Volume No. 3, December 2016

The Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) are areas of high but threatened biodiversity. Since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, there have been increased resources devoted to capacity building and to develop nature protection systems highlighted by the introduction of the Palestinian Environmental Law 1999. One of the mandates of this law is to protect specific areas of high biodiversity and this gained even more importance with Palestine signing the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Wadi Al-Quff (WAQ) region between Tarqumiya and Beit Kahil in the occupied Palestinian territories is an area of special attention as the first Palestinian administered nature reserve and the first one to receive detailed work to generate a management plan. As part of this work we report in these series of papers surveys on the flora and fauna. A significantly rich fauna and flora is noted but is facing a number of threats, with habitat fragmentation and destruction being the most significant. This survey recorded a rich fauna with more than 89 species of birds, 19 species of mammals, 21 reptiles, three amphibians, over 250 identified invertebrates, and over 230 species of plants, despite habitat degradation and limited sampling (time, resource limitations). As a result of our analysis we made four urgent recommendations and six less urgent but highly needed recommendations for biodiversity conservation of WAQ. Urgent recommendations include: 1) Cull/remove feral dogs, 2) Block roads and/or limit access in some areas of WAQ, 3) Discuss with farmers and others stake holders protection measures and limits on activities near or in the park, 4) Prevent fires. The longer-term recommendations are: 1) Monitoring and preventing unlawful activities, 2) Develop sustainable use of some areas, 3) Ameliorate habitat fragmentation and destruction, 4) Work to end the Israeli occupation and empower and educate local people, 5) Address climate change, and 6) Develop an environmental educational center in the protected area

Birds of Wadi Al-Quff protected area (WQPA) were studied during the spring season of 2014. A total of 89 species of birds were recorded. Thirty species were found to breed within the protected area (24 resident and 6 summer breeders), while the others were migratory. Three species of raptors (Long legged Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle and the Hobby) were found to breed within man-made afforested area, nesting on pine and cypress trees. Within the Mediterranean woodland patches, several bird species were found nesting such as Cretzschmar's Bunting, Syrian Woodpecker, Sardinian Warbler and Wren. Thirteen species of migratory soaring birds were recorded passing over WQPA, two of them (Egyptian Vulture and Palled Harrier) are listed by the IUCN as endangered and near threatened, respectively. In addition, several migratory soaring birds were found to use the site as a roosting area, mainly at pine trees.

A survey on the vertebrates of Wadi Al-Quff Protected Area (WAQPA) was conducted as part of a management plan preparation. Nineteen mammal species were recorded and all but one (Marbled Polecat, Vormela peregusna listed as vulnerable species) are of “least concern” by the IUCN. The pipistelle bat Pipistrellus pipistrellus was a notable finding as its most southern range of distribution so far in Palestine. Three amphibians were recorded. Among 21 reptile species recorded, three species of geckos were noted including Kotschy's Gecko, Mediodactylys (Cyrtodactylus) kotschyi, representing the southern most record for this species. Other reptiles recorded include the starred agama Stellagama stellio (most common reptile in WAQPA), seven species of lizards, and seven species of snakes. The Spur-thighed Tortoise (Tesudo graeca) and Gunther’s Skink (Chalcides guntheri) are considered vulnerable species according to the IUCN Red List

We report results of a preliminary survey of the invertebrate fauna of Wadi Al-Quff area (occupied Palestine). We recorded 23 species of butterflies in 5 families. Moths were a difficult group to classify but we have at least 45 species. Dragon flies and damsel flies were noted in the Wadi Hasaka area. Four mantids in three families, two species of stick insects, one earwig species (Dermeptera) and at least seven species of Orthoptera were noted. There were at least 13 species of Hemiptera (true bugs) and 5 species of Neuroptera (netwing insects). We noted at least 13 species in ten families of the Order Diptera (the flies). We also collected/observed at least 17 species of Hymenoptera in eight families. In the Order Blattoidae (roaches), we noted two species only but the Order Coleoptera (Beetles) was very richly represented with at least 23 species in 10 families. Among parasitic arthropods we collected two species of fleas and three species of ticks (Ixodidae), one of the latter involved in transmittal of spotted fever. Five species of scorpions were noted, the largest being the Jericho or Mt. Nebo scorpion Nebo hierichonticus and the smallest being the brown scorpion Compsubuthus werneri. Two species of pseudoscorpions and two species of camel spiders were collected. A more difficult group was the regular spiders (Araneae) and we noted over two dozen species in at least 8 families. We have some specimens of Collembola and of small spiders that likely represent new taxa. Five Chilopod species (centipedes), one woodlouse (Isopoda), and the very common Syrian Millipede (Order Diplopoda) round the arthropods (joint legged animals). Two species of earthworms were identified but others likely occur. A significant biodiversity of molluscs (snails and one slug) was noted with at least 13 species. While this was a preliminary work on invertebrates and much more remains to be done in alpha level taxonomy, the report adds to the ones in this series identifying fauna and flora and emphasizes the need for implementing the management plan for WAQ nature reserve.