Israel Ministry of the Enviromental Protection - News

Environmental Protection Ministry to Provide Financial Support for Environmental Projects in 2012

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Ministry for Environmental Protection has issued a call for proposals for the submission of requests for financial assistance in numerous environmental fields. The deadline for submission of the applications is Feb 15, 2011, with the exception of green building projects for which the deadline has been extended to May 1, 2012.

Following are the subjects eligible for financial assistance in 2011:

Support to local authorities for integrating sustainability principles in the educational system and the community in the sum of 9.5 million shekels.
Support to local authorities for rehabilitating damages caused by construction and demolition waste for the years 2012 - 2015 in the sum of 4 million shekels.
Support to local authorities for the implementation of the "Environment Tag" program for resource efficiency and savings in local authorities in the sum of 1.5 million shekels.
Support to local councils and regional councils in the periphery for constructing small facilities for the treatment of household organic waste (compostation) in the sum of 5 million shekels.
Support to local authorities and the private sector for assistance in the building of new green buildings in the sum of 15 million shekels.
Support to local authorities in the sum of 0.5 million shekels for help in preventing sandfly nuisances.
Support to local authorities for assistance in the construction of municipal animal pounds in the sum of 0.5 million shekels.
Support to animal welfare organizations and associations in the sum of 1.5 million shekels

Further information on procedures, criteria and guidelines and the application forms themselves are available on the Hebrew website of the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

Environmental Excellence Awards Presented at the President's Residence in Jerusalem

Sun, 8 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Minister of Environmental Protection's third annual environmental excellence awards were presented in the President's Residence in Jerusalem on Jan 8, 2012. Israel President Mr. Shimon Peres and Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan presented the prestigious prize to eight recipients, who received 50,000 shekels each for their contribution to environmental betterment in Israel.

During the ceremony, Israel President Shimon Peres addressed the recipients, saying: "Through their vision, the men and women who were awarded the prize are leading the way toward a full, vibrant world. I wish to extend my deep thanks to you. Continue to break green roads for the blue future of our children."

Environmental Minister Gilad Erdan asserted: "The recipients of the prize are a model of the environmentally responsible behavior which we must all adopt."

Some 70 individuals and organizations submitted their candidacy for the 2011 prize, of which 8 were selected in the following categories: young entrepreneurs, volunteers, associations and organizations, local government, commerce and industry and individuals with exceptional achievements. Selections were based on criteria which include significant environmental action which integrates originality and innovation and impacts on wide circles of Israeli society.

Israel President Shimon Peres further stated in the ceremony that "the twenty-first century began with flashing red lights warning about the danger to the earth's very survival. There is no time. The destructive vicious cycle must end. Environmental awareness is a matter of sustainability. For the earth and for the life it sustains. We are beginning to understand that protection of the environment is protection of our lives. Of the air we breathe. Of the water we drink. Of the bread we eat. Of the blood coursing through our veins. You, the recipients of the prize, were wise enough to understand the urgency of the issue, its acuteness, the severity which increases from day to day and threatens our tomorrow."

Environmental Protection Minister Erdan said: "The Ministry of Environmental Protection is taking numerous steps to protect the environment in Israel, by means of legislation, enforcement, education and information and more. However, the real revolution will only take place if we encourage action by leaders and opinion makers in the public and in industry. For this reason, I initiated the environmental excellence prize, which is meant to identify and highlight the leaders of the camp, who spearhead environmental action in different sectors. It is our responsibility to support them and to help them bequeath a sustainable lifestyle to the public in general."

