Title 2
Institutional Promotion AssociateOrganisation Type
Public/Private Non-Profit FoundationFields of Activity
Environment/Sustainable development, Heritage, Research, Youth and educationGeneral Information
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) was established in 2014 at Bethlehem University to advance research, education, and conservation of Palestine’s natural world, culture, and heritage. PIBS includes the Palestine Museum of Natural History, botanical and community gardens, biodiversity and molecular laboratories, an animal rehabilitation unit, and a mobile educational unit.
Its core team of nine staff members works closely with hundreds of volunteers and partners. With support from organizations such as the EU, Darwin Initiative, British Council, and National Geographic Society, PIBS sustains an annual operational budget averaging USD 50,000–72,000. The institute implements its initiatives through community participation, applied research, and international collaboration, serving as a model for sustainable development, education, and conservation in Palestine and the wider region.
Mission and Objectives
PIBS focuses on research, education, and conservation of Palestine’s natural world, culture, and heritage, promoting responsible interactions with the environment. Guided by the motto RESPECT for self, others, and nature, PIBS combines scientific research, educational programs, and community initiatives to advance sustainability.
Key goals include:
- Explore the diversity of fauna, flora, and human ethnography through collections and scientific research, including morphology and genetics.
- Promote environmental protection and responsible interaction between people and the environment.
- Use knowledge, books, databases, and collections to support science education.
- Foster respect for self, for fellow humans regardless of background, and for all living creatures and the planet.
- Apply research in history, culture, permaculture, and biological control to nurture sustainable communities.
Through research and practical community engagement, PIBS demonstrates how biodiversity, culture, and sustainable development can be integrated across Palestine.
Main Projects / Activities
PIBS has carried out over 45 sustainability and biodiversity projects and published more than 150 scientific papers, reaching tens of thousands of people through educational programs, workshops, webinars, school visits, and community outreach for children, youth, marginalized communities, and local stakeholders.
Major initiatives include:
- Developing the Protected Area Network for Palestine and five protected area management plans with the Environmental Quality Authority (EQA) and IUCN.
- Leading the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
- Promoting eco-agriculture, permaculture, and community-based tourism with marginalized communities.
- Preserving cultural and agricultural heritage through the Turathna Project.
- Supporting research and conservation through the herbarium, seed bank, molecular and cytogenetic laboratories, botanical garden, and animal rehabilitation unit.
- Maintaining biodiversity databases, digital libraries, and interactive educational tools.
Through these integrated efforts, PIBS connects research, conservation, education, and community engagement, advancing sustainability, environmental justice, and resilience across Palestine.
How can you contribute to the Network in your country?
PIBS can contribute to the Network in Palestine by bringing its experience in research, conservation, and environmental education to support local initiatives. Through its museum, botanical and community gardens, laboratories, and animal rehabilitation unit, PIBS can offer hands-on training, workshops, and capacity-building programs for youth, children, and marginalized communities. By sharing data, best practices, and lessons from community-based conservation and sustainable development projects, PIBS can strengthen collaboration, promote biodiversity protection, and help advance the Network’s goals across Palestine.
Why do you want to join the ALF Network?
We would like to join the ALF Network to strengthen its local work through collaboration and learning from other organizations facing similar environmental challenges. Being part of the Network would help PIBS access new ideas, tools, and approaches for research, conservation, and community engagement, while also sharing its own experience in managing biodiversity, educational programs, and community-based projects. Joining the Network is an opportunity to build meaningful partnerships, improve the effectiveness of our projects, and connect local action in Palestine to broader regional conservation efforts.