Landscape change in some villages in Ramallah governorate

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Contents 1. Abstract ............................................................................................................................................... 5 2. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 5 2.1 Research problem .......................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Literature Review........................................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Research question ......................................................................................................................... 7 2.4 Objectives ...................................................................................................................................... 7 3. Location and Boundaries of the Site Study ........................................................................................... 8 4. Photos in the study area ...................................................................................................................... 9 4. Photos in the study area .................................................................................................................... 10 5. Methodology: .................................................................................................................................... 11 6. Physical Landscape Change ................................................................................................................ 12 6.1 Results – The Overlay Map ........................................................................................................ 12 6.2 Results of GIS analysis: ................................................................................................................. 13 6.3 Landscape composition:............................................................................................................... 14 7.2.1 Scrub Area ............................................................................................................................ 14 7.2.2 Arable Land ........................................................................................................................... 15 7.2.4 Palestinian Residential Area .................................................................................................. 15 7.2.5 Israeli Settlements ................................................................................................................ 15 7.2.6 Industrial Area ...................................................................................................................... 16 7.2.7 Dumping Area ....................................................................................................................... 16 7.2.8 Construction Area ................................................................................................................. 16 7.2.9 Natural Corridors .................................................................................................................. 16 7.3 Landscape Structure .................................................................................................................... 17 8. Discussion and Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 21 9 References ......................................................................................................................................... 23

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LIST OF TABLES TABLE (1): LANDSCAPE CLASSES MODIFIED FROM CORINE CLASSIFICATION. ............................................................................ 11 TABLE (3): CLASS LEVEL METRICS ANALYSIS DURING THE YEARS 1997 AND 2019. .................................................................... 19 TABLE (2): CHANGE IN AREAS DURING THE YEARS 1997 AND 2019. ..................................................................................... 19 TABLE (4): TRANSITION MATRIX SHOWS AREAS IN HECTARE (1 HA = 10,000 M2) OF GAINS AND LOSSES FOR EACH LANDSCAPE CLASS INTO ANOTHER BETWEEN THE YEARS 1997 AND 2019. ..................................................................................................... 20 TABLE (5): TRANSITION MATRIX SHOWS AREAS RATIO IN HECTARE (1 HA = 10,000 M2) OF GAINS AND LOSSES FOR EACH LANDSCAPE CLASS INTO ANOTHER BETWEEN THE YEARS 1997 AND 2019. .............................................................................................. 20

LIST OF MAPS MAP (1): RAMALLAH LOCATION ..................................................................................................................................... 5 MAP (2): SITE LOCATION .............................................................................................................................................. 8 MAP (3): ABC CLASSIFICATION ...................................................................................................................................... 8 MAP (17): PERMANENT AGRICULTURE – OVERLAY ............................................................................................................ 13 MAP (16): ARABLE LAND OVERLAY ................................................................................................................................ 13 MAP (15): ISRAELI SETTLEMENT-OVERLAY ....................................................................................................................... 13 MAP (14): PALESTINIAN BUILT-UP ................................................................................................................................ 13 MAP (19): STREETS-OVERLAY ...................................................................................................................................... 13 MAP (18): NATURAL AREAS- OVERLAY ........................................................................................................................... 13

LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE (1): PERCENTAGE OF AREAS OF LANDSCAPE CLASSES IN THE YEARS 1997 AND 2019. ...................................................... 14 FIGURE (2): NUMBER OF PATCHES OF THE LANDSCAPE CLASSES IN THE YEAR 1997 AND 2019 ...................................................... 17 FIGURE (4): PATCH DENSITIES CHART OF LANDSCAPE CLASSES IN THE YEARS 1997 AND 2019. ..................................................... 18 FIGURE (3): MEAN PATCH SIZE CHART OF LANDSCAPE CLASSES IN THE YEARS 1997 AND 2019 ..................................................... 18 FIGURE 5(B): AERIAL PHOTO, AL MAZRA'A AL SHARQIY 2019. ............................................................................................ 22 FIGURE 5(A): AERIAL PHOTO, AL MAZRA'A AL SHARQIYA, 1997 .......................................................................................... 22

