http://www.fao.org/globalsoilpartnership This presentation was made during the NENA Soil Partnership Conference that took place in Amman, Jordan 1-3 June 2015. This presentation was made by Imad Ghanma, and it presents the Status of Soil Resources and Priorities towards Sustainable Soil Management in Palestine. ©FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. NENA Soil Partnership Conference: towards a regional
implementation plan on sustainable management of soil resources
1-3 June 2015, Amman, Jordan
Status of Soil Resources and Priorities towards
Sustainable Soil Management
Challenges, Opportunities, National Policies and Institutional Mechanisms
Imad Ghanma
Director of soil and land classification
State of Palestine

2. 2
500 km2
3350km2
1300km2
506km2
360km2
INTRODUCTION
Land
Classification
according to
ecological
Zones

3. Introduction to Land resources
 The total area of cultivated land is estimated at 1.2 million dunums, or 21% of
the total area of the WBGS, of which 90% is in the West Bank and 10% in the
Gaza Strip.
 81% is rain-fed; the remaining 19 % is irrigated. While rangeland amounts to
2.02 million dunums, the area available for grazing is only 621,000 dunums.
In addition, forests stretch over an area of 94,000 dunums.
 About 62.9% of the arable land is located in Area C; 18.8% in Area B; and
18.3% in Area A.

4. Role and Importance of Agriculture
 Agriculture is not only an economic activity and source of
income, but also a major contributor to the protection of land
from confiscation and settlement, achieving food security, and
provides jobs for 11.5% of the labour force, of which women
constitute 23.7%, contributing to 5.6% of GDP and 21% of total
exports

5. Soil Associations in Palestine
2413
1482
38
276
4675971
114
127
73
52
209
96
241
189
14
34
Terra rossa
Brown Rendzinas and Pale Renzinas
Pale Rendzinas
Grumusols
Brown Lithosols and Loessial Arid Brown Soils
Solonchaks
Loessial Serozems
Sandy Regosols and Arid Brown
Sand Dunes
Regosols
Dark Brown Soils
Calcareous Serozems
Loessial Arid Brown Soil
Alluvial Arid Brown Soils
Brown Lithosols and Loessial Serozems
Bare Rocks and Desert Lithosols
Reg Soils and Coarse Desert Alluvium
Soils of Palestine

6. WRB SOIL CLASSIFICATION MAP

7.  Land classification based on the
agricultural potential of the land
depends mainly on soil type or soil
classification. Soil type and
classification are related to soil
parent material, land topography
and climate. Topography plays an
important role in the soil formation
and development process.
LAND CLASSIFICATION BASED ON THE
POTENTIALS (VALUES)

8.  Grade 1 lands (Lands with high agricultural, environmental values): These
lands include those with low slopes (up to 5%), minimal rock outcrops, deep
soil.
 Grade 2 lands (Lands with moderate value): These lands are used in rain fed
agriculture; these lands suffer from erosion in addition to spatial and
temporal fluctuations of rainfall.
 Grade 3 lands (Lands with low value): These lands require land reclamation to
be used for agriculture. They are mostly used for grazing.


9. Land cover land Use
The current available land cover
land use map is refer to 2006.
Now the MoA is updating land
cover land use map according to
corine system level 4 using
satellite image 2014

10. 1) Restrictions imposed by the occupation through confiscation and closure
of agricultural land.
2) The establishment of the apartheid wall which isolate large areas of
agricultural land behind .
3) High competition for land and water with other sectors.
4) Land and soil erosion.
5) Increase the phenomenon of soil salinization .
6) Decline in biodiversity.
7) The weakness of the laws relating to the implementation of land
management.
THE OBSTACLES FACE DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
OF LAND RESOURCES

11. 8) Lack of decision-support tools and the necessary planning for the sound
management of land systems
9) Land fragmentation as result of heritage law .
10) Absence of Soil data base and comprehensive Soil information system.
11) Poor coordination between the competent authorities to the agricultural
sector.
12) Impact of climate change and drought.
13) Lack of scientific research related to soil and irrigation management.
THE OBSTACLES FACE DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY OF LAND
RESOURCES

13. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOILAND LAND USE
PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
1) There is a need to develop a comprehensive land information system
including data collection, continuous monitoring, verification of data and
information regarding land use, land degradation and land classification.
2) Human resources development and institutional capacity building are
highly needed regarding land use and land degradation.
3) There is a need to develop comprehensive and integrated national plans and
policies for land development.
4) Inter-sectorial planning should be encouraged to reduce degradation and
improve land productivity especially in rainfed agricultural lands.

14. 5) Improving the coordination among governmental, non-governmental and
international institutions is essential in all activities related to land use and
management.
6) The role of local universities and research institutions should be enhanced
and coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture.
8) Public awareness towards women’s legal rights in owning and managing
land should be encouraged. Gender equality should stay on the agenda for
all land development activities.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOILAND LAND USE
PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

15. 10) The perception towards land degradation should become more
quantitative than qualitative.
11) Need to adopt good governance approaches in land use planning and
management including transparency and decentralization options.
12) The issue on how to make land development and land use planning
more attractive to funding sources should be addressed.
13) Sustainable land management practices should be emphasized and
encouraged.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOILAND LAND USE
PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

16. 1) The importance and needs for soil and land classification and
evaluation for developing the agricultural sector in Palestine.
2) The importance and needs for building a comprehensive
Geographical Soil Information System for developing the
agricultural sector in Palestine.
3) Recommendations for the best and applicable methods for soil
and land classification and link it to the development of
agriculture in Palestine.
4) An implementation plan for Nationwide Agricultural Land
evaluation program.
SPECIFIC OUTPUTS OF NEEDED CONSULTANT

17. 5) Recommendations for the future setup of Agricultural Land
development and management.
6) Recommendations for developing, strengthening and upgrading
the human resources in the GDAL and other NGO’s in the field of
Agricultural Land development.
7) Define and sorting the necessary studies and applied projects to
help in soil and land management and preservation, in addition to
upgrading soil and land resources
SPECIFIC OUTPUTS OF NEEDED CONSULTANT

18. Thanks for Listening