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Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Media and Public Affairs Division

Information and Visual Media Department

Director: Mordehay Rodgold

Project Manager: Ariella Charny

Executive Manager: MGS Language Services

Creative and Project Manager: Visual-Trigger

Design: Hashchuna

Content Research: Maof Creative

Writing: Judy Elkus

Cover Photo: Eyal Bartov

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FACTS ABOUT

ISRAEL

GEOLOGY, FLORA & FAUNA 2

NATURE RESERVES & NATIONAL PARKS 4

ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION 6

INVESTING IN THE ENVIRONMENT 8

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From snow-topped mountains to vast expanses of sand dunes, fertile fields to lush woodlands, Israel’s topography is uniquely varied for an area of its size (22,072 square kilometers – 8,522 square miles – from north to south).

It is home to mountain ranges and plains, bright Mediterranean coasts and even the lowest point on earth - the Dead Sea. Rugged basalt landscapes in the northeast Golan Heights tell of volcanic activity in the distant past, while the unique Ramon Crater in the south speaks of the power of water to erode rock over millennia. It is this geological diversity, and a climate that ranges from Mediterranean to sub-tropical, that makes Israel a welcoming habitat for some 35,300 living species of flora and fauna.

With the changing seasons, some 2,380 species of flora bloom, 160 of which are found only in Israel. A lush green carpet sprouts up soon after the first rains in autumn, lasting until the return of the summer dry season. In the spring, the country is dazzled in the colors of blooming almond trees, pink and white cyclamen and red, white, and purple anemones, among many others. Hovering over the fields are some 135 varieties of butterflies, displaying their brilliant hues and patterns. The lucky hiker can glimpse mountain gazelles grazing in the hills, Middle East tree frogs (heard more than seen) near marshesand ponds, and foxes in wooded areas.

Bird Migration Hot Spot Over 500 different species of birds can be seen in Israel at different times of the year. During the migration seasons, at least 500 million birds pass through the country’s skies, particularly over the Hula Valley in the Upper Galilee, the Beit Shean Valley, Jerusalem and the Arava desert in the south. The Jerusalem Bird Observatory, nestled in a park between the Knesset (Parliament) and the Supreme Court of Israel, offers a uniquely urban bird-watching experience, with more than 120 different species perching in its trees during migration stopovers.

GEOLOGY,FLORA & FAUNA

Caring for the Environment | Geology, Flora & Fauna

Sea Turtle Conservation The Israeli Sea Turtle Rescue Center is fighting a vital and challenging battle to save endangered Mediterranean turtles from extinction - the green turtle and the loggerhead. The center treats wounded turtles before returning them to the sea, gathers and incubates turtle eggs before returning the hatchlings to beaches, and raises public awareness to help preserve Israel's coastlines and establish coastal nature reserves.

The Hula Valley | Eyal Bartov


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Fish1728 species

Wildlife of Israel

In 1906, Jewish agronomist and botanical researcher Aaron Aaronsohn discovered Triticum dicoccoides, known as the ‘mother of wheat,’ growing in northern Israel. Today, genes from this ancestor of modern wheat, which dates back some ten thousand years, are used to create new, highly nutritious strains of wheat that are resistant to diseaseand drought.

The Mother ofWheat

Reptiles 103 species

Mammals104 species

Amphibians 7 species

Birds500 species

Insects and Invertebrates30,000 species

The Negev | Eyal Bartov

The Gallilee | Flash 90

The Dead Sea

The Hermon Mountain | Flash 90


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Hikers in the desert | Eyal Bartov

More than 360 sites in Israel have been declared national parks or nature reserves, and they cover over 5000 square kilometers (1930 square miles) - a quarter of the Israel's total land mass. Most parks are operated by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, which is tasked with preserving natural beauty, protecting endangered or at-risk ecosystems, habitats and species, and enforcing Israel’s wildlife protection laws. Thestate is committed by law to set aside water for natural replenishment in the reserves.

Experiencing the great outdoors is a key part of Israeli life from school excursions to family trips on weekends and holidays, when Israelis of all ages and from all walks of life flock to nature reserves and national parks. Locals and tourists alike enjoy a wide variety of activities around the country, whether it’s sledding on the Hermon Mountain or snorkeling in the coral reefs of the Red Sea; strolling through the forests near Jerusalem or hiking in the desert; kayaking on the Sea of Galilee or floating in the Dead Sea. The one-of-a-kind Israel National Trail, a 1,100-kilometer – 680-mile – marked route spanning the entire country from north to south, allows hikers to experience a variety of ecosystems up close.

Israel is home to two sites recognized by UNESCO as biosphere reserves (habitats where nature preservation is