LIST OF CHARTS CHART (1): SCRUB AREA IN THE YEARS 1997 AND 2019 .................................................................................................... 14 CHART (2): ARABLE LAND AREA IN THE YEARS 1997 AND 2019. ........................................................................................... 15 CHART (3): PERMANENT AGRICULTURAL TREES AREA IN THE YEARS 1997 AND 2019. ................................................................ 15 CHART (4): PALESTINIAN RESIDENTIAL AREA IN THE YEARS 1997 AND 2019. .......................................................................... 15 CHART (5): ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS AREA IN THE YEARS 1997 AND 2019. ................................................................................. 15 CHART (6): INDUSTRIAL AREA IN THE YEARS 1997 AND 2019. ............................................................................................. 16 CHART (7): DUMPING AREA IN THE YEARS 1997 AND 2019. ............................................................................................... 16 CHART (8): CONSTRUCTION AREA IN THE YEARS 1997 AND 2019 ......................................................................................... 16 CHART (9): NATURAL CORRIDORS AREA IN THE YEARS 1997 AND 2019. ................................................................................. 16 CHART (11): GREEN HOUSES AREA IN THE YEARS 1997 AND 2019 ....................................................................................... 21 CHART (10): PASTURE AREA IN THE YEARS 1997 AND 2019 ................................................................................................ 21

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LIST OF PHOTOS PHOTO (1): DEIR DIBWAN ............................................................................................................................................ 7 PHOTO (10): EIN YABROUD .......................................................................................................................................... 9 PHOTO (9): ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS ................................................................................................................................... 9 PHOTO (8): YABROUD .................................................................................................................................................. 9 PHOTO (7): DEIR DIBWAN ............................................................................................................................................ 9 PHOTO (5): BEITIN ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 PHOTO (6): EIN YABROUD ............................................................................................................................................ 9 PHOTO (11): DEIR DIBWAN .......................................................................................................................................... 9 PHOTO (12): BURQA ................................................................................................................................................... 9 PHOTO (13): EIN YABROUD .......................................................................................................................................... 9 PHOTO (3): AL MAZRA'A AL SHARQIYA ............................................................................................................................ 9 PHOTO (4): SILWAD .................................................................................................................................................... 9 PHOTO (2): BURQA ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 PHOTO (19): BURQA VIEW .......................................................................................................................................... 10 PHOTO (22): EIN YABROUD SCRUB AREA ........................................................................................................................ 10 PHOTO (20): BEITIN AGRICULTURAL TREES ...................................................................................................................... 10 PHOTO (21): AL-MAZRAA AL SHARRQIYA VIEW ............................................................................................................... 10 PHOTO (17): OLIVE TREE IN EIN YABROOD ...................................................................................................................... 10 PHOTO (18): BURQA ................................................................................................................................................. 10 PHOTO (15): BURQA – OLD CITY................................................................................................................................... 10 PHOTO (14): NATURAL FEATURES IN EIN YABROOD ........................................................................................................... 10 PHOTO (16): EIN YABROUD ARABLE LAND ...................................................................................................................... 10 PHOTO (23): BEITIN HISTORICAL BUILDING ...................................................................................................................... 10 PHOTO (24): DEIR DIBWAN VALLEY ............................................................................................................................... 10 PHOTO (25): DEIR DIBWAN BUILT UP ............................................................................................................................ 10

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1. Abstract The Palestinian landscape has always been facing dynamic processes of landscape change. This research discusses the change in Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate, it studies the change in a group of villages in Ramallah and Al-Bireh city, by analyzing two aerial photographs from two periods 1997 and 2019, to achieve the objective of the study which is investigating the major causes of the change in the actual natural landscape by creating land cover maps which shows the change of different landscape classes in the city. This was achieved by studying the actual physical changes using aerial photography and GIS (ArcMap 10.5). The results show that permanent agriculture trees increased the most, while the scrub area decreased between the two years. And the change and fragmentation were mainly influenced by political, social, and economic conditions. This change, due to the occupation policies, is a reflection of many indicators, including population growth, migration, and an economic increase in the construction sector.

