Wildlife Taskforce Report

First Draft

Wildlife ProjectDevelopment Guide:

NEWS

December 1999- Rose Heil

List of Acronyms

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose

NEWS

What is the Wildlife Taskforce

Study Goals

Methods

Interviews

Who to contact

Cover letter

Questions

Summary and use of information

Results

Discussion

Target areas for wildlife project development

Promoting awareness

Promoting research

Ranking System

Appendices

Appendix 1. Interviews

Appendix 2. Activities concerning wildlife

Appendix 3. How are projects implemented

Appendix 4. Problems with projects

Appendix 5. How are problems overcome

Appendix 6. Fields of wildlife that need more study

Appendix 7. How can we overcome lack of information

Appendix 8. Problems facing wildlife

Appendix 9.1. Areas of low public understanding

Appendix 9.2. Why people don’t understand

Appendix 10. Areas of wildlife most affected by environmental problems

Appendix 11.1. Public awareness techniques

Appendix 11.2. What works with public awareness

Appendix 11.3. What doesn’t work in public awareness

List of Acronyms and abbreviations

Abstract

The environment is a very important issue in Jordan. The National Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS) was formed in 1996 to address the environmental problems throughout the country. In response to the need to include wildlife in its programs, NEWS formed the Wildlife Taskforce in August 1999.  This taskforce is dedicated to developing wildlife activities and projects, especially in the area of wildlife awareness.  This report follows a recent study done by the taskforce. The study involved doing interviews with people in the environmental sector at universities, government and non-government agencies, research institutes, and funding agencies. The questions asked related to environmental activities and issues at the organization and the person’s own view of environmental problems in Jordan and wildlife needs. The report summarizes the answers from these interviews. From the answers, recommendations from the taskforce on the areas of focus for wildlife programs are given and project characteristics are listed. This will be used as a guide for development of future wildlife projects at NEWS.

نبــــذة

لقد أصبحت البيئة موضوع مهم في الأردن لقد جاءت الجمعية الوطنية  للبيئة والحياة البرية والتي أسست عام 1996 لتساهم في معالجة  المشاكل البيئية في الأردن. و تجاوبا لأدراج عناصر الحياة البرية في برامج الجمعية فقد تم تشكل فريق عمل الحياة البرية في آب 1999 و هذا الفريق اخذ على عاتقة تطوير نشاطات ومشاريع تتعلق بالحياة  البرية خاصة في مجال الوعي للحياة البرية . هذا التقرير جاء نتيجة عمل الفريق و الذي تضمن أجراء مقابلات  مع الناس والمختصين في القطاع البيئي في الجامعات ، والهيئات الحكومية وغير الحكومية ،ومعاهد البحث ووكالات التمويل .ولقد كانت الأسئلة المطروحة تتعلق بالنشاطات والقضايا البيئية والقضايا من وجهة نظر المنظمات والأفراد بخصوص المشاكل البيئية في الأردن وحاجات الحياة البرية . التقرير يلخص الإجابات ويخرج من خلال المقابلات بتوصيات الفريق للتركز على مجالات ومواضيع متخصصة بالحياة البرية ووضعت الخطوط العريضة للبرامج المنبثقة عنها، والتي سوف تكون المرشد والدليل لتطوير ومشاريع الحياة البرية في المستقبل من خلال الجمعية الوطنية للبيئة والحياة البرية.

Introduction

Purpose

This report follows a recent study done by interviewing individuals in various environmental fields. The overall purpose of this document is to provide a guide for project development in the future. The goals of this report are as follows:

• To summarized the interview information.

• From information in the interviews, identify environmental problems and issues, thereby recommending the target areas for wildlife project development for NEWS in the future.

• Provide a ranking system of characteristics to direct project development and grant writing.

NEWS

NEWS stands for the National Environment and Wildlife Society. It was established in 1996 as Friends of Plants Society. An independent, non-profit organization, NEWS is dedicated to addressing wildlife issues and protecting the environment. Though still small and young, the society has over 150 members with diverse backgrounds. The current focus of the society has been the environmental education of journalists through workshops and fieldtrips, and of the general public through evening lectures given on the society grounds in Shmeisani. NEWS is also hosting the Mediterranean Ecological Media Network for Jordan and working on the Environmentally Healthy School Initiative project with WHO/CEHA.