The winners of the Environmental Protection Minister"s Prize for Environmental Excellence were selected by a committee, headed by Judge (retired) Uri Goren and Att. Alona Sheafer (Karo), Director General of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and including the following members:

Prof. Yossi Loya, Zoology Department, Tel Aviv University
Mr. Shraga Brosh, President of the Manufacturers Association of Israel
Mr. Gil Livne, Mayor of the Municipality of Shoham
Mr. Mossi Raz, Chairperson of Life and Environment - the umbrella organization for environmental bodies
Mr. Moti Kirschenbaum, Israel Prize Winner for Media

Following are the recipients of the prize in the different categories:

Individuals

Alon Schuster, head of the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, was awarded the prize for his wide-ranging environmental activity, including rehabilitating the Shikma River, stopping wastewater discharge in the Sderot industrial council and promoting environmental education in all localities in the council. Alon Schuster's initiatives go well beyond his duties as head of the council and include chairmanship of the Shikma River Authority and of the Sderot-Sha'ar Hanegev Association of Towns for Sewage, among others. His life experience testifies to his record of excellence in the public service.

Young Entrepreneurs

Nader Alafinish and Aya Rimon have spearheaded a young environmental leadership program in Rahat, a predominantly Bedouin city in the south of Israel. Their actions have introduced environmental education and awareness to the Bedouin sector and have succeeded in bringing about a true change, not only in Rahat but in other Bedouin settlements in the Negev.

Volunteers

Eti Altman is best known as a spokesperson for animal rights in Israel. Her wide-ranging activities in this area span many years and include numerous achievements such as the establishment of "Let the Animals Live," Israel's best known animal welfare organization and involvement in precedent-setting court decisions in the area of animal rights. Eti Altman stood out among other candidates for the prize because of her long standing dedication to the field and the impact of her activities on public awareness

Organizations

The Environmental Fellows Program of the Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership, initiated more than ten years ago, is the flagship program for environmental training in Israel. Its graduates rank among the leaders of the environmental movement in Israel. The program trains a cadre of agents of change in the environment, heralding from different areas, including the media, politics, the public sector, economy, law, industry, education and more. Knesset members Nitzan Horowitz and Dov Khenin are among the graduates of the program.

The Eretz Carmel NGO is the leading organization in Israel focusing on separation of waste. The organization was founded and began operating in Kerem Marahal, but soon expanded its operations to nearby communities and to Israel as a whole. The organization advises local authorities on all aspects of waste management, beginning with households. The organization's chairperson, Amiad Lapidot, advises the Ministry of Environmental Protection on the implementation of its separation of waste vision. Thus, the activity of the organization is an important component of the recycling revolution now taking place in Israel.

Local Authorities

The Misgav Regional Council, situated in the Western Galilee, is a well-recognized environmental leader and initiated the "Sustainability Master Plan" program in local government, a model which has been adopted in a large number of other local authorities. An environmental committee has been set up in each of the council's settlements and recycling rates in the council have reached 45 percent. In addition the council assists nearby councils in the Galilee to promote environmental protection and sustainability.

Industry and Commerce

Intel Israel is at the leading edge of adopting environmental technologies in Israel and has invested major resources and efforts in this area. The company integrates environmental principles in all of its activities and excels both in Israel and worldwide. Its activities include: development of green products, which save electricity and packaging material, use of production processes which include monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions, electricity savings and water recycling, construction of office buildings which comply with stringent environmental standards.

Climate Change Adaptation Report for Israel

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Ministry of Environmental Protection is advancing a national action plan on adaptation to climate change. In order to help formulate policy and recommendations on the necessary measures to minimize vulnerability to climate change in different sectors, the ministry financed the establishment of an Israel Climate Change Knowledge Center on adaptation to climate change in Haifa University in Mar 2011.

The goal of the Knowledge Center, during its initial stages of operation, is to gather and coordinate the scientific knowledge available on climate change issues in Israel in seven areas: regional climatic forecasting, impacts of climate change on the water sector, urban planning and building, public health, biodiversity, the economy and regional geo-strategic issues. Seven steering committees with more than one hundred scientists and experts from academic institutions, industry, government organizations and NGOs are charged with assessing the gaps in existing knowledge on the impacts of climate change in Israel based on different scenarios, surveying available means for minimizing damage and vulnerability and organizing seminars on each of these areas.