Key words: landscape change, GIS, maps, Ramallah and Al-Bireh Villages, matrix, patches.

2. Introduction The Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate is one of the largest governorates in Palestine with a total area of 85 775 ha (about 15% of the total area of the West Bank) (PCBS, 2016) (Map 1). It is a central location, as a result, Ramallah city houses the headquarters of many organizations and companies (Ramallah Municipality, 2015). Since the Oslo Agreements I and II in 1993 and 1995 respectively, Ramallah has become the temporary center for the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), and hence, the political, financial, and cultural center of the West Bank. This article shows how the landscape of Ramallah city is affected by this socio-political shift.

Ramallah governorate have been changing rapidly, due to the urbanization norm, this gives a priority in studying landscape change and how it affects the ecosystem. Through landscape ecology history, there’s three major elements of landscape ecology which are structure, function and change which are defined as following: function is how organisms and species are moving space change is the noticed turn over in landscape and structure which is the heterogeneous structure such like organisms. In addition, structure includes three components that form the landscape which patches, corridors and matrix. This research investigates the change in landscape structure through these components. (S. Nazer et al., 2019) Map (1): Ramallah Location Source: Researchers, 2020

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2.1 Research problem This research looks at landscape changes in Ramallah governorate in general, and especially in seven villages in the east of Ramallah, they are: Al-Mazraa Alsharqiya, Silwad, Yabroud, Ein Yabroud, Beitien, Burqa, and Dir Dibwan. And compares these changes between two years 1997 and 2019. The research addresses the landscape types that are found in the chosen areas, which can be divided into six main categories; built up areas, agricultural lands, natural areas, forests, natural corridors, and water bodies.

The landscape is looked upon as a physical entity that comprehends tangible and measurable evidence of change. This paper focuses on tracing the actual physical change in the landscapes over 1997 and 2019, in which its studies landscape elements and their characteristics and compare these changes. In other words, the study investigates the landscape’s development, and measures this development in terms of land cover, as evinced in changes on maps and diagrams.

2.2 Literature Review It is known that landscapes can never be constant, it changes over time and this can be clearly seen when one compares old Ariel photos with new ones. Change is the only constant. What we grew up with and remember from childhood is changed beyond recognition because of developments, changes in land use, removal of features and other changes. As a result, new landscapes are constantly created.

In our research, we discussed a range of literature studies that talked about landscape change over different periods of time to understand the quantitative amount of change, the quality of change, and the reasons behind it; whether on local level or global scale including: (Nikodemus et al., 2005), (S. W. Nazer, 2008), (Ayad, 2005), (Hilal & El-sakka, 2015).

One of the main examples that introduced such approach is: The impact of economic, social and political factors on the landscape structure of the Vidzeme Uplands in Latvia (Nikodemus et al., 2005), using a mixed methodology concentrating on GIS spatial analysis, the social, economic, and environmental aspects were studied in detail at a particular place and time in order to better understand the influence of land use changes on terrestrial ecosystems and to predict the impact of future land use changes. The article reached to results from the land use change and social surveys, leading to that human factors have played the main role in the continuing development of the landscape structure. It is not fertility or other natural conditions that now determine land use but demographics and ownership patterns. We benefited from this article by knowing the direct connection between land use change and landscape change.

(Nikodemus et al., 2005) In a study by Al-Nazer, 2008 "Choros Hortos: change, perception and meaning: Artas Valley/Palestine“.

Wadi Artas was taken as a study area for a research of changes in the scene in two periods (1970 and 2004) and the relation of humans to this change in terms of their response to the change and their perceptions about it and their participation or influence in it, The research methodology was by using the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in analyzing the aerial photographs of the two periods, with the main database in the program relying on the CORINE classification, and interviews were conducted with the population to know their awareness of the changes that occurred in the region and their opinion about these changes and the results provide that the perception of landscape change echo actual physical change in some cases and they defer substantially in others. A comprehensive methodology was used, in 6

particular using the Geographic Information Systems Program with CORINE classification, and the use of the historical and descriptive approach used to know the change and the amount of this change, the use of analytical and inductive approach in reaching information, conclusions and analyzing the results from the maps. (S. W. Nazer, 2008) Similar studies were conducted in the Middle East. For example, a study in the coastal area of Egypt, in 2005 evaluated the visual changes of the landscape using GIS (Ayad, 2005). The objective was to examine how GIS analysis can be used to measure the change in visual quality by assessing the changes between a period characterized by a vernacular, and by measuring the degree of naturalness between the two years 1950 and 1990, it was found that the magnitude of change was dramatic.