What is the Wildlife Taskforce?

Within NEWS, there exist different committees. The wildlife taskforce was formed at its first meeting on August 1, 1999. Six people attended that meeting. Since then, the team has changed, both adding and losing people. At present there are 8 people on the team. Each has contributed to the present study either by interviews and/or report suggestions. They are:

• Mr. Samir Abdel Jabbar

• Mr. Nimr Adwan

• Mr. Ziyad Alawneh

• Ms. Rose Heil

• Mr. Ibrahim Khader

• Dr. Mohammad Khairy Lubbadeh

• Dr. Khaled Momani

• Mr. Ibrahim Al Zu’bi

The goal of the taskforce is to develop wildlife activities at NEWS. Currently, they are working on developing a wildlife awareness project. This process was started with a needs assessment at the beginning of October. Members of the team went out into the community and conducted interviews with people that work with Jordan’s environment from places like government agencies, private non-governmental organizations, development organizations, funding agencies and universities.

This paper addresses the process outlined above and summarizes the study’s results. A workshop/meeting will follow-up this paper to set up the final ideas for a wildlife awareness project. Then a proposal will be written and funding agencies will be approached.

Study Goals

The study was done with many purposes in mind as follows:

• To gather information on other organizations involved in the environmental sector.

• Buildup relations and foster communication and cooperation between organizations dealing with the environment.

• Assess the needs of wildlife from the environmental sector’s perspective.

• Find out what other organizations are doing in the field of environment/wildlife awareness.

• Get ideas on possible projects for NEWS.

Methods

Interviews

Who to contact

The first thing done for the interviews was to identify whom to speak with. Organizations that dealt with the environment were identified first. Then people from those organizations were contacted from their appropriate apartment and that person was interviewed or was asked to recommend someone from their organization to talk with.

Cover letter

A letter was drafted to send to the person before the interview. It included background on NEWS and what the taskforce was doing and how their input would help. It also included a list of questions to be asked so that the interviewee would be able to think about the questions ahead of time.

Questions

Below are the basic questions that were asked:

1. Name, organization, field of experience (occupation), years of experience:

2. Does your organization have activities concerning wildlife conservation? If so, what?

3. How do you implement these activities (i.e. methodology)?

4. What are the problems in implementing these activities?

5. How do you overcome these problems?

6. What fields of wildlife do you think still need more study?

7. How can we overcome lack of information in these fields?

8. What are the difficulties facing wildlife in Jordan? What are the problems/factors that cause their decline?

9. Of the problems above, where do you feel the public has the least amount of understanding/awareness?

10. What areas of wildlife are being most affected by environmental problems?

11. Do you have public awareness campaigns in your organization? If so, what are the techniques you are using, which of them worked and which didn’t?

Summary and use of information

Information from each question of the interviews was gathered and listed as raw data (Appendices 1 – 11).  Where more than one person answered the same, a “*” marks how many times it was said. This information was then used as the base to come up with recommendations for the target areas of wildlife project development and for the characteristics to look at when developing a project.

Results

A total of 17 interviews were done between 3 October and 7 November. The organizations and people interviewed are as follows (Appendix 1 has contact information):

Applied Sciences University, Architecture – Najla Wajdi Baker

Applied Sciences University, Engineering – Odeh Jayousi

ARA, Marine Peace Park – Sharif Saifi

Badia Research and Development Program – Mohammed Shahbaz

Canada Fund – Reem Aslan

EU – Petra Menander

FOA – Rana Naber

FOE – Heba Jaber

GCEP – Khalaf Aloklah

JES – Mahmoud Al-Omari

JREDS – Ibrahim Al-Zu’bi

MOP – Nadia Juhari

NEF – Qasim Deiri, Philip Griffith

NHF – Nabil Abu Shreehah

UNDP – Iyad Abumoghli

University of Jordan – Abdel Majid Al Tal

US Embassy – Rana Safadi and George Sibley

A little over 1/3 of the interviews (6/17) were done with NGO’s (Figure 1).

