THE ECOLOGICAL IMPERATIVE - ISRAEL


THE ECOLOGICAL IMPERATIVE – ISRAEL

The renewal of physical ties between the Land of the Bible and the people of Israel have led, in recent generations, to a rediscovery of and concern for the environment, and the ecological balance of the Land.

The Land of Israel, ancient and biblical, has a beautiful and varied landscape with many distinct ecosystems: from the snow-capped Hermon and volcanic plateau of the Golan Heights to the pristine coral reefs and majestic mountains in Eilat; from the lush Galilee in the North to the Negev Desert in the South; from the Hula Valley wetlands of the River Jordan to the Savannas of the Arava Desert; and from the sandy Mediterranean Coast to the limestone mountains of Jerusalem. All are vital to a delicate natural balance. Israel is blessed with a wide array of biodiversity. It is home to some 2,800 species of plants, more than 500 species of birds and 100 species of mammals.
Located along the African-Eurasian flyway, Israel hosts over 500 million migrating birds twice each year. Israel is designated as a biodiversity hotspot where focused international conservation efforts will have the greatest effect.
The “Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel” is Israel's oldest and largest environmental non-profit organisation. Established as early as 1953, the SPNI has been dedicated to protecting and preserving Israel's natural resources, environment, biodiversity and unique landscape. The work carried out by SPNI now will determine what the land of Israel will look like for generations to come.
Israel has reached a critical point in its development. A tiny country with a growing population, Israel’s remaining open spaces are increasingly under threat of development. SPNI is working tirelessly with policy makers and with the public, in schools, youth groups and communities all over the country to create a sustainable future for Israel in the 21st Century.
In its search for sustainability and animal welfare, Israel has initiated many projects.
A good example for sustainable development, is the Project Wadi Attir - the brainchild of Dr, Ben-Eli, the Israeli-born initiator and founder of the project. The Project’s primary objective is to preserve and nurture traditional Bedouin agricultural know-how. Less than a decade ago the site chosen was a barren, degraded dryland, populated mainly by scorpions. Today, thanks to a unique method of harvesting rainwater and planting, the area has been completely restored. There are thousands of trees and flowering plants, fields of crops and native herbs, a thriving sheep and goat dairy with the most advanced milking facilities in Israel.


 If Israel desires a Land with open spaces, diverse wildlife, running streams of spring water, clean air, an Israel that its’ grandchildren will be able to enjoy, it is imperative to invest now. For the sake of the future, “it is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it” (Ethics of Our Fathers 2:21).









                                                                                                                                  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

GRANDMA'S ARMY AT WAR

  Six-and-a-haIf years ago I began to write a blog “Grandma’s Army”, as I had seven grandchildren serving in the army at the same time.   Little did I dream that today, that number would jump to seven + ten, Apart from two in the regular army, all the rest are in the Reserves. Both of my sons, who are over 60 years-old, are in army uniform again. They have volunteered to drive army trucks for transport purposes all over the country, after taking a special driving course. Since I began this blog, Azriel and his wife have returned to live in their home on the moshav. They had been evacuated since the beginning of the war, since their home is in the “Gaza envelope”. Azriel has four children and one son-in-law in the army since the beginning. His officer daughter, Adi was called up to the War room of the Gaza Brigade on the second day of the war: “When the first Givati ground forces of the regular army entered Gaza, I knew that my fiancé, Hillel, was amongst them serving a...
Read more

A DIABOLICAL STRATEGY

It’s a verified fact that Hamas has been planning the ongoing war with Israel for decades. Hamas knew that they could not beat Israel militarily.  They also knew that  Israel would retaliate very strongly after the massacre on October 7 th - and the kidnapping and abuse of 252 men, women, children and babies. Hamas spent almost twenty years preparing the Gaza Strip as a killing ground for Israeli soldiers and Palestinian civilians. The  massive network of tunnels spanned more kilometers than the London Underground and  New York metro combined!  By integrating their military operations throughout civilian infrastructure - these tunnels served as missile launchers and storehouses of lethal weapons underneath kindergartens, schools, hospitals, even mosques, etc. The IDF had no choice but to fight the terrorists from, or close to, residential and commercial areas. In all those years, Hamas deliberately prepared nothing to protect it’s own civilians. On the co...
Read more

GRANDMA'S ARMY AT WAR - I

  My oldest daughter, Simcha, has four sons in the Reserves, plus her son-in-law: Her oldest son, Nir, is a Major in the Givati commandos. He was on his way to volunteer at 11:00 a.m. on October 7 th , before his call-up papers arrived. His present service is connected to Intelligence activities and is not for   the public ear. Omer, from the Givati Battalion, also went straight to his army base on the 7 th of October, before his call-up papers arrived two days later. Givati forces are in charge of combatting terrorism in the Gaza Strip area His first assignment was as Deputy Commander of the Forward Command Squad. Because of chronic back problems, he was transferred to the Battalion’s War Room where he is part of a small team. He monitors orders between the Battalions and Brigades, deals with problems of the ground forces in his command, and records the day’s military activities. Assaf wrote: “At 6 a.m. on Tuesday, October 7 th , my wife Deni left for her work as a nur...
Read more