According to (Hilal & El-sakka, 2015), in Palestine, some researchers and organizations have started addressing the issue of landscape change through various publications and recommendations. For example the applied research institute (ARIJ, 2014) argued that the fragile Palestinian environment has been facing a lot of pressures because of the Palestinian practices on one hand, and from the practices of the Israeli Occupation on the other hand, which directly had an influence in the Palestinian environmental features (ARIJ, 2014). The same research included that the main reasons behind this landscape change are poor management, unsustainable practices, and restrictions on the available resources. In 2015, a research led by the Centre for Development Studies at Birzeit University described in the urban fabric of Ramallah the rapid change, transforming the landscape of the city into multi-apartment and multi-storey buildings constructed for commercial use. (Hilal & El-sakka, 2015) Moreover, (S. W. Nazer, 2008) studied the landscape change in Artas Valley in Palestine; the research revealed that the main change was a decrease in the scrub areas and open tree plantation, and an increase in the built-up area. It also showed that the change was connected with different factors related to people’s needs, population growth, and economic, social, cultural, and political needs. (S. W. Nazer, 2008)

2.3 Research question The main research questions of this study are:  What are the changes that happened during 1997 and 2019?  How these changes affected the landscape elements?  What are the gains and losses for each landscape classes?  Why did these changes happen?

2.4 Objectives To investigate the landscape changes in Ramallah governorate and some of the villages over time, especially in 1997 and 2019.

Photo (1): Deir Dibwan Source: Google photos

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3. Location and Boundaries of the Site Study Our study area is strategically located in Ramallah governorate, has an area of 12836.5 hectares. It is inhabited by 22,727 Palestinians distributed over 7 geographical locations. (PCBS, 2019) This study examines the change of scenery in the Ramallah and Al-Bireh governorate. The study area includes a group of communities, which are Al Mazra'a Al Sharqiya, Silwad, Yabroud, Ein Yabroud, Beitin, Burqa and Deir Dibwan as shown in map (2). The climate of Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate is characterized by a moderate climate (hot and warm in summer, rainy in winter), and the study area is characterized by many agricultural activities and crops, including fruit and forestry trees, but the greater spread of olive trees, which occupy the largest area among fruit trees.

The political, social and economic context obtained under the occupation must be considered. During the 1948 war, Israeli occupation confiscated over 73% of the Palestinian lands. Then the armistice line (the green line) was established which separated the occupied land from the rest of the Palestinian lands.

In 1994, the second Oslo Agreement was signed between the Palestinian and the Israeli occupation authorities, which resulted in a redefinition of the West Bank lands and divided it to three areas (Areas A is under Palestinian control, Area B is under Palestinian civil control and both Palestinian and Israeli security control, areas C is fully under Israeli control), both areas A and B make up 39% of the west bank, area C makes up 61% of the west bank as shown in map (3). (S. Nazer et al., 2019)