The first report produced within the framework of the Knowledge Center and submitted to the Ministry of Environmental Protection in Dec 2011 reflects the current state of knowledge on the implications of climate change on Israel. The report surveys scientific research and professional studies in Israel and abroad, identifies knowledge gaps and makes recommendations on priorities for bridging these gaps. It relates to forecasted climate changes in Israel over the next 50 years, per decade, and to the impacts of climate change on four areas: the water sector, public health, biodiversity, and urban building. In addition, the scientific knowledge in two multi-disciplinary topics is surveyed: geostrategic issues and the economy in Israel.

Among the main findings of the report:

Continued increase in average annual temperatures in Israel of between 0.3-.0.5°C per decade.
Reduction in the average quantity of rain in Israel of between 1.1-3.7°C per decade.
Increased desertification in the southern part of Israel.
Increase in the duration and intensity of heat waves, which will increase risks to vulnerable populations.
Increase in extreme events such as floods, which will result in damage to property and ecosystems.
Increased probability of forest fires.
Uncertainty with regard to the impacts on biodiversity, with a risk of increased numbers of invasive species and earlier migration periods of migrating birds.
Necessity to adapt buildings and urban planning to conditions of increased temperature and flood risks and to develop the field of green building.
Growth in migration waves to Israel, increased struggles over water sources, changes in sea level and impacts on civil and military facilities on the coast.
Necessity for nature damage insurance.

These forecasted conditions will significantly impact on different sectors of the economy and are expected to impact on neighboring states as well.

The work undertaken by the Knowledge Center, which was coordinated by the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Dr. Siniai Netanyahu, along with the work undertaken by different government ministries, will serve as the basis for a national action plan on adaptation to climate change. The plan will include operative recommendations for government policy on adaptation to anticipated climate change. It will incorporate damage prevention measures and will identify economic and other opportunities caused by global changes.

The second part of the report which will present concrete recommendations on climate change adaptation policy, will be submitted to the Ministry of Environmental Protection by Mar 2012.

Conference on Climate Change and Forest Fires in the Mediterranean Basin: Jan 24-26, 2012

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Ministry of Environmental Protection, within the framework of CIRCLE 2 ERA-NET and in cooperation with the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund will be holding an international conference on Climate Change & Forest Fires in the Mediterranean Basin: Management & Risk Reduction on Jan 24 - 26, 2012 in the Nir Etzion Hotel on Mount Carmel near Haifa.

The objective of the conference is to share scientific knowledge, policy tools and practical experience for effective management for the prevention of forest fires and for ecological rehabilitation following fires under conditions of climate change.

Conference Structure:

24/1/2012: Sharing of Scientific Knowledge on Climate Change and Forest Fires: forest fire management; post fire ecological rehabilitation; knowledge gaps and research needs.
25/1/2012: From Science to Policy and from Policy to Practice: based on the scientific knowledge presented, policy makers and academicians will meet to discuss policy and practices, covering: forest fire prevention; the role of community engagement in forest fire management; technologies and innovative approaches in fire management.
26/1/2012L Professional Field Tour (by invitation only): study tour to Mount Carmel Forests; learning from international experience.

Participation in the conference is free of charge (based on availability) but pre-registration is required. The scientific conference will be conducted in English and on the second day, when policy and practice will be discussed, translation services will be available.

Further details and registration forms are available on the English website of the Ministry of Environmental Protection

Over 150 participants in an international conference on "Climate Change and Forest Fires in the Mediterranean Basin: Management & Risk Reduction"

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Ministry of Environmental Protection, in cooperation with the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL) within a framework of the EU ERA-NET CIRCLE 2 for promoting research and cooperation on climate change adaptation held an international conference on Climate Change & Forest Fires in the Nir Etzion Hotel on Mount Carmel near Haifa. The conference took place 24 - 26th of Jan 2012.

The objectives of the conference were to share scientific knowledge, policy tools and practical experience for effective management for the prevention of forest fires and for ecological rehabilitation following fires under conditions of climate change.

Approximately 150 people participated in the conference including government ministries, local government, the Fire and Rescue Services, the Nature and Parks Authority, KKL-JNF, researchers from academia, the private sector and NGO's.

