Zipori River Park
Rehabilitation to provide social and ecological benefits and inspire future initiatives
About the Initiative
The Zipori River flows from the Nazareth Hills to the Kishon River and Haifa Bay, forming an important ecological corridor in the Galilee. Years of pollution and reduced flow have damaged the river’s landscape and biodiversity. In 2019, Yad Hanadiv initiated a competition to select a river rehabilitation project that could provide ecological benefits and strengthen local communities, serving as a model for similar initiatives.
The Zipori River Park initiative was launched in 2021 in partnership with the Kishon Drainage and River Authority. It aims to improve water quality, restore habitats and create an ecological corridor linking agricultural areas, natural spaces and tourism sites. A new public space is being developed along the river that includes walking trails, educational spaces and recreational areas.
The initiative uniquely combines nature restoration, sustainable agriculture and visitor-friendly spaces, taking into account climate change and local community needs. It serves as an innovative model for river restoration in Israel that holds international potential – showing how ecological restoration can also build community, educational and cultural resilience.
Significant restoration has been achieved, including improved water quality; removal of impediments to natural water flow; ecological rehabilitation, as well as the development of infrastructure and trails; strengthened local agriculture; educational activity; and community-based tourism. These efforts have laid a solid foundation for the long-term renewal of the Zipori River and surrounding areas.