ABC classification

Map (2): Site Location Source: Researchers

Map (3): ABC classification Source: Researchers

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4. Photos in the study area

Photo (2): Burqa Source: Google photos, 2015

Photo (5): Beitin Source: Google photos, 2018

Photo (8): Yabroud Source: Google photos, 2019

Photo (11): Deir Dibwan Source: Google photos, 2015

Photo (3): Al Mazra'a Al Sharqiya Source: Google photos, 2016

Photo (4): Silwad Source: Google photos, 2018

Photo (6): Ein Yabroud Source: Researchers,2020

Photo (7): Deir Dibwan Source: Google photos, 2015

Photo (9): Israeli settlements Source: Google photos, 2019

Photo (10): Ein Yabroud Source: Researchers, 2020

Photo (12): Burqa Source: Google photos, 2018

Photo (13): Ein Yabroud Source: Researchers, 2020

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4. Photos in the study area

Photo (14): Natural features in Ein Yabrood Source: Researchers,2020

Photo (17): Olive tree in Ein Yabrood Source: Researchers,2020

Photo (20): Beitin agricultural trees Source: Researchers,2020

Photo (23): Beitin historical building Source: Google photos, 2015

Photo (15): Burqa – old city Source: Google photos, 2016

Photo (18): Burqa Source: Google photos, 2015

Photo (21): Al-Mazraa Al Sharrqiya view Source: Researchers,2020

Photo (24): Deir Dibwan valley Source: Google photos, 2018

Photo (16): Ein yabroud Arable Land Source: Researchers,2020

Photo (19): Burqa view Source: Google photos, 2015

Photo (22): Ein Yabroud scrub area Source: Researchers, 2020

Photo (25): Deir Dibwan built up Source: Researchers, 2020

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5. Methodology: After determining the location of the site, a literature review was done for a better understanding of the landscape in general and especially the landscape classes (the terms of matrix and patches). After that, visiting the site was needed to understand the landscape characteristics that are found in the site, also to understand the types of land-cover there. And according to that the CORINE Classification System was adopted; to investigate the actual physical changes. Based on this, a land-use database was created to provide information on the status of the landscape.

The CORINE classification was customized to fit the nature of the study area. Land uses were classified into four categories. As shown in table (1).

The landscape condition, which represents the land use type system, for which it is important to obtain data dating back to a variable time to track the different characteristics of the landscapes in the study area and the apparent changes between these years, as the data and maps were collected from the GeoMolg and the ministry of local government, for the site; for the years 1997 and 2019.

And these photos were used for the Data Analysis phase, in which GIS was used for digitizing these photos, then measuring areas of change in the landscape classes, its size and number, and then there was an overlay between the landscape classes for the two years, and that was used for the last phase; which is the calculation phase. In the calculation phase, some diagrams show visually the changes that happened to the landscape classes and also the losses and gains that happened for each landscape class and were shown in a matrix as shown in table (4).

Data Collection GeoMolg, Arial photos, the ministry of local government and Corine Classification

Site Visits

Interviewing

Literature Review Researches and articles

Data Analysis Digitizing using GIS, Overlaying between 1997 & 2019

Calculations

Areas, Patches (Number, Mean size & Density), Loss and gains, Matrix

Table (1): Landscape Classes modified from Corine Classification. Source: (S. Nazer et al., 2019)

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6. Physical Landscape Change 6.1 Results – The Overlay Map

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6.2 Results of GIS analysis: As previously mentioned, GIS was used to show the changes that happened between 1997 and 2019 for each class and as shown in the overlay maps below, to help us identify the gain and loss leading us to analyze such results through the transition matrix.

Map (14): Palestinian builtup Source: Researchers, 2020

Map (15): Israeli settlement-overlay Source: Researchers, 2020

Map (16): Arable land overlay Source: Researchers, 2020

Map (17): Permanent agriculture – overlay Source: Researchers, 2020

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Map (19): Streets-overlay Source: Researchers, 2020

6.3 Landscape composition: In the year 1997, the dominant class was the scrub area. Relying on Forman and Gordon’s definition of the matrix as the dominant class as well as the most extensive and most connected element (Dramstad W. E. et al., 1996; Forman R. and Godron M., 1986), the scrub area in the chosen site was 71.3% regarded as the matrix, within which patches of other landscape classes could be found.

In the year 2019, the main increase in the areas were found in the permanent agriculture trees, while the main decrease was in scrub area and arable land. The scrub area decreased by 4.68%; changing from 9151.85 hectares in 1997 8550.82 hectares in 2019.

7.2.1 Scrub Area Most of the decrease (loss) in the scrub area as shown in chart (1) has been converted to Palestinian residential area & roads, Israeli settlement, dumping area, industrial area, construction area, arable land, permanent agricultural trees, pasture area, greenhouses and natural corridors. Despite this decrease, scrub area continues to be considered as the matrix.

