Middle East
Egypt lies at the northeast corner of Africa at the junction of four bio-geographical regions: Irano-Turanian, Mediterranean, Saharo-Sindian, and Afrotropical. It is at the center of the great Saharo-Sindian desert belt that runs from Morocco on the northwest corner of Africa to the high, cold deserts of central Asia. The fresh water habitats of the Nile River basin and 1,500 miles of coastline along the Mediterranean and Red Seas endow Egypt with a rich diversity of terrestrial habitats, flora, and fauna. The natural habitats include a variety of important wildlife, including migratory bird species, unique coral reefs, sensitive desert vegetation, and endangered species.
The USDA Forest Service has partnered with the Research Institute for a Sustainable Environment at the American University in Cairo since 2012 to develop experimental rooftop garden systems that can be replicated in communities throughout Cairo. Benefits include high-quality food production, water management, temperature moderation, enhanced architectural aesthetics, and increased environmental awareness by the local community. In 2018, the Forest Service was able to host the lead research on the rooftop garden project to the U.S. for the annual international seminar on Urban Forestry, which highlights the importance of community engagement, environmental justice, and the economic value of green spaces in urban cities.
The USDA Forest Service International Programs also partners with the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA), most recently launching the innovative Amr Ali Red Sea Defender. The innovative education vessel will help carryout HEPCA’s mandate to protect and conserve marine ecology in the Red Sea area. The Red Sea Defender is an educational facility on a large boat that offers educational and research experiences for youth from the Red Sea and world-class researchers to inspire, promote, and cultivate interest in conservation and protection of the natural habitat of the Red Sea.
Israel’s dynamic landscape and geographic location—at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe—endow it with a rich environment and diverse natural resources. Though small in area, Israel has a unique geography and varying climate that creates a diversity of ecosystems as one crosses the country from north to south and east to west. As a result of this variation, Israel hosts over 500 species of birds, 116 species of mammals, and 7 million people. Given this biodiversity, Israeli institutions (governmental and non-governmental) have made significant efforts to conserve and restore natural resources over the past century. The USDA Forest Service has maintained several close collaborative partnerships in Israel for over 30 years, and continues the cooperation today on forestry and natural resource management issues common to both Israel and the United States. Currently, the USDA Forest Service works with Israeli partners on a range of issues including, ecosystem services, multi-functional forest planning and management.
Current collaborative activities seek to continue growing the historic partnership between the U.S. and Israel and address the most pressing environmental issues facing both nations. Israel’s forests provide critical ecosystem services for the public – from water and food to open spaces that provide numerous recreational opportunities – but these vital natural resources are severely threatened by increasing land-use pressures driven by a growing population and numerous climate change risks. The USDA Forest Service supports Israeli efforts to monitor and value ecosystems services and integrate this data into land use planning and management.
Although Jordan is a water-poor country with limited green spaces, it has considerable biodiversity, beautiful landscapes, and a strong network of protected areas. Over the last fourteen years, the USDA Forest Service has worked with diverse partners including the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, the Hashemite Fund, the Princess Basma Youth Resource Center, the Ministry of Agriculture-Forestry Department, the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas, and the Ministry of Environment. Activities have focused on a wide range of issues, such as watershed management, forest conservation, institutional strengthening, law enforcement, conservation education and protected area management. This work has been made possible over the years through support from the U.S. Agency for International Development in Jordan and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans, Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
Jordan is one of the least forested countries in the world. Many of its remaining native forests face significant challenges from fire, disease, slow rates of regeneration, and increased loss of native species. Water scarcity often dominates the discussion of natural resource threats in Jordan. Landscape level conservation should be an important aspect of Jordan’s water conservation strategy, as it can help ensure conservation of rainwater currently lost during run-off and evaporation. The USDA Forest Service cooperates with partners in Jordan to address soil and water conservation through technical exchange.
In 2016, the USDA Forest Service launched the Sustainable Environment and Economic Development project, a two-year initiative funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development in Jordan designed to rehabilitate rangelands in Jordan’s eastern desert by increasing community involvement in natural resource management and boosting the survival rate of native seedlings.
The USDA Forest Service also collaborates with the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas to implement a pilot watershed restoration project using a mix of native vegetation and stone structures to slow water flows and spread scarce rainfall across the landscape, increasing water infiltration and capturing more rain that is otherwise lost to runoff or evaporation. The techniques are replicable and have tremendous potential to improve the lives of communities across the Kingdom.
The Cedars of Lebanon are widely recognized as a symbol of Lebanon’s culture and heritage. Throughout ancient times, the prized timber was sought after to build ships, railroads, temples, and palaces. While these cedars are now carefully protected, centuries of human impact have contributed to a significant loss of forest cover. Further, the combined impacts of population increase and climate change have led to disruption in water resource availability, increased desertification, and the potential for further forest cover loss.
The Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI), a project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and implemented by the USDA Forest Service, was established in 2010 to undertake an ambitious program of sustainable reforestation and wildfire management. Nearly a decade later, LRI has transformed the way native trees are grown and planted in Lebanon, and now more than 700 hectares of communal forestlands have been reforested through the planting of more than half-a- million native trees.
By amplifying the focus on rural development and improving livelihoods, LRI’s community-level programs also offered an array of crosscutting socio-economic benefits in underserved areas of the country, especially those hit hardest by the regional refugee crisis. These benefits constitute a brighter future for Lebanon, its forested watersheds, and the continued harmony of communities dependent upon their natural resources. With LRI now operating as a successful, locally based NGO, the USDA Forest Service continues to partner with LRI and other organizations in Lebanon by providing access to new areas of technical expertise in disaster recovery, riparian and rangeland restoration, and more.
