Near East Network on Forest Health and Invasive Species (NENFHIS)

Tree pests and diseases can be the cause of severe ecological, economic and social impacts on natural forests, forest and agroforestry plantations and small holdings of tree crops. The Near East and North Africa (NENA) region is no exception.

During its 18th Session, held in February 2008, the Near East Forestry and Range Commission (NEFRC) welcomed and endorsed the establishment of a Near East Network on Forest Health and Invasive Species (NENFHIS) as a regional platform to share information and experiences on integrated and dynamic forest pest management and on the generation of baseline data for decision-making. Previously in its 16th Session held in 2004, NEFRC stressed the importance of collaborative action in facing forest threats and recommended that thematic studies be conducted on problems common to the countries of the region. Areas of potential mutual interest include integrated regulation of the use of forest and range resources to achieve the sustainability of both, and the negative impacts of forest invasive species.

The Near East Network on Forest Health and Invasive Species (NENFHIS) was created by the Near East Forestry Commission in 2009 to facilitate collaboration and communication and to enhance cooperation between professionals, scientists, partners and other interested parties. It provides an informal mechanism to exchange information, knowledge and experiences on forest heath and invasive species issues for the benefits of the forest sector in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) Region.

Country focal points

Mustapha Gachi Researcher on Forest Entomology, National Forest Research Institute Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +213662826678 Algeria	Omar Zerek Head of Unit Biodiversity and Protected Area Management e-mail: [email protected] Syria
Mohamed Abdel Meneim Head the Under-secretariat for Afforestation e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +20100566105 Egypt	Mohamed Lahbib Ben Jemaa General Director (CEO) Plant Health and Control of the Agricultural Inputs. Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +216 98 265 525 Tunisia
Elene Ayoub Head of Reforestation and Exploitation Department e-mail: [email protected] Lebanon	Abdel Hamied A. Hamid Senior Forestry Officer FAO RNE, Cairo e-mail: [email protected] FAO Egypt
Mohamed Al Horr e-mail: [email protected] Mauritania	Shiroma Sathyapala Forest health Office e-mail: [email protected] FAO Hungary
Taoufik Aadel High Commission of Waters, Forests and Combating Desertification e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +212 662 84 73 45 Morocco	Ahmed Bin Salem Al Najar Head of Animal Resources Department e-mail: [email protected] [email protected] Oman
Hmoud Ali AlBakri Environment Specialist e-mail: [email protected] Saudi Arabia

Countries involved

The Near East Network on Forest Health and Invasive Species (NENFHIS) provides an informal mechanism to exchange information, knowledge and experiences and to enhance cooperation for the benefits of the forest sector in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) Region.

Founding countries were: Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, and Yemen.

The main reason that lead these countries to work together is that they belong to the same region, therefore they share common issues and face the same problems: they have similar climatic, environmental and social conditions; they aim to reach for a shared goal of conserving and preserving the forest against pests, disease and invasive plant species; they can easily exchange experience and knowledge between countries on FHIS, and opportunities of financing / potential support for regional projects.

Executive committee

The EC elaborates a 2-year work plan and identify common interests and priorities; raise awareness on the state of forest; represents the network in other fora; promotes projects between countries sharing common challenges; meets at least once a year; make use of FAO communication channels (website).

Members of the EC are:

Ms. Eman Ibrahim Forester [email protected] Sudan	Mr. Mustapha Gachi Researcher on forest entomology [email protected] Algeria
Eng. Saleh Ali Al-Lehaidan Deputy Minister for Natural Resources [email protected] Saudi Arabia	Ms. Shiroma Sathyapala Forest Health and Protection Officer [email protected] FAO HQ
Mr. Abdelhamied A. Hamid Senior Forestry Officer RNE [email protected] Egypt