Environment

Yad Hanadiv initiated a competition in December 2019 to select a River Rehabilitation Project that could provide social and ecological benefits and serve as an inspiring model for similar initiatives.

The project goals are:

• to bring the streams to good ecological status, eliminating hazards of pollution and waste
• to provide local communities with an inclusive, shared public space for recreation, education and economic development
• to demonstrate the social potential of river rehabilitation
• to create a model of shared governance to regulate interests and activities for the common good.

The Kishon Drainage and River Authority (DRA) won the competition with a proposal to rehabilitate the Zipori Stream that flows for 32 km from the Nazareth Hills to the Kishon River and Haifa Bay. The project was selected from a shortlist that included the Kinneret Drainage and River Authority and the Kiryat Shmona Municipality for Ein Zahav and the Ayun Streams; the South Jordan DRA for the Tabor Basin; and the Soreq Lachish DRA for sections of the Soreq Stream near Beit Shemesh and the Tzora Valley.

The vision is to develop the entire river basin and to allow restoration of the entire stream, transforming it into a clean, flowing, continuous entity. The basin is a mosaic of agriculture, natural landscapes and human settlement. The Zipori project will address water quality, social development, environmental awareness and preservation of natural assets. When completed, the stream will form the backbone of an ecological corridor linking Haifa and Nazareth, and hopefully becoming a source of pride for local communities. The project holds the potential to become a model for coastal stream rehabilitation and knowledge sharing in Israel and possibly even abroad. The distinguished committee, including experts from the UK and France that helped select the finalists, concluded that the project could produce a ‘breakthrough in the field of river rehabilitation in Israel and inspiration at an international level.’

In July 2009 Yad Hanadiv hosted five experts versed in models of linking science and environmental policy in the US, UK, Europe, and Australia. Drawing on their recommendations to build capacity in science, public policy, and communicating science to the public, we launched an initiative to improve the interface between science and policy regarding management of biodiversity and open spaces. The aim was to create high quality relevant data and research on biodiversity to inform the policy, practice and management that would preserve and restore Israel’s unique ecosystems. Major emphases were placed on biodiversity monitoring and reporting, research, and opening effective channels of communication between the science and policy communities.

Over the years our activity has included support for HaMaarag (now under the auspices of the Steinhart Natural Collection Museum at Tel Aviv University) to develop national monitoring that advances science-based management of Israel’s ecosystems;  for the Israel Taxonomy Initiative operated by Tel Aviv University to revive taxonomic studies and improve identification and knowledge of biodiversity; for Mimshak – a programme of the Israeli Society of Ecology and Environmental Sciences to integrate postdoctoral level fellows in the public sector in order to advance science-based environmental policy; and for workshops and practical tools to broaden the perspectives of decision makers in the business sector.