This international conference also hosted lecturers and guests from Jordan, Kosovo, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Canada and the USA. Among our guests from abroad were Prof. Johann Georg Goldammer, director of the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC - UN university); Prof. Josי Moreno from the university of Castilla de la Mancha, a member of the IPCC panel that received the Nobel prize with Al Gore, and also Prof. Jon E. Keeley, US Geological Survey and adjunct professor UCLA with other distinguished guests.

The first day involved sharing scientific knowledge and focused on the relation between climate change and forest fires; forest fire management; post fire ecological assessment & rehabilitation; and knowledge gaps and research needs.

Climate change affects temperature increases and heat waves which have an increasing impact on wildfires. The fire, its size and its intensity are correlated to weather conditions in the months and days prior to the fire's ignition. The increasing risks and the 2010 Carmel Forest fire disaster were the main incentives to organize this conference. Interesting findings that came up during the lectures presented in the first day were:

In Europe, it was found that the massive emigration from rural areas to cities have left agricultural areas susceptible to forest growth and takeover, increasing the fire risk in many areas. The EU representative claimed that the number of fires and the burned area did not increase with time. However, the damages are more severe due to the proximity of forests to human settlements.
In California, the growth in population increases the man made fires and the proximity of the fires to settlements increases damages.
In Israel the vast majority of fires are man made.
Military activity is a major cause of fires around the world, and in Israel it was shown that they are amongst the costliest to extinguish. leading method to control and prevent fires is to reduce the amount of forest vegetation. One suggestion is to bring back herds of goats to forest areas. Natural rehabilitation of the forest, as opposed to planting trees, was raised as an issue to be further examined.
The Carmel fire started after 8 months of no rain and under extreme dry conditions. One of the main causes for the fire abating was a quick change in wind direction from east to west together with a rapid increase in humidity from 10 to 90 %
There are a number of monitoring and fire tracking systems in Europe whose high costs demand collaboration between many countries. Israel was invited to participate in a number of such programs.

The second day of the conference concentrated on the transition between science and policy and from policy to application and management. The Carmel rehabilitation status after the fire, decreasing rehabilitation costs, and forest management plans for reducing fire risks were among the main topics that were discussed.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection presented the main results obtained by the committee that was selected by the Minister of Environmental Protection. The main results were:
- Natural system rehabilitation based on natural processes.
- Reducing the dense pine forest component of the Carmel landscape
- Desired landscape - a variety of patches: open areas, groves, woods and mixed patches.
- Establishment of buffer zones between landscape units and around settlements
- Landscaping Development for the communities in areas that are prone to fire.
- Preserving the local pine tree population that is natural to the Carmel, which is genetically distinct.
The importance of goat herding in the buffer zones and in the forest for maintaining the clearings was presented.
The heads of the two regional municipalities, Dalyat el Carmel and Usafia said they consider the forest an important resource. They added they would like to work with KKL and the NPA and that they would like for discussions and decisions regarding the Carmel forest management to be made together with the local population.
Ecosystem services coming from nature but needing to serve people were emphasized. Thus in every system the human factor should be considered by using social science tools and need to consider cultural preferences which other ecologic and economic tools cannot asses.
The role of the local population should also be understood including the benefits of the forests as green lungs, pollution filters, improvers of local climate and noise reducers and a general ad wide education program should be established among the local population.
The day ended with a session about technological tools, remote sensing, aerial photography and special analyses to assess fire risks and projections. Another interesting tool presented was a Canadian thermal camera which helps fire fighters track the fire front, hot spots and roots fires.

On the third day participants took a field tour to the Carmel Forest to assess the rehabilitation efforts, soil erosion and management successes and difficulties in the Carmel area. The tour concluded with an open discussion where the foreign visitors commented on the rehabilitation efforts, emphasizing the importance of a long-term strategic plan for forest management and mapping risky areas in the forest including soil erosion and areas required fuel brakes.