Israel Nature and Parks Authority

Regions

As of 2015, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority was the overseer of 400 nature reserves and 81 national parks, covering over 20 percent of Israel’s land mass. The coverage of the Authority has grown fairly rapidly. For example, in 2007 the Authority oversaw only 69 national parks and 190 nature reserves – a doubling of reserves in only eight years.

The parks and nature reserves are divided into six regions:

• Golan Heights, Sea of Galilee, and Galilee
• Lower Galilee and their valleys
• Mount Carmel, the coast, and central Israel
• Judean Desert and The Dead Sea
• The Negev
• Eliat and the Arava

Notable projects

Griffon vulture conservation

The Israel Nature and Parks Authority has led significant efforts to protect the endangered griffon vulture population, particularly through the "Under Our Wing" project, which focuses on breeding vultures in captivity and releasing them into the wild. The project also sets up feeding stations to help vultures avoid poisoned carcasses, a major threat. These initiatives, alongside actions to prevent intentional poisoning by farmers, have contributed to the recovery of the griffon vulture population in Israel, a critical species for the region's ecosystem.

Large-scale reforestation efforts at Mount Carmel

In the wake of the devastating Carmel Forest fire of 2010, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, along with Jewish National Fund, launched large-scale reforestation efforts to restore the damaged ecosystem. These include planting native trees, creating firebreaks, and clearing debris to prevent future fires. Volunteers from Israel and around the world helped replant thousands of trees, while experts are monitoring long-term ecological impacts to ensure the forest's health and resilience. The project has made significant strides in rehabilitating the region and reducing the risk of future wildfires.

Criticism

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel has criticized decisions of the Nature and Parks Authority's policies on several occasions, claiming that they have harmed nature reserves in various ways. organization has also claimed that the Authority was harming animals.

In 2007, scientists and nature conservation organizations opposed the extension of CEO Eli Amitay's appointment for a second term, citing claims regarding the Authority's conservation policies during his first term, but the government approved the appointment nonetheless. In 2011, Minister of Environmental Protection Gilad Erdan sought to depose Amitay, claiming that he is acting against public interest. As a result, Amitay retired a year earlier than planned. In December of the same year, Shaul Goldstein, head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council was appointed as CEO by a government committee.

In October 2017, the Authority came under public criticism when a visitor to Avshalom Cave observed that none of the instructional material in the cave contained an estimate of its age, and a local guide claimed that this was due to pressure by the ultra-Orthodox population, which was later confirmed by media outlets. After the affair, the authority announced that the material will be corrected and the CEO "called for an examination of all instructional material to ensure that it conforms to scientific truth".

Heads of Nature Reserves Authority

• , 1964–1965
• Avraham Yoffe, 1965–1978
• Adir Shapira, 1973–1981
• , 1982–1990
• Dan Perry, 1990–1995
• , 1995–1997
• Aharon Vardi, 1997–1998

Heads of National Parks Authority

• Yaakov Yanai, 1964–1978
• Zvi Barzel, 1978–1984
• Mordechai Ben-Porat, 1984–1994
• Israel Gilad, 1994–1997
• Aharon Vardi, 1997–1998

Heads of the Nature and Parks Authority

• Aharon Vardi, 1998–2002
• Eli Amitay, 2002–2011
• Shaul Goldstein, 2011–2021
• Raya Shurki, 2022–

References

References

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2. (2013). "Genetic characterization of populations of the golden jackal and the red fox in Israel". Conservation Genetics.
3. [https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.MAGAZINE-israel-declares-five-new-national-parks-and-nature-reserves-1.5489032 Israel Declares Five New National Parks and Nature Reserves] Haaretz. Zafrir Rinat. 27/06/17. Retrieved 16/05/18
4. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/where-the-golans-rivers-flow-into-the-sea-of-galilee/ Where the Golan’s rivers flow into the Sea of Galilee] ''The Times of Israel''. Aviva and Shmuel Bar-am. 29/08/15. Retrieved:16/05/18.
5. "Science-based conservation workshop".
6. (June 11, 2020). "Israel's griffon vultures get new lease on life". Reuters.
7. (22 August 2020). "Griffon vulture population in Israel reaches a new high".
8. (9 August 2020). "שיא בכמות הנשרים".
9. Zafrir, Rinat. (Oct 30, 2015). "Carmel Forest Gets New Life 5 Years After Fire".
10. "Carmel Restoration".
11. [http://www.teva.org.il/?CategoryID=259&ArticleID=11147 Scandal: the Nature and Parks Authority is Selling Nature]
12. [https://www.makorrishon.co.il/nrg/online/1/ART1/789/185.html Development or Neglect? The Struggle over the Development Program in HaBonim Beach]
13. [https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3588140,00.html Oil Drilling Approved in the "Judea Desert" Nature Reserve]
14. "Does the Nature and Parks Authority Like Animals?".
15. "קדנציה נוספת למנהל רשות הטבע והגנים, למרות הביקורת". Haaretz.
16. [https://www.glz.co.il/NewsArticle.aspx?NewsId=77928 Nature and Parks Authority CEO to Retire in July]
17. "ר' מועצת גוש עציון יהיה מנכ"ל רשות הטבע והגנים". Haaretz.
18. [https://www.mako.co.il/news-israel/local-q4_2017/Article-60cd6d18b312f51004.htm The Cave Scandal: Respecting Haredi Feelings]
19. [https://www.facebook.com/IsraelNaturParks/posts/10155833298672899 On the Nature and Parks Authority's Facebook page]
20. [[Alon Tal]], ''Pollution in a Promised Land: An Environmental History of Israel'', 2002, {{ISBN. 0520234286, pp. 1167, 168, 178, 181
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23. דראל, יעל. (2011-02-16). "ארדן שולח את מנכ"ל רשות הטבע והגנים הביתה". Ynet.
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25. Dori, Oren. (2022-05-24). "חברת ניהול החשמל הממשלתית ממנה את שאול גולדשטיין למנכ"ל". Globes.
26. (2022-06-12). "הממשלה אישרה את מינויה של רעיה שורקי לתפקיד מנכ"לית רשות הטבע והגנים".
27. Surkes, Sue. "Raya Shourky to become Israel Nature and Parks Authority permanent director".