While the data arrived too late for inclusion in the Important Bird Areas in the 
Middle East, they are to be included in the forthcoming Directory of Wetlands in 
the Middle East. It has been suggested that most of Abu Dhabi's islands and 
coast be proposed as a World Heritage site. (Source: Network News 3 (1).) 
PALESTINE 
Children for the Protection of Nature - a new organisation in Palestine has started 
an adventurous programme aimed at strengthening the relationship, appreci- 
ation and bond between children and their homeland in Gaza and the West 
Bank. Their magazine Shaqee' q al-nuoma'n (Anemone corinaria) has been widely 
distributed to schools. Their 1995 Action Plan includes running teachers' train- 
ing workshops and field trips, and the organisation of awareness campaigns. 
Included are campaigns on the preservation of the woodland Wadi Al Duff in 
Hebron and highlighting the water pollution problems on the Gaza Strip. 
(Source: Network News 3 (1).) 
JORDAN 
Dana Reserve - Jordan's Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) 
have carried out a series of surveys in the 250km2 reserve of Dana in southern 
Jordan. The area includes limestone and sandstone mountains and stony 
desert. The surveys have found the largest known population of the Syrian 
Serin Serinus syriacus (probably over 800 pairs) and a healthy population of 
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni (probably over 20 pairs) in the reserve. Other 
resident birds include Sinai Rosefinch Carpodacus synoicus, Eagle Owl Bubo 
bubo, Hume's Tawny Owl Strix butleri, Bonelli's Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus. 
Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe monacha, Dunn's Lark Eremalauda dunni and 
Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus. It is also on the Israeli-Jordan Rift 
Valley migration route for birds of prey. 
It is hoped that a management plan for Dana being prepared by RSCN will be 
completed this autumn. 
Badia Desert - RSCN, together with Durham University, U.K., have received 
funding from the Darwin Initiative for a biodiversity study of the Badia Desert 
in eastern Jordan. The study will concentrate particularly on the area of 
Burqu' which is one of the few permanent water bodies in the Jordan desert. 
During a brief spring survey of the area a significant concentration of 
Bimaculated Larks Melancorypha bimaculata were found in the area, the first 
time the species has been recorded breeding in Jordan. (Source: Network 
News3(l&2).) 
Red Sea to Dead Sea canal - proposals to refill the Dead Sea with water from the 
Red Sea via a canal generating electricity and bringing water to the desert are 
examined in a paper in New Scientist (21 July 1995). Water resources, exploita- 
tion and management in the whole area including the impacts on the A/raq 
oasis are discussed. 
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