Our research is organized around key environmental themes that address real-world challenges through scientific investigation, fieldwork, and innovation.

These focus areas guide our research projects, partnerships, and field activities, ensuring meaningful environmental impact.

Ecosystem Restoration

Rehabilitating degraded ecosystems through native species reintroduction, soil improvement, and sustainable land management practices to restore ecological balance.

Exploring climate-smart agricultural practices and ecosystem responses to environmental changes, supporting resilience and sustainable resource management.

Highlighting key research initiatives that combine scientific research, field implementation, and community engagement to generate real environmental impact.

Forest Genetic Resources Project

MEDFORGEN Palestine

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This section presents peer-reviewed publications, scientific studies, and laboratory-based research conducted within the unit, contributing to environmental knowledge, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development.

   Peer-Reviewed Publications

Medicinal Plants • Bioactive Compounds • Traditional Flora

Dr. Ghadeer Omar/Medicinal Garden

In vitro haemostatic efficacy of aqueous, methanol and ethanol plant extracts of three medicinal plant species in Palestine

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Human-Nature Interaction • Green Spaces • Environmental Behavior

Dr. Emad Dawwas/Community Track

COVID-19 changed human-nature interactions across green space types: evidence from the West Bank, Palestine

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Native Crops • Genetic Diversity • Palestinian Agriculture

Prof. Munqez J Y Shtaya/Herbarium / Flora Diversity

Phenotypic characterization of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) landraces grown in Palestine

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Medicinal Plants • Biodiversity • Antioxidant Activity

Prof. Munqez J Y Shtaya/Medicinal Garden

Variability of Chemical Compositions and Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Ruta chalepensis Leaf Essential Oils from Three Palestinian Regions

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Climate Adaptation • Mediterranean Ecosystems • Crop Resilience

Prof. Munqez J Y Shtaya/Sustainable Agriculture

Adaptation of oat cultivars to autumn sowings in Mediterranean environments

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Plant Disease Detection • Sustainable Agriculture • Crop Protection

Prof. Raed AlKowni/Sustainable Agriculture

Molecular identification of tomato brown rugose fruit virus in tomato in Palestine

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Olive Biodiversity • Plant Health • Mediterranean Agriculture

Prof. Raed AlKowni/Flora Diversity

Molecular detection of olive viruses

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Grapevine Protection • Agricultural Biodiversity

Prof. Raed AlKowni/Sustainable Agriculture

Partial characterization of a new ampelovirus associated with grapevine leafroll disease

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Plant Virology • Mediterranean Ecosystems

Prof. Raed AlKowni/Flora Diversity

Detection of olive-infecting viruses in the Mediterranean basin

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   Research Studies & Reports   

Walkability • Sustainable Mobility • Environmental Planning

Dr. Emad Dawwas/Community Track

Developing a Walkability Index for Built Environment and its Applications at Different Spatial Levels

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GIS • Land Use Planning • Spatial Analysis

Dr. Emad Dawwas/Environmental Mapping

The evolution of GIS as a land use planning conflict resolution tool

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Urban Ecology • Spatial Analysis • Environmental Mapping

Dr. Emad Dawwas/GIS & Ecology

Increasing site selection transparency in urban ecology

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Environmental Education • Community-Based Learning

Dr. Emad Dawwas/Community Engagement

Education for citizenship: measuring the impact on learners of the community-based learning program in Palestine

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Food Security • Sustainable Cultivation • Agricultural Research

Prof. Munqez J Y Shtaya/Sustainable Agriculture

Lentil: Origin, cultivation techniques, utilization and advances in transformation

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Cultural Landscapes • Heritage Ecology • Palestinian Identity

Dr. Loay Abu Alsaud/Heritage & Educational Trails

Demons, spirits, and haunted landscapes in Palestine

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Heritage Preservation • Cultural Identity • Resilient Landscapes

Dr. Loay Abu Alsaud/Heritage Trails

Heritage and conflict in Gaza

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Historical Landscapes • Archaeology • Cultural Heritage

Dr. Loay Abu Alsaud/Ecotourism

Byzantine Churches in Nablus (Neapolis), Palestine

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Grapevine Protection • Agricultural Biodiversity

Prof. Raed AlKowni/Sustainable Agriculture

Nano bio fertilizer capsules for sustainable agriculture

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   Laboratory & Field Experiments

Scientific Preservation • Biodiversity Education • Specimen Preparation

EECU Taxidermy Team/Taxidermy Exhibition

Taxidermy preservation and skeletal preparation demonstrations

Plant Bioactivity • Antimicrobial Research • Wild Flora

Dr. Ghadeer Omar/Medicinal Garden

Antibacterial activity of selected Palestinian wild plant extracts against multidrug-resistant clinical isolates

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Phytochemistry • Anticancer Activity • Medicinal Species

Dr. Ghadeer Omar/Medicinal Garden

GC-MS-based metabolites profiling and antioxidant, anticancer and antimicrobial properties of Micromeria fruticosa extracts

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Plant Extracts • Blood Coagulation • Medicinal Research

Dr. Ghadeer Omar/Medicinal Garden

Selected wild plants ethanol extracts bioactivity on the coagulation cascade

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Plant Physiology • Environmental Stress • Crop Adaptation

Prof. Munqez J Y Shtaya/Flora Diversitye

Osmotic stress at the barley root affects expression of circadian clock genes in the shoot

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Ecological Monitoring • Field Research • Biodiversity Documentation

Prof. Munqez J Y Shtaya/Flora Diversitye

Field-based biodiversity monitoring and environmental adaptation studies

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Sustainable Agriculture • Crop Health • Mediterranean Farming

Prof. Munqez J Y Shtaya/Sustainable Agriculture

Effects of crop mixtures on chocolate spot development on faba bean grown in Mediterranean climates

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Scientific Demonstration • Immersion Preservation • Skeletal Preparation

EECU Taxidermy Team/Taxidermy Exhibition

Wildlife preservation methods through immersion and skeletal preparation techniques

Plant Health • Molecular Plant Protection

Prof. Raed AlKowni/Agricultural Biodiversity

Biological, molecular, and serological studies of a novel strain of grapevine leafroll-associated virus

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Our research goes beyond academic outputs to create measurable environmental and community impact. Through applied studies, field implementation, and partnerships, we contribute to biodiversity conservation, sustainable practices, and environmental awareness at both local and regional levels.

Community Engagement

Translating research into real-world impact by involving local communities, schools, and volunteers in environmental activities and awareness programs.

Education & Capacity Building

Enhancing environmental knowledge through training programs, student involvement, and integration of research into educational activities.

For research inquiries, partnerships, or student involvement opportunities.