Pantone
Winter 06- 07
The Newsletter of the Initiative for Biodiversity Studies in Arid Regions
CMYK
An Invited Editorial
No.21
Women and Biodiversity This article was originally published in “This Week in Palestine”; Edition No.95; 2006. It is reproduced here by permission of the author Mr. Sami Backleh.
White
Life, nature, and the planet earth have been generally exposed to female features throughout different civilizations and times. Some old cultures symbolized and devoted women as goddesses. “Gaia,” Mother Earth for the early Greeks, was worshipped as the universal mother for centuries. The notions of fertility, nativity, beginning, birth and renewal have always been associated with females, because of their natural function of conceiving, thus ensuring the continuity of the species. Their role as caretakers in the up-bringing of children and for their daily provision has also made women the primary users of natural resources for non-commercial purposes in the preparation of food, clothes, shelter, and medicine. Therefore, there is a strong link between women and biodiversity. For certain communities, biodiversity is considered as a basis for women’s work, whereby their everyday activities are a manifest of cultural practices. Historically, it had been documented that the role of women in farming communities, as in Palestine, is valuable. Women also take charge of many agricultural activities and go hand-in-hand with men in planting and preparing the land and harvesting its fruits. Another female task tied closely to biodiversity is the collection of medicinal plants, which may be used for curing illnesses, in addition to other kinds of plants that have economic or industrial values while also serving as fodder and fuel or even as manure and pesticide. Therefore, their knowledge is huge because the community’s well-being depends on it, and the preservation of this knowledge is crucial for maintaining biodiversity. This acquired traditional ecological knowledge, which stems from generations living in close contact with nature, is mainly associated with women as they can easily transfer this knowledge to their children. Highly sophisticated and dynamic, this kind of knowledge encompasses information about locations, movements and other factors, explaining spatial patterns and timings of the ecosystems. Due to the wise management and use of biological resources, important international policies and legal agreements acknowledge the key role that women play, especially in the developing world. International environmental treaties such
Mallow grows on moist soils. It is collected from December as those on biological diversity and desertification now recognize the central role
until mid-May. Its leaves and stalks are edible. It is reported
of women as stewards of the natural world. Despite this increased recognition at
in the Literature to be therapeutic: anti-inflammatory and
the international level, little has been done to clarify the nature of the relationship
anti-bacterial. However, traditional knowledge from the
between biological diversity and the activities, responsibilities and rights of women.
towns of Aarsal and Kuakh claims that mallow can also
Thus their contributions to conservation go unrecognized.
treat chest problems, gallbladder diseases, lung disorders, liver cirrhosis, respiratory tract problems, gastrointestinal
Among the forces that are threatening women’s ecological knowledge and status
discomfort, inflammation and can also be used as an
are the large-scale modernization of agriculture and the destruction of biodiversity through different means such as biotechnology, along with limited access to
Mallow
education and services that impose major constriction.
appetite stimulant. Mallow with Burghul
Ingredients
Hence, women’s involvement and empowerment are needed to secure the sound
Region
Kuakh
500g mallow
management of biological resources. Empowerment in this case entails the
Total Servings
7
2 cups burghul
improvement of the conditions of rural women, in their role as users and preservers
One Serving
1 cup
1 tbsp salt
of local biological knowledge. In doing so, women’s involvement in managing
Preparation Time 30 minutes
1 small onion
biodiversity and decision- making have to be enhanced and encouraged for the welfare of the community. They make a major contribution to the well-being and
Preparation
sustainable development of their communities and nations, and to the maintenance The finished dish. Healthy and….delicious!
Herbal Recipes
sbackleh_2000@yahoo.com.
Biodiversity Can Also Mean Tasty and Healthy Food Traditionally, rural people have relied on wild edible plants for nutrition especially during the harsh winter months and the frugal spring months. This is a recipe based on mallow (khubayzeh), a wild plant that can be found throughout the Lebanese mountain. The mallow for this particular recipe was collected in Kuakh (Hermel) and standardized at AUB’s pilot plant by the staff of the IDRC-supported wild edible plant project. It will be part of a traditional food cookbook to be published soon. But first…some information on mallow: • English name: Mallow • Arabic Name: Khibayzeh • Scientific name: Malva-sylvestris • Therapeutic Uses: Used as a febrifuge, an anti-inflammatory, and to treat the respiratory system. • Active Compounds: Mucilage, L- rhamnose, D-galactose, D-galacturonic acid and D-glucuronic acid.
• Peel the onion and finely chop. color turns light brown.
By Dr. Malek Batal, Department of Nutrition and Food Science
Biodiversity Initiatives
to heritage landscapes in Palestine. He can be contacted at his email address: By Sami Backleh
• Wash the burghul, combine it with the mallow, salt, and water. • Fry the onion in a shallow pan with virgin olive oil until its
his M.Sc. degree in Conservation biology from the “Durrell Institute of Conservation & Ecology” in UK. He has worked on a wide range of issues from bird conservation
1 tbsp olive oil
• Wash the mallow, pick it, then chop.
of the earth’s ecosystems, biodiversity and natural resources. Sami Backleh, currently a freelance conservationist, is from Jerusalem. He received
3 cups water
• Heat the mallow and burghul mixture for 20 minutes. • Then combine with the onion and serve with cold yogurt aside.
