Planting Campaign

If You Hold a Sapling, Plant It

In line with its developmental vision and its strong commitment to environmental and social sustainability, An-Najah National University launched a national afforestation campaign across various governorates of the country, beginning in the Nablus Governorate, under the slogan: “If one of you has a sapling in his hand, let him plant it.”

This initiative highlights the university’s leading role in environmental protection, climate change mitigation, expanding green spaces, and promoting environmental awareness among different segments of Palestinian society.

Launched in October 2024, the campaign is ongoing as part of a long-term strategic project that reflects an integrated vision combining environmental, educational, and economic dimensions.

The campaign aims to create real and lasting change in community behavior by encouraging individuals, especially students, to adopt responsible and sustainable environmental practices. In doing so, it promotes a culture of environmental stewardship and the preservation of natural resources.

The university president assigned the CSC to supervise, monitor, and implement the campaign, as it is the university’s designated body for community engagement initiatives. The CSC carries out the campaign through its programs and services, in addition to overseeing the Community Service and Sustainable Development course, ensuring the integration of practical learning with academic instruction.

This initiative reflects a comprehensive national and educational approach through which the university seeks to:

Inspire students to adopt positive environmental behaviors
Strengthen their active participation in community service
Create a sustainable impact on the environment, public awareness, and the local economy

The university also encourages educational and community institutions to adopt and expand this initiative, given its environmental and developmental importance and its contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and building a greener and more equitable future for coming generations.

To view more campaign videos, please visit the CSC YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@communityservicecenter

Main Pillars

Schools of Nablus Governorate:

240 students from 17 schools participated in planting 322 fruit-bearing trees in their schoolyards, complemented by awareness activities on the importance of green spaces and environmental conservation.
Al-Thuraya Center for Persons with Disabilities:

35 university students from the Community Service course planted 15 fruit trees in the center’s courtyard, promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in community-based environmental action.
Home Gardens:

127 university students planted a variety of fruit trees in their family gardens, reinforcing the practice of sustainable home gardening and strengthening intergenerational bonds.
Campus Land Rehabilitation:

Around 3 dunams of neglected land at the old university campus were cleared, plowed, and cultivated with diverse crops, with the participation of 412 students. The once-idle area is now a productive ecological and food resource.

Campaign Objectives

Increase green cover in Palestine
Raise environmental awareness among students and the local community
Involve educational and civil institutions in sustainability efforts
Promote food security and sustainable home gardening
Reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change impacts
Enable students to contribute to sustainable development through community service

Campaign Impact

Environmental Impact

Improved urban climate through enhanced shade and cooler air temperatures
Carbon dioxide absorption, helping combat climate change
Up to 75% reduction in air pollution around planted trees
Soil conservation, reduced erosion, and improved rainwater absorption
Increased biodiversity by creating wildlife-friendly habitats

Social Impact

Increased student awareness about agriculture and environmental responsibility
Strengthened culture of volunteerism and national belonging
Inclusive participation from schools, families, and persons with disabilities
Integration of environmental education into the Community Service course, now requiring students to plant a fruit tree as a graduation condition

Economic Impact

Support for household and institutional economies through olive cultivation, generating an estimated $100 per tree annually after the second year
Contribution to food security by growing chemical-free crops
Reduced energy demand for cooling buildings thanks to natural shading—cutting air conditioning costs by up to 50%

Tree Types and Sources

Pears, loquats, avocados, rosemary, Chinese oranges, peaches, pumpkins, pineapples, papayas, peas, oranges, plums, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, pomelos, apples, white mulberries, jumbo mulberries, blackberries, figs, grapefruit, guava, walnuts, chickpeas, mallow, carob, yellow plums, red plums, cucumbers, pomegranates, olives, cypress, aloe vera, grapes, bay leaves, beans, strawberries, gherkins, chili peppers, broad beans, carambola, green cherries, red cherries, cabbage, clementines, eucalyptus, kiwis, almonds, loofah, lychees, lemons, mangoes, mesflora, apricots, tangerines, palm trees, mint, roses.

Achievements & Beneficiaries

Summary of the Afforestation Campaign (Winter 2025 to End of Winter 2026

1089	Number of Olive Trees
467	Number of Forest Trees
23	Number of Citrus Trees
726	Number of trees planted in students' home gardens
35	Number of families and beneficiary areas
41	Number of schools that benefitted from the campaign
620	Number of students participating in the campaign
2305	Total Number of Trees