However, at the same time, it took (gain) from the dumping area, industrial area, construction area, Permanent Agricultural Trees, arable land and natural corridors. (Return to table 2 and figure 1) .

Chart (1): Scrub area in the years 1997 and 2019 Source: Researchers, 2020

Figure (1): Percentage of Areas of Landscape classes in the years 1997 and 2019. Source: Researchers, 2020

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7.2.2 Arable Land Another decrease in area was found in arable land as shown in chart (2); it was decreased by 2.78%; changing from 1605.999 hectares in 1997 to 1249.52 hectares in 2019.

Most of the decrease (loss) in the arable land has been converted to Palestinian residential area & roads, dumping area, industrial area, construction area, permanent agricultural trees, greenhouses, scrub area and natural corridors. However, at the same time, it took (gain) from the dumping area, industrial area, construction area, permanent agricultural trees, scrub area and natural corridors. That was according to the loss that has occurred between the two years 1997 & 2019, but due to the gain it was mainly found in the permanent agricultural trees, it increase by 3.2%; changing from 1359.25 hectares in 1997 to 1772.60 hectares in 2019.

Chart (2): Arable land area in the years 1997 and 2019. Source: Researchers, 2020

7.2.3 Permanent Agriculture Trees The decrease (loss) in the permanent agriculture trees as shown in chart (3) has been converted to Palestinian residential area & roads, dumping area, industrial area, construction area, greenhouses, arable land and scrub area. However, at the same time, it took (gain) from the dumping area, industrial area, construction area, arable land, natural corridors and scrub area.

Chart (3): Permanent agricultural trees area in the years 1997 and 2019.

Source: Researchers, 2020

7.2.4 Palestinian Residential Area The Palestinian residential area as shown in chart (4) has expanded dramatically 311.48 hectares in 1997 to 516.24 hectares in 2019. Most of the increase (gain) in the Palestinian residential area has been converted from dumping area, industrial area, construction area, permanent agricultural trees, scrub area, arable land and natural corridors.

7.2.5 Israeli Settlements The Israeli settlements as shown in chart (5) has expanded dramatically from 155.23 hectares in 1997 to 306.40 hectares in 2019. Most of the increase (gain) in the Israeli settlements has been converted from dumping area, industrial area and scrub area.

Chart (4): Palestinian Residential Area in the years 1997 and 2019.

Source: Researchers, 2020

Chart (5): Israeli settlements area in the years 1997 and 2019.

Source: Researchers, 2020

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7.2.6 Industrial Area The area convert by industrial area as shown in chart (6) has increased from 3.92 hectares in 1997 to 26.07 hectares in 2019. Most of the decrease (loss) in the industrial area has been converted to Palestinian residential area & roads, Israeli settlements, permanent agricultural trees, scrub area and arable land. However, at the same time, it took (gain) from construction area, permanent agricultural trees, scrub area and arable land.

Chart (6): Industrial area in the years 1997 and 2019. Source: Researchers, 2020

7.2.7 Dumping Area The area convert by dumping area as shown in chart (7) has increased from 0.22% 28.50 hectares in 1997 to 64.95 hectares in 2019. Most of the decrease (loss) in the dumping area has been converted to Palestinian residential area & roads, Israeli settlements, permanent agricultural trees, scrub area and arable land. But at the same time, it took (gain) from construction area, permanent agricultural trees, scrub area and arable land.

Chart (7): Dumping area in the years 1997 and 2019.

Source: Researchers, 2020

7.2.8 Construction Area The area convert by construction area as shown in chart (8) has increased from 3.64 hectares in 1997 to 13.42 hectares in 2019. Most of the decrease (loss) in the construction area has been converted to Palestinian residential area & roads, dumping area, industrial area, permanent agricultural trees, scrub area and arable land. But at the same time, it took (gain) from permanent agricultural trees, scrub area and arable land.

