Amid the olive groves and terraced hillsides of the West Bank, the communities of Beit Dajan and Tayasir embody the very challenges that the MONALISA project seeks to address. These are landscapes where soil, water, and community are deeply intertwined, shaped by semi-arid Mediterranean conditions. With low rainfall and high temperatures, every drop of water counts, making agricultural production a special kind of challenge and a daily act of resilience and care for the land.
For local farmers, olive and citrus growers, cereal producers, and shepherds, the land represents both heritage and livelihood. Yet it faces growing pressures from drought, limited water availability, and soil fertility decline. In every region, community cooperation and support are vital. Here the strength of local collaboration and the engagement of international partners play a key role in sustaining agricultural life and resilience.
Why these sites matter for MONALISA
MONALISA’s mission is to prevent and reverse land degradation and desertification (LDD) by co-designing solutions with stakeholders in Mediterranean drylands. These two Palestinian communities present a compelling case – traditional agriculture meets innovation, scarce water meets reuse and precision systems, and local values meet technological and nature‐based solutions.
The Case Study is led by the partnership of CIHEAM Bari and WeWorld and has recently shifted to include Tayasir in addition to Beit Dajan to ensure field activities can proceed in light of the on-the-ground situation.
Systems in place, systems to build
- Drip irrigation systems using treated wastewater reuse.
- Precision water management technologies: soil-moisture sensors, automated distribution, GIS mapping.
- No-harm reuse practices: monitoring the quality of reclaimed water, buffer zones around fields, rotational use.
In the occupied West Bank, water scarcity is not driven by climatic conditions alone. Access to and distribution of water resources are subject to external control, with water abstraction, allocation, and infrastructure largely regulated by Israel. This structural constraint significantly affects local agricultural practices and reinforces the need for efficient water reuse, precision irrigation, and resilient land-management solutions. Finally, the inclusion of the Tayasir location arose from the opportunity to upscale project activities through additional stakeholder involvement, enhanced knowledge transfer among local farmers, and the guaranteed implementation of the research component under evolving on-the-ground conditions. This adjustment reflects MONALISA’s adaptive and flexible approach, allowing the consortium to continue its planned work while also offering an opportunity to assess the transferability and replicability of solutions across similar agro-environmental contexts. When conditions evolve, the project’s priority remains sustaining collaboration and progress — demonstrating that resilience and adaptability are essential to building practical, long-term solutions for sustainable land management.
Through these collective efforts, the project continues to demonstrate that even in the face of uncertainty, collaboration, adaptability and shared commitment can nurture resilience and sustainable progress for both people and the land – enabling a positive and lasting future for soil sustainability.