Morocco’s forests, which cover about 12% of the country, are home to many of the world’s unique and endangered plant and animal species, including the Barbary macaque (Macacasylvanus), cork (Quercussuber), argon (Arganiaspinosa), and truffles. The Government of Morocco recently made commitments to stemming an escalating deforestation rate that is driven primarily by an increased demand for wood products and uncontrolled anthropogenic fires.
The USDA Forest Service cooperates with Morocco’s High Commission on Water, Forests, and Combating Desertification to support their efforts to advance natural resource conservation through improved reforestation efforts and wildfire management programs. U.S. Department of State Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs fund current activities as part of the environmental chapter of the United States - Morocco Free Trade Agreement. The reforestation efforts focus on improving tree nursery management practices to ensure greater survival rates of planted seedlings. By advising the High Commission on opportunities for improvement within existing seed centers and tree nurseries, the USDA Forest Service is helping to improve seedling success rates and reduce costs for reforestation efforts.
The forest fire management program aims to further professionalize Moroccan forest fire response and coordination capacity, in order to utilize resources more efficiently, and enhance wildfire management and response in the Kingdom, promoting overall forest conservation. USDA Forest Service fire specialists mentor and support Moroccan High Commission colleagues through training, hands-on work sessions, and study tours. The High Commission developed a National Center for Forest Climate Risk Management in 2016, and USDA Forest Service efforts have also focused on developing a national fire operations guide to standardize operating procedures, and provide consultation on Incident Command System.
Since 2011, the USDA Forest Service has conducted a technical assistance program on disaster management with the Sultanate of Oman. This work has been supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (DOS-OES). Currently, the USDA Forest Service collaborates with Oman’s National Committee for Civil Defense (NCCD), the governmental coordinating organization managing all national disaster response activities in Oman. This collaboration supports NCCD efforts to update the Sultanate’s disaster management planning and response systems and develop improved training programs on these new systems.
USDA Forest Service program activities have introduced U.S. systems and best practices to stakeholders across Oman’s disaster management and response sector. The NCCD is currently adapting and integrating the Incident Command System (ICS) into Oman’s National Emergency Management System. Adopting ICS will help improve the delivery of emergency services and promote the efficient use of resources during disasters. It will also improve coordination between actors throughout the sector. With USDA Forest Service support, NCCD is developing a comprehensive training program introducing ICS to key stakeholders throughout the Omani government.
Current program activities are focused on developing a core group of disaster management professionals fluent in ICS and its role within Oman’s National Emergency Management System. At the conclusion of these activities, program participants will serve on Incident Management Teams (IMTs) and as lead trainers for the program. In early 2016, a USDA Forest Service team conducted a capstone training and simulation exercise, which will enable NCCD professionals to serve on Oman’s first IMT, design and develop emergency simulation exercises, and participate in hands-on, applied teaching and mentorship opportunities. This activity will be the culmination of four years of USFS/DOS funded assistance to Oman. Program partners include: National Committee for Civil Defense (NCCD), Royal Oman Police, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, and Public Authority for Civil Defense and Ambulance Service.
Turkey has a long history of forest management dating back to the Ottoman Empire. For over 50 years, the Turkish government has worked on dry land conservation through shrub and tree planting and watershed management. Turkey is one of the few countries in the world to have a positive net growth in forest cover, and timber production remains an important commodity for the government. The Turkish Ministry of Forests and Water is responsible for managing forest and water resources and has a workforce of roughly 30,000 employees; 26% of the land area is forested. Forest products also provide supplemental income and fuel to rural communities. Turkey's vulnerable ecosystem has been placed under increasing stress by high population growth, rising incomes and energy consumption. Climate change poses a threat to sustainable development objectives. Mediterranean forests are extremely susceptible to fire, and changing climatic conditions cause longer, hotter fire seasons.
The USDA Forest Service maintains a modest level of support to Turkey, primarily through technical exchange opportunities for Turkish professionals and international seminar opportunities. The USDA Forest Service and Turkish counterparts are participating in meaningful scientific exchange on research and policy collaboration related to Mediterranean ecosystems and forestry.
USDA Forest Service partnerships with Turkey are also of great value to partner countries in the region, including Lebanon, Tunisia and Jordan. In 2018, the USDA Forest Service participated in a wildfire management conference in Antalya, Turkey to exchange best practices for post-fire restoration, fire management training, and wildfire research in Mediterranean ecosystems. The USDA Forest Service also hosted Turkish professionals on its annual international seminars.
Located along the Great Rift Valley, the West Bank has substantial topographic relief, including the lowest terrestrial point on Earth at the Dead Sea and mountains of significant elevation.
Despite the short distances between its northern and southern, as well as eastern and western boundaries, there is considerable variability in climate and ecosystems: arid deserts, forests, and at higher elevations, more moist climates. The natural resources of the West Bank are critically important to Palestinian livelihoods and support agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, traditional and pharmaceutical health, and tourism activities.
The USDA Forest Service works in the West Bank to provide direct, on-the-ground impact in the form of technical assistance to educate youth about environmental conservation, support research and stewardship of natural resources to improve land use, and address water management. This technical assistance program is unique, as few United States Government agencies operate in the West Bank and activities that address natural resource conservation in the area are limited. Current USDA Forest Service programs in the West Bank include technical assistance, research, and international exchange opportunities in the areas of environmental education for youth, native nursery management, and watershed restoration. USDA Forest Service partners in the West Bank span the government, non-governmental, and academic sectors and include the Ministry of Agriculture, Hebron University and Palestinian Children’s Art Center.