1 [Title for presentation / Date to go here] A socio-ecological analysis of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) system in Jericho area, Palestine Giuseppe Russo 1 , Isabella Dalla Ragione 2 , Linda Fantinati 3 , Carlo Simonetti 3 , Marco Lauteri 1 1 CNR, Istituto di Biologia Agroambientale e Forestale (IBAF), Porano, Italy 2 Fondazione Archeologia Arborea, Città di Castello, Italy 3 Fondazione Giovanni Paolo II, Pratovecchio, Italy , giuseppe.russo@ibaf.cnr.it Introduction Results Materials and Methods Different farms representative of the date palm plantations in Jericho area were analysed (Table 1). We implemented farm visits and interviews to local operators involved in the date value chain, in collaboration with the local Chamber of Commerce, research Institutions and the Palm Farmer Cooperative Association. We evaluated the variance of the socio- ecological systems on the farm scale by performing a principal component analysis (PCA) and linear regressions on a number of acquired variables of agronomic and socioeconomic nature. A bibliographical research was implemented in order to define the past and actual status of date palm cultivation in the World and in Palestine. Particularly, the analysis of the palm date system in Jericho was also referred to the ancient times by the analysis of bibliographical sources such as the Holy Books, historical documents and articles. The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), represents a main resource for the development of the agricultural economy in the Palestinian Territories and in other Countries around the Mediterranean basin and the Middle East. The date production doubled in the last ten years, globally yielding about 7.5 millions t in 2014 [1]. Jericho, known as the Palm Town, since the Neolithic Age (6000-4000 BCE) was the main area of date palm cultivation in the Jordan Valley. The large plantations of Jericho were mentioned by several authors in the past (Ben Sira, 200 BCE; Diodorus, 60 CE; Josephus, 37-85 CE; Plutarch, 46-120 CE). After 1967, Israeli farmers managed the plantations and introduced new technologies and cultivars. However, they spread mainly the highly valuable cultivar Medjoul, which means “unknown” in Arabic, likely because of its unclear origin. The Palestinian production is based on the Israeli intensive model, facing increasing problems of secondary soil salinization and xeric conditions. Lack of water is the most significant obstacle for expanding the plantations [2]. High production costs are especially afforded for experienced labour, shipping and transportation. The present study analyses the socio-ecological system of the date palm cultivation in Jericho, in order to highlight major determinants of sustainability and resilience. Discussion and Conclusions In such fragile environments exposed to drought and soil salinization, safeguard and recovery of agricultural and natural biodiversity should be accompanied by researches focused on innovative agro-forestry systems. Support should be provided on building capacity and human resources (education, skill, etc.). Lessons from the past can provide ideas for renewed and sustainable models other than the intensive one. Oasistic ecosystems still survive as a whole of complexity in several Mediterranean Countries [3]. This association is still typical of many palm gardens of North Africa and was widely adopted in the Jordan Valley in the past [4]. Although the intensive date palm cultivation in Jericho area is generating important social and economical advances, the future scenarios suggest extreme caution on the wide adoption of simplified and biodiversity poor models. Results Focus group of farmers in the extended Jericho area and related date production (t/ha) of dates in the last three years. All the investigated farms show an increasing trend. The stakeholders’ perception on the socio-ecological status of the date chain confirms the strong concerns on the system sustainability as previously reported in a wider geographical perspective by Abu-Qaoud [2]. Especially, the threat of water scarcity results as the first concern among all the interviewed persons. The high costs of fertilisers and pesticides constitutes a further concern together with those related to mechanization, labour, storing and marketing. Human resources management cost results a key variable for the future adjustments of date palm socio-ecological systems, for improving sustainability and productivity. In fact, linear regressions and interviews with farmers confirmed that this variable positively influenced the economy of date palm production. References [1] Al-Alawi RA, Al-Mashiqri JH, Al-Nadabi JSM, Badria I, Al-Shihi BI, Baqi Y. Date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera L.): natural products and therapeutic options. Frontiers in Plant Science 2017,8:845. doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00845. [2] Abu-Qaoud A, Date palm status and perspective in Palestine. In: Al- Khayri JM, Jain SM, Johnson DV, Date palm genetic resources and utilization: Vol. 2: Asia and Europe, London: Springer; 2015. P. 423-440. [3] Tengberg M. Beginnings and early history of date palm garden cultivation in the Middle East. Journal of Arid Environments 2012,86:139-147. [4] Goor A. The history of the date through the ages in the Holy land. Economic Botany 1967, 21(4):320-340. We acknowledge the precious support provided by the agronomist Talal Baniowda , the local coordinator Samer Baboun and the officer Ayman Othman within the project AID 10601/FGPII/TAP co-funded by the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development. We are also in debt with Isacco Beritognolo for the statistical support on data analysis. Acknowledgement This is a label for the image. This is a label for the image. This is a label for the image. This is a label for the image. This is a label for the image. This is a label for the image. This is a label for the image. This is a label for the image. 856 EMCEI 2017 - Euro-Mediterranean Conference for Environmental Integration WWW.EMCEI.NET Human resources management cost results a key variable for the future adjustments of date palm SES (Figure 4.A-B), for improving sustainability and productivity. The grouping variables in the financial PCA influenced Factor 1 and Factor 2. In particular, 9 variables (marketing management cost, farming tools and facilities, water management cost, human post-harvest management cost, number of permanent and temporary workers, soil and pest management cost, annual rent of the land, total budget for implementation of land) mostly affect Factor 1. Indeed, profit variables and sale prices are the most influent on Factor 2. Preparation of land and human management resources costs affect in a similar way the Factors 1 and 2 but are graphically in opposite position. It is possible to separate grouping variables that influenced the Factor 1 and Factor 2 in the agro-environmental PCA. A group strongly loaded on Factor 1 and is characterized by all the harvest variables (per ton and per ha). The number of date cultivars belongs to the mentioned group. The number of cultivar Medjoul, cultivar Barhi and date palm have influence on both Factor 1 and 2, but mostly on the first. The size of land properties in the “Area A” and the number of date palms, present a strong weight on Factor 2, especially the first variable; the number of date palms has also an influence on Factor 1.