7.2.9 Natural Corridors

Chart (8): Construction area in the years 1997 and 2019. Source: Researchers, 2020

The area convert by natural corridors as shown in chart (9) has increased from 0.06% of the total area in 1997 (7.32 hectares) to 0.13% (16.32 hectares) in 2019. Most of the decrease (loss) in the natural corridors has been converted to Palestinian residential area & roads, permanent agricultural trees, scrub area and arable land. But at the same time, it took (gain) from scrub area and arable land.

Chart (9): Natural corridors area in the years 1997 and 2019. Source: Researchers, 2020

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7.3 Landscape Structure The functional changes caused by human activities have affected the structural landscape pattern. The main elements that form the structural landscape pattern are matrix, corridor, and patches (Dramstad W. E. et al., 1996; Forman R. and Godron M., 1986). Studying the changes in the NP, PD, and MPS metrics (Table 3), in relation to the change of the areas between the studied years, show noticeable fragmentation in the Palestinian built-up area class; its NP increased from 700 in 1997 to 1588 in 2019 and the PD increased from 224.73 patch/ha in 1997 to 307.61 patch/ha in 2019, and its MPS decreased from 0.455 in 1997 to 0.325 ha in 2019. The NP of the permanent agricultural trees increased from 234 in 1997 to 856 in 2019, its PD increased from 17.22 in 1997 to 48.3 patch/ha in 2019, and its MPS decreased from 0.00 in 1997 to 2.071 ha in 2019. Similarly, in the scrub area class; its NP increased from 269 in 1997 to 659 in 2019 and the PD increased from 2.94 patch/ha in 1997 to 7.7 patch/ha in 2019, and its MPS decreased from 2.44 in 1997 to 12.98 ha in 2019. And all other classes the NP and PD have increased, but for the MPS some classes have decreased such as Palestinian residential areas, Israeli settlements, dumping areas, industrial areas, construction areas, and greenhouses as shown in the figures.

Figure (2): Number of patches of the landscape classes in the year 1997 and 2019 . Source: Researchers, 2020

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Figure (3): Mean patch size chart of landscape classes in the years 1997 and 2019. Source: Researchers, 2020

Figure (4): Patch Densities chart of landscape classes in the years 1997 and 2019. Source: Researchers, 2020

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Table (2): Change in Areas during the years 1997 and 2019. Source: Researchers, 2020

Table (3): Class level metrics analysis during the years 1997 and 2019. Source: Researchers, 2020

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Table (4): Transition matrix shows areas in Hectare (1 ha = 10,000 m2) of gains and losses for each landscape class into another between the years 1997 and 2019.

Table (5): Transition matrix shows areas ratio in Hectare (1 ha = 10,000 m2) of gains and losses for each landscape class into anot her between the years 1997 and 2019.

Legend: The yellow squares show which area remained unchanged in each class.

The blue squares indicate classes that decreased a lot in area.

The red is the class showing the greatest increase.

The light green are the new landscape classes that did not exist in 1997 .

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8. Discussion and Conclusion The most important and largest change seems to be in the Permanent agricultural trees (increase), Palestinian residential area (increase), Israeli settlement (increase), dumping area (increase), arable land (decrease), scrub area (decrease), pasture area and greenhouse (appeared) as shown in chart (10) and (11). The change in other classes was in decreasing or increasing by a small percentage of the whole area.

The factors which led to the previously discussed land-use change are believed to include unplanned population growth and urbanization, economic, and social factors. However, such factors are connected to the cultural, social, and economic demographics of Palestine in general, and Ramallah in particular, are directly affected by the occupation, and are a reaction explicit to the Israeli imposed policies. According to (Khamaisi & Occupation, 2006), the planning process for Ramallah city is faced with dilemmas because of the unique political circumstance of the city. While the government and municipality council concentrate on developing the city into a core, the Israeli’s outside control limits and restricts the possible development, accessibility, and mobilization of the city. (Khamaisi & Occupation, 2006) This change, due to the occupation policies, is a reflection of many indicators, including population growth, migration, and an economic increase in the construction sector.

There’s increase in the area of permanent agricultural trees (with the appearance of pasture area and greenhouses) due to mainly population growth with fact that many of these villages still have interests in the agricultural sector, such field is a main in the economic sector. We reached to that point of view due to a field research, where for example Ein yabrood and Deir Debwan had many acidic farms as attached in the photos in section (4).

As previously mentioned in the Study Case section, ever since 1995, the area of Ramallah municipality which the Palestinians are permitted to build on decreased by 22.77% to include only areas A and B. We have a lot of lands under the Israeli control. As a result, Ramallah municipality had to give more permission to build on a smaller area within its municipal borders.

Chart (10): Pasture area in the years 1997 and 2019. Source: Researchers, 2020

Chart (11): Green Houses area in the years 1997 and 2019. Source: Researchers, 2020

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The increase in the built-up area destroyed much of the natural areas of Ramallah, which the municipality was unable to protect, with the introduction of natural-area protection systems later in 2011 (O.Hamdeh, personal communication, 20 September 2016). So, we can tell that the political part with the separation of A, B, C areas played a major role in the landscape change of Palestine.

The decrease in natural areas is contributed with the Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands, which contributed to the condensation of the built-up area in the city. So, it's true that the permanent agricultural areas increased, but it was limited due to such political factors, with the Israeli settlements in the area that put constraints imposed on mobility and marketing.

Nevertheless, we calculated the number of patches and how it’s related to the ecosystem and the connectivity between patches, as we can notice the highest number of patches is in the built up area, due to the roads which act like linear element -corridors- that separate patches. On the other hand, settlement has less number of patches; because we studied it as a one zone, we couldn’t study the distribution of the master plan of the spaces due to political consideration.

To sum up, the GIS analysis with the aerial photos and the other methodologies we used helped us to achieve the objective of the research to investigate the landscape changes in Ramallah governorate and some of the villages over time, especially in 1997 and 2019. Studying the fragmentation of each class, the matrix table shows the gains and losses in each land-use. The analysis also shows the change in the size, density, and the number of patches. As a follow up, a future predictions could be made due to the landscape change and everything connected with it. Just like Subrata Roy once said: “Yesterday’s landscape will change no matter how organized or chaotic”.

Figure 5(a): Aerial Photo, Al Mazra'a Al Sharqiya, 1997.

Source: The Ministry of Local Government

Figure 5(b): Aerial Photo, Al Mazra'a Al Sharqiy 2019.

Source: The Ministry of Local Government

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9 References ARIJ. (2014). Locality Profiles and Needs Assessment in the Qalqiliya Governorate. https://www.arij.org/files/arijadmin/IDRC/publications/Qalqiliya_VProfile_EN.pdf Ayad, Y. M. (2005). Remote sensing and GIS in modeling visual landscape change: A case study of the northwestern arid coast of Egypt. Landscape and Urban Planning, 73(4), 307–325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2004.08.002 Hilal, R. J., & El-sakka, A. (2015). A Reading on the Socio Urban Changes in Ramalah and Kufur Aqab.

Khamaisi, R., & Occupation, I. (2006). Planning and developing a new Palestinian urban Core under conditional Israeli Occupation : Ramallah City. 42nd ISOCARP Congress, 1–21.

Nazer, S., Abughannam, R., & Khasib, S. (2019). Landscape change in Ramallah—Palestine (1994– 2014). Landscape Research, 44(5), 541–556. https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2018.1495184 Nazer, S. W. (2008). Hortus Conclusus : change , perception and meaning in Artas Valley / Palestine Samar Wadi Nazer Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy ( Ph . D .) Doctor of Philosophy ( PhD ) Thesis 2008 : 22.

Nikodemus, O., Bell, S., Grine, I., & Liepiņš, I. (2005). The impact of economic, social and political factors on the landscape structure of the Vidzeme Uplands in Latvia. Landscape and Urban Planning, 70(1–2), 57–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2003.10.005 PCBS (2019). Localities in Ramallah & Al Bireh Governorate by Type of Locality and Population Estimates, 2017–2021.

Retrieved from http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_Rainbow/Documents/RamallahA.html Forman, R., & Gordon, M. (1986). Landscape Ecology. New York, Chichester, Brisbane, Toronto, Singapore: John Wiley & Sons.

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