By Ibrahim Fawzi Odeh
Palestine Wildlife Society
The Hima concept, recognized as one of the world’s oldest systems of natural resource management, is a traditional approach based on designating areas of land through agreement among members of the local community for their protection and sustainable use in ways that maintain ecological balance.
Historically, this system was practiced in Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria to protect forests, conserve water resources, and regulate grazing. Through this approach, local communities played a central role in environmental stewardship, while public authorities relied on them to manage these areas under official oversight and within broader conservation strategies. This collaborative model ensured a relatively equitable use of natural resources while safeguarding biodiversity and native species.
When we speak about the Hima system in the past, we are referring to a model that successfully combined natural heritage with cultural heritage, resulting in effective environmental conservation. The Hima also played a vital role in strengthening cooperation among community members, as decisions were made collectively. This fostered a spirit of shared responsibility, partnership, and respect for local customs and traditional regulations.
Communities worked together to organize grazing seasons and irrigation schedules through water channels fed by natural springs. These collective practices helped build trust, reinforce social cohesion, and strengthen relationships among rural families.
Today, an important question arises: Why is reviving the Hima system so important?
Restoring and strengthening the Hima has become increasingly relevant in light of the environmental challenges facing the world, the Middle East, the Levant, and particularly Palestine. Land degradation, depletion of natural resources, and climate change have disrupted ecological balance, creating an urgent need to meet human needs while simultaneously protecting the environment.
The Hima system is intrinsically linked to the preservation of both natural and cultural heritage. By protecting the land, we also preserve the customs, traditions, and practices that have been passed down through generations within local communities.
Just as the Hima safeguards biodiversity—including plants, wildlife, and birds—it also protects water resources, forests, and grazing lands, thereby strengthening resilience to climate change.
From a cultural perspective, the Hima preserves traditional agricultural and pastoral practices and facilitates the transmission of indigenous knowledge from one generation to the next. In doing so, it reinforces people’s sense of belonging and responsibility toward their land while safeguarding the cultural identity of local communities.
Reviving the Hima today is therefore far more than restoring an ancient resource management system. It is about revitalizing the natural and cultural heritage of Palestine and the wider Levant. The Hima embodies an integrated vision for protecting both the land and its people. It recognizes that local communities are the cornerstone of environmental protection, sustainable natural resource management, and the preservation of both heritage and nature for future generations.