Why Native Plants Matter and What we can do to Preserve Them There’s a good reason to recognize native plants – in fact, there are many reasons. Their role in the landscape is key. They are adapted to harsh conditions of growth related to soil, salt tolerance, weather, and resistance to diseases. Native plants can have cultural value (such as the Lebanese cedar) and countless uses such as ornamental, edible and medicinal uses. Furthermore, it is easier for farmers and growers to get access to plant propagation material because they are readily available in the wild (seeds, wood cuttings etc.). Of course, plants native to Lebanon occur in a wide variety of attractive species. Some species are popular and easily marketable, such as the pine and the cedar, while others are known abroad and sometimes imported, like the Cercis siliquastrum. For other species, marketability is a work-in-progress.
Figure 1. Advantages and disadvantages of bridging between scientific and local communities
Cercis siliquastrum in flower
By Khaled Sleem, IBSAR Field Coordinator and Ibrahim Saliby, IBSAR Production Coordinator
Juniperus excelsa tree
Role of Science in Promoting Well-Being of Societies
We are working on making native plant species known to the public to create public
The idea of promoting the well-being of societies through science can be taught in
demand for them in local nurseries. Meanwhile, we are encouraging nurseries to
analytical chemistry and highlights the potentials of the discipline which may attract
produce these plants, to expand the scope of their use. So far, we offered native
students to engage in the development, maintenance, and regulations of food,
plants (Cercis siliquastrum, Acer syriacum, Lippia nodiflora and Polygonum
biomedical and pharmaceutical processes. Analytical chemistry is also important for
aviculare) to Jwar El-Hoz Municipality and to Bain Militaire in Manara, Beirut. Some
the protection of the environment where continuous testing of pollutants in water,
of our experiments aim at enhancing the quality of these plants up to international
air and soil is required. Furthermore, the development of new analytical techniques
standards in order to promote their marketability. In all our experiments, the species’
is needed to measure new pollutants or detect common pollutants at lower limits to
rarity is taken into consideration. If the species is rare, precautions are taken during
meet the requirements established by the world environmental protection agencies.
collection of seeds and cuttings to ensure species sustainability in wild habitats.
The global market, too, needs accurate and reliable measurements so that technical barriers to trade can be minimized and where analytical chemistry is the basis for the assessment of the quality control of most goods used in every aspect of society
Science and Society
(Figure. 2)
Creative Chemistry: Teaching Bench to Market Concept In countries with emerging economies, the vital role that science could play is identifying actual problems of society and translating them into authentic research and teaching questions. Analytical chemistry, for example, involves the development of measurement techniques and instrumentations that are vital to any industrial application. Isolating analytical chemistry in academic settings will widen the gap between scientists and local industries, thus preventing industrial and economic developments (Figure 1). On the contrary, relating basic, applied and industrial sciences provides basic needs like access to clean water and air, food and nutrition security, in addition to diversified job and product opportunities. In this context, scientists become the gateway for local, regional, and international collaborations to discover novel solutions to existing local problems.
Figure 2. Different tasks undertaken by analytical chemists
A New Vision for an Old Chemistry Course The analytical chemistry course was modified to respond to challenges. For this, seven laboratory sessions were revised and new experiments specifically designed
Dr. Abdul Hamid Hallab is the Special Advisor to the President of the American University of Beirut and the Vice President of the Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research. * He is published extensively in the field of Food Technology and Nutrition in refereed International Journals. He has established and administered regional programs of training and technical assistance for the public and private sectors in the Middle East.
to integrate the fundamentals of the discipline into the different industrial and environmental applications. In addition, an activity, “special project”, was
Dr. Simon N. Haydar, Ph.D. is Principal Research Scientist, Group Leader at the Wyeth Phar-
introduced as a new teaching component of the course. In this activity, students are
maceuticals, Neuroscience Department Princeton.
asked to design an analytical chemistry experiment under the theme assigned for
* His research experience is in CNS (obesity, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, Alzheimer’s,
that semester. During the process, students are guided through collective lectures
stroke), oncology, immunosuppression, antiviral and inflammation. Lead projects to clinical
and subgroup discussions to work in a group of two or three people in order to
development.
i) identify a need in our society, ii) develop the analytical chemistry procedure of the experiment, iii) conduct the experiment in the laboratory, and iv) analyze and
Ms. Ann Zwicker Kerr has spent a total of fifteen years living, studying and teaching in the
evaluate the results by comparing the data to other reported values in the literature.
Middle East. Ann is currently at the University of California in Los Angeles, where she coordi-
Interestingly, limited access to resources sometimes has a positive outcome in the
nates the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Enrichment Program.
formation of the students and the educators, forcing them to be more creative. Using
* She is a frequent speaker on the Middle East and an escort for study groups to the region.
simple tools and techniques, adapting protocols and converting them into low cost approaches and substitution of reagents, some students came up with innovative and creative project topics.
