Mohammad Yusuf Najar

A Palestinian environmental activist who pioneered marine conservation initiatives in the Mediterranean Sea

Mohammad Yusuf Najar (born 1978) is a visionary environmentalist from Gaza Strip whose work has transformed marine conservation efforts in the eastern Mediterranean. Despite operating under challenging political conditions, he founded the Green Palestine Organization in 2005, which has planted over 500,000 mangrove trees along Gaza's coastline. His innovative 'Blue Carbon' projects sequester carbon dioxide while rehabilitating degraded marine ecosystems. Through partnerships with UNESCO and the EU, he developed the first coral reef restoration program in Palestinian waters, establishing artificial reefs that now host 30+ marine species. His work has been featured in National Geographic's 2017 documentary series 'Oceans in Peril' and the BBC's 'Voices of the Mediterranean' (2019). Najar's advocacy led to the 2020 Gaza Marine Protected Area designation, creating the region's first no-fishing zone covering 12km². His Green Seas Initiative trains local fishermen in sustainable practices, providing alternative livelihoods through eco-tourism ventures. A TEDx speaker in 2016, he pioneered using blockchain technology for tracking fishing quotas, a system now adopted by Mediterranean coastal nations. His 2021 book 'Reviving the Forgotten Seas' (published by Earth Books) details his methodology, and his work inspired the Mediterranean Coastal Alliance formed in 2019.