Figure 1.  Types of interviews given.

The following is a synopsis of the information given in the interviews, question by question.

Name, organization, field of experience (occupation), years of experience:

There were about an equal number of people that had environmental backgrounds and that did not. Many whose backgrounds were not with the environment did have an environmental emphasis during their education. Years of experience spanned from none to 30+ years, with equal numbers having 5 years and 10 years experience (5 and 5 individuals), and slightly fewer having 15 years, 20 and 25 years experience (3, 3 and 1 individual).

Does your organization have activities concerning wildlife conservation?  If so, what?

All organizations interviewed had wildlife conservation activities. The activities varied from scientific studies, agricultural practices, and awareness programs to marine management, environmental courses, and project funding (Appendix 2).

How do you implement these activities (i.e. methodology)?

Methodology included many different techniques like research, meetings, and teaching. More methods are listed in Appendix 3.

What are the problems in implementing these activities?

Many people answered this question by bringing up the lack and usage of money. Also important issues were communication and interactions between organizations and people be it governmental, local groups or other environmental organizations (Appendix 4). The attitude of people was also an important problem mentioned.

How do you overcome these problems?

The general idea received from this question is that one must follow up the problems and learn to deal with deficiencies as best as possible. Different problems have different solutions (Appendix 5), but to overcome problems like funding and communication, goal setting, perspective and patience were recommended.

What fields of wildlife do you think still need more study?

Species status was the most mentioned subject that needed more study in the field of wildlife. Ecosystems and plants were also stated as important fields. Everything from wetlands to trees was mentioned as needing more study (Appendix 6), and answers to this question varied greatly.

How can we overcome lack of information in these fields?

Though there were answers like research and publishing information, many people thought that the information is already out there (Appendix 7). They suggested that more organizing and sharing was needed to better use information.

What are the difficulties facing wildlife in Jordan?  What are the problems/factors that cause their decline?

Lack of water and urbanization were the most frequent answers to this question. Land use planning, hunting, construction, overgrazing, lack of awareness, and pollution were also common answers. Other factors were also said to affect wildlife (Appendix 8).

Of the problems above, where do you feel the public has the least amount of understanding/awareness?

Public understanding of environmental issues is important to assess so that awareness programs can correctly address their target. The interviews indicated that it is the basic principles, like why and how the public should conserve and how a person can individually relate to the environment, that the public does not understand (Appendix 9.1). Reasons for this lack of understanding differ, but it is apparent from the interviews that the importance of the environment and the conservation of it must be addressed (Appendix 9.2).

What areas of wildlife are being most affected by environmental problems?

Vegetation and the areas near cities were seen as the areas most affected by environmental problems. Trees and birds were also noted to be highly affected (Appendix 10).

Do you have public awareness campaigns in your organization? If so, what are the techniques you are using, which of them worked and which didn’t?

Techniques, from posters and stickers to lectures and the internet, are being used for public awareness campaigns (Appendix 11.1). The techniques used depend on the target audience and involved using a combination of techniques that involved the audience in learning (Appendix 11.2). Handing over information in a non-interactive manner was said to be the least affective method of information transfer (Appendix 11.3).

Discussion

Target areas for wildlife project development

From the information in the interviews, the taskforce has identified two major themes for future activities at NEWS. They are:

• promoting awareness the fields of wildlife conservation and management; and

• promoting research and study in the fields of wildlife conservation and management.

It is recommended that future activities at NEWS follow the below guidelines in one if not in both of the two themes.

Promoting awareness

• Work to increase the connection between the environment and people, i.e. to increase the interest of people towards environmental issues.

• The connection is to be presented in the contexts of collaborative management, participation, and partnership via addressing basic principles of environment with emphasis on critical issues.

• Target people are to represent a wide range of beneficiaries (public, private, local communities).

• Communication between different stakeholders should be enhanced via all available tools: media, workshops, seminars, publications, etc.

• It should be recognized that critical issues of urbanization and land use and management are of the main compelling issues and the least addressed.

Promoting research

• Recognize that there is a lack of information with regards to species status especially plant and vegetation groups and habitats.

• Recognize that there is a need to manage existing data concerning the status of species and habitats.

• Understand that wildlife in areas near cities is the most affected sites.

Ranking System

It is further recommended that a ranking system be used to evaluate and to help in the development of future projects. Each new project chosen at NEWS should have well-developed ideas for each of the following characteristics with priority placed on the first characteristics. These characteristics are listed below along with a brief description and their priority level:

1. Need:  Can be divided into environmental, community…  Does the project show/prove a need?

• Environmental need: How does the project relate to the needs of the environment (environmental need will be partly based on interview results)?

• Community need: How does the project address the needs of the community?

2. Feasibility:  Is the project doable, are the objectives practical?

3. Sustainability:  What are the chances for the continuation of the project after funding support is finished?

4. Objectives:  Does the project have clearly defined objectives?

5. Target Group:  Who is the group being addressed?

6. Money:  How much needed, where from, can a budget be made?

7. Monitoring:  Is project success measurable, and how?

8. Time frame:  How much time needed to receive funds for project, time needed to implement project?

9. Knowledge transference:  Is knowledge being passed, and to whom?

10. Skill transference:  Is a skill being learned?

11. Coordination:  Who will the project involve?

12. Activities: How will the project be implemented?

13. Labor resources: How many people needed, how many jobs and volunteers, level of commitment needed?

14. Space: Where will activities take place, is it sufficient, what additional places are needed?

Appendices

Appendix 1.  Interviews

Appendix 2.  Activities concerning wildlife

• Study and develop plant cover

• Water harvesting

• Marine visitor center

• Multi-use areas (ecotourism)

• Go-between for funders and fundees

• Environmental contests (research, art, projects)

• GEF evaluation

• GLOBE program

• Reserves

• Desertification studies

• Tree planting

• Agriculture

• Water awareness

• Recycling

• Funder of projects

• Energy consumption

• Water conservation programs

• Courses on the environment

• Regional projects (with surrounding countries)

• Support environmental volunteers

• Income generation projects affecting the environment

• Herb gardens

Appendix 3. How are projects implemented

• Research

• Visits

• Studies

• Program development

• Management

• Monitoring

• Modification

• Board meetings

• Fieldtrips

• Lectures

• Papers

• Teaching

• Special days

• Provide guidelines

• Devise guidelines

• Technical assistance

Appendix 4. Problems with projects

• Funding

• Loss of personnel

• Use of staff

• Budget

• Lack of commitment

• Unsustainable

• Money being distributed to the project

• Language

• Lack of goals

• Not serious

• Management of where the funds go

• Data not well organized

• Coordination

• Specialists/expert opinion not there

• Attitudes of people wildlife areas not near the people targeted

• Community-level cooperation

• Access to data

• Internal problems

• Lack of education in some areas

• Conflicts with government

• Weakness in government

• No legal power

• Not finishing in time given

• Equipment problems

• No assistance or support with the project

• No assistance or support from a political point of view

• Communication

• Flow of information

• Tight budget

• Government policy

• Competition

• Standard of living versus environmental concerns

• Lack of cooperation

Appendix 5. How are problems overcome

• Follow up funds

• Translation of materials into Arabic/English

• Measure progress (monitor)

• Set goals

• Small steps

• Peer review

• Cooperation

• Build relations

• Look at problems from a new perspective

• Work on communication

• Lobby

• Join with others

• Use research to backup arguments

• Downscale

• Be flexible

• Learn from own and others mistakes

• Modify programs

Appendix 6. Fields of wildlife that need more study

The number of stars indicates the answer was repeated by more than one interviewee. (E.g. ***=3 people responded with this answer.)

• Species list (i.e. Red Data Book of Jordan) ***

• Ecosystems **

• Plants **

• Small animals (e.g. Rabbit, wolf, gazelle)

• Everything

• Algae, intertidal zone

• Biodiversity

• Indigenous species

• Birds

• Forests and the animals in them

• Wetlands

• Jordan Valley

• Yarmouk

• Desert Ecosystems

• Foxes

• Trees

• Species linked to humans (edibles, medicinal…)

• General public knowledge of the environment

• Ecotourism

Appendix 7. How can we overcome lack of information

• Research

• More sharing

• More coordination

• Make information more readable

• Make information more available

• More funds for publications

• Better documentation of information

• Integrate information better

• Gain new perspectives

• Simplify

• Make information more interesting

• Publish more

• Collect information better

• Distribute better

• More encouragement

• Educate with small things

• Make a network

• Have online information

• Educate at level of target group

• Better and more accessible reserves, trails, environmental centers

• Think regionally

• A book list of basic demographic information

Appendix 8. Problems facing wildlife

The number of stars indicates the answer was repeated by more than one interviewee. (E.g. ****=4 people responded with this answer.)

• Lack of water *****

• Urbanization *****

• Land use planning ****

• Hunting ****

• Building/construction ***

• Lack of awareness ***

• Overgrazing ***

• Pollution ***

• Development **

• No forethought about the environment (no EIA’s) **

• Tourism **

• Policy makers **

• Garbage **

• Conservation sites are far away from the cities **

• Lack of protected areas **

• Deforestation **

• Tradition (certain activities being done the way they’ve always been done) **

• Desertification

• Exotic species

• Lack of importance put on the environment

• Wildlife is considered a luxury

• Links of conservation to everyday life

• Poor care for lands owned

• Agricultural practices

• Lack of environmental laws and the enforcement of ones that do exist

• The taking of land (and resources) for granted

• Lack of land management

• Fragmentation of lands (e.g. of agricultural lands, especially at inheritance)

• Human nature to consume

• Media portrayal of wildlife is sometimes bad

• Misuse of land

• Loss of habitat

• Economic growth

Appendix 9.1. Areas of low public understanding

The number of stars indicates the answer was repeated by more than one interviewee. (E.g. **=2 people responded with this answer.)

• Basic principles **

• Hunting

• Desertification

• How to conserve

• Health and the environment (e.g. pesticide use)

• Why conservation is important

• The connection between the environment and people

• That they (the public) can make an impact

• What is wrong with the environment

• Land use and planning

• Waste disposal

• Water crisis

• Native plants

• Natural resource use

Appendix 9.2. Why people don’t understand

The number of stars indicates the answer was repeated by more than one interviewee. (E.g. **=2 people responded with this answer.)

• Lack of interest **

• No money to spend on the environment **

• Different priorities/needs

• Government is not addressing this subject, lack of environmental knowledge at this level

• No time

• Need to convince people of environmental issues

• Bad experiences from previous environmental projects

• Don’t want to know

• Not intentional, ignorant

• Lack of appreciation for the environment

• Do not think man needs to care for the environment

• No social responsibility

Appendix 10. Areas of wildlife most affected by environmental problems

The number of stars indicates the answer was repeated by more than one interviewee. (E.g. ****=4 people responded with this answer.)

• Vegetation ****

• Areas near cities ****

• Trees **

• Migrant birds (especially at Azraq) **

• Loss of habitat, (that leads to) loss of animals

• All

• In marine environment: dolphins, coral, sharks and turtles

• Endangered plants and animals

• Plants

• Hunted animals in rural areas

• Fish

• Water resources, especially Azraq

• Aqaba palm groves

Appendix 11.1. Public awareness techniques

• School outreach

• Lectures

• One on one

• Stickers

• Public service announcements

• Prevention

• Demonstration

• Posters

• Newsletters

• Internet

• Special days

Appendix 11.2. What works with public awareness

• Local community involvement

• Video, visual aids

• Presenting alternatives to problems

• Fieldtrips

• Something tangible

• Use awareness as part of sustain life

• Remembering who you are talking to

• Incorporating PA into all projects done

• Making it user friendly

• Simply, easy

• Hands on activities

• Discovery

• Combination of techniques

• Doing

• Giving the ability to do something

• Follow awareness with activities

• Quality not quantity

• Follow up, make it sustainable

Appendix 11.3. What doesn’t work in public awareness

• Too much talking

• Just the giving of information (lectures, pamphlets)

• Being told

• Watching