By Dr. Najat A. Saliba, Department of Chemistry
Her late husband, Malcolm Kerr, was the president of the American University of Beirut and was assassinated in office in 1984. Dr. Mike Maunder is Director of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables, Florida, USA
Findings of the special projects are disseminated via poster presentation and
(a research and conservation-focused botanic garden).
a written report complying with a scientific journal type format. Examples of
* His professional interests include: International and national plant conservation policy,
themes covered included “Arguileh Smoke and Turkish Coffee”, “Mediterranean
practical application of plant conservation, capacity building for biodiversity, and public
Cosmetics and Chemistry”, “Art and Chemistry”, and “Post War Chemistry”. This
understanding of plant conservation issues.
coming semester, the theme for the project is “Bioprospection”. The posters will be presented on the International Biodiversity Day, May 22. All are invited!
Mr. Walid Nasser, Lawyer, specialises in anti-piracy, registration of trade marks and intellectual property. * Mr. Nasser is one of the drafters of the newly enacted copyright and patent laws of Lebanon. In addition, he drafted the Access and Benefit Sharing law, and the biosafety decree for
Advisory Board
Lebanon. Furthermore, he contributed to the drafting of the biodiversity section of the special
A Chance to Meet IBSAR’s Advisory Board
published in international legal publications.
Guiding IBSAR’s aims and operation are the seven distinguished members of its Advisory Board. Representing a cross-section of society with interest in biodiversity,
Dr. Michael Wink is Dean of Research; Faculty of Life Science Heidelberg University; and
these accomplished individuals are leaders in their academic/research, community,
Guest professor at the University of Harbin (China).
and business fields. The purpose of this Board is to advise on IBSAR Center’s vision
* His fields of interest include: Molecular pharmacology, evolution and ecology of plant
and priorities and on the direction of its research programs and activities; to promote IBSAR to the general community, other institutions, businesses, and governments; to advise on partnerships, capacity building, and networking; to advise on, facilitate
By Sarah P. Shebaya, Outreach Officer to the Executive Board
book on environmental laws and regulations in Lebanon and authored a number of articles
and assist in fundraising; and to secure contacts and develop public relations. Here’s a brief profile of each of our Advisory Board members…
secondary metabolites; their application in medicine and agriculture; biosynthesis and production of active compounds in cell cultures; and molecular phylogeny, phylogeography, and population genetics of plants, birds and reptiles. He is author/coauthor of more than 500 publications and more than 20 books/monographs. Dr. José A. Zaglul is the President of EARTH University (Escuela de Agricultura de la Región Tropical Húmeda), an institution dedicated to the conservation and sustainable development of the tropics. * Dr. Zaglul has been President of EARTH since its inception in 1989 and has guided its development from the conceptual stages into the operational stage in which it currently exists.
Seminars
Monthly Seminars to Highlight Contemporary Topics in Biodiversity Not only do IBSAR seminars bring together faculty members and students and inform them about IBSAR projects – they also elicit mutual interest among them in contemporary biodiversity topics and provide a forum for the exchange of perspectives and for raising new research questions to further pursue topics at hand. To this end, IBSAR’s Research and Patent Committee will be holding a monthly seminar every first working Tuesday of the month at 1:00 pm. For March, a seminar titled “Landscape and Biodiversity” was held by Dr. Jala Makhzoumi, and for April, a seminar titled “Economic Barriers to Diversifying Away from Tobacco Produc-
By Zeina Abdel Khalik, Assistant to IBSAR Research and Patent Committee
tion in Rural South Lebanon”, was held by Dr. Nader Kabbani. Here’s the schedule for the next three months…
Month
Seminar Title
Presenter
Dec.
Why the World is Interested in Essential Oils
Dr. Elie Barbour
Jan.
The Potential on biodiversity-based traditional Lebanese recipes in improving dietary diversity
Dr. Malek Batal
Feb.
Urban nature: Summarizing Our Findings on Plant Biodiversity in Lebanese Cities
Dr. Salma Talhouk
March
Landscape and Biodiversity
Dr. Jala Makhzoumi
April
Economic Barriers to Diversifying Away from Tobacco Production in Rural South Lebanon
Dr. Nader Kabbani
May
Aerosols in the Atmosphere: Pre- and Post-War Assessments
Dr. Najat A. Saliba
June
Challenges of Plant-Derived Anti-Cancer Drug Discoveries
Drs. Hala Muhtasib and Nadine Darwiche
Interested in knowing more about IBSAR? Visit our bi-lingual website at www.ibsar.org or contact us at ibsar@aub.edu.lb IBSAR – The Initiative for Biodiversity Studies in Arid Regions The American University of Beirut P.O Box: 11- 0236. Beirut, Lebanon Telephone: +961 1 350 000, Ext: 4509 Fax: +961 1 340 460, Ext: 4505 Designed by the Office of University Publications