Arab Group for the Protection of Nature

The Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN) is an independent, non-profit civil society organization headquartered in Amman, Jordan. It was founded in April 2003 with the aim of contributing to efforts to protect the Arab environment and coordinating with Arab and international bodies and organizations to achieve this goal. The organization focuses on protecting natural resources in the face of increasing challenges and dangers, particularly those resulting from conflicts, wars, and occupation. APN relies heavily on volunteer work for most of its activities. APN's mission is to initiate projects, coordinate efforts, and participate in initiatives to protect natural and human resources in Arab countries, and to raise awareness about the destructive effects of wars and occupations on these resources. It aims to contribute to building the self-capacity of Arab civil society organizations to participate in international discussions on environmental issues and to define positions on them. Its objectives include implementing afforestation projects and monitoring them; increasing awareness of the importance of trees and human responsibility for planting, protecting, and preserving them; collecting and providing research and studies on environmental, agricultural, and tree issues; raising awareness at the Arab and international levels about environmental destruction in areas of occupation and war; working to provide material and moral support for the rehabilitation of affected areas; supporting national, Arab, and international efforts in environmental protection; and contributing to combating desertification and preserving plants. APN's flagship projects include the Million Tree Campaign in Palestine, launched in 2001 by the organization's founders, which aims to replant trees uprooted by Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The campaign planned to plant about one million olive, fruit, and palm trees in various locations over five phases ending in 2007. Another major project is the Green Caravan in Jordan, initiated in May 2004, which operates in the Jordan Valley, a region below sea level with scarce rainfall and high temperatures leading to soil dryness and agricultural pest proliferation. The project is considered pioneering, with the first phase of tree planting in the village of Dhahrat al-Raml as a step toward generalizing the experience to other areas. APN also works on integrated pest management, genetically modified organisms, and volunteer activities. As of its official website, APN reports having planted 3,429,444 trees, benefiting 165,141 dunums of land and 51,550 farmers. The organization continues to run programs such as the Gaza Farm Revival Project, the Together for Lebanon's Olives project, the Million Tree Planting Program, and the Green Caravan. It also engages in educational initiatives like "If You Know" (لو تعرف) to raise awareness about contemporary environmental challenges. APN receives support from various donors and partners, including the Ford Foundation and the Central Bank of Jordan, and collaborates with local communities, universities, and volunteers.

The Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN) was founded in April 2003 as an independent, non-profit civil society organization. Its establishment was announced in April 2003, with the aim of contributing to efforts to protect the Arab environment and coordinating with Arab and international bodies and organizations to achieve this goal. The idea for the organization emerged as a response to the increasing challenges and dangers facing the environment, particularly those resulting from conflicts, wars, and occupations. One of APN's earliest and most significant initiatives was the Million Tree Campaign in Palestine, which was created by the organization's founders in 2001, even before the official founding of APN. This campaign aimed to replant trees that had been uprooted by Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, where land was cleared for settlements, roads, and the separation wall. The campaign planned to plant approximately one million olive, fruit, and palm trees in various locations over five phases, ending in 2007. In May 2004, APN launched the Green Caravan project in Jordan. This project operates in the Jordan Valley, a region below sea level characterized by scarce rainfall and high temperatures, leading to soil dryness and the proliferation of agricultural pests. The first phase of tree planting took place in the village of Dhahrat al-Raml, and the project was considered pioneering, serving as a model to be generalized to other areas. Over the years, APN has expanded its activities to include integrated pest management, addressing genetically modified organisms, and various volunteer activities. The organization has also implemented projects such as the Gaza Farm Revival Project and the Together for Lebanon's Olives project, which support farmers affected by conflict. APN relies heavily on volunteer work for most of its activities and has received support from various donors, including the Ford Foundation and the Central Bank of Jordan. As of its official website, APN reports having planted 3,429,444 trees, benefiting 165,141 dunums of land and 51,550 farmers. The organization continues to run programs such as the Million Tree Planting Program, the Green Caravan, and educational initiatives like "If You Know" (لو تعرف) to raise awareness about contemporary environmental challenges. APN remains active in Jordan and the broader Arab world, working towards food sovereignty and the protection of natural resources.

• 2007

  Million Tree Campaign planned to conclude after five phases

• 2004

  Green Caravan project launched in May in Jordan

• 2003

  APN officially founded in April

• 2001

  Million Tree Campaign in Palestine created by APN founders

Non-profit environmental and humanitarian organization focused on food sovereignty and natural resource protection in Arab countries affected by conflict and occupation.

1. 1Official websiteapnature.org
2. 2Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Arabic Wikipediaar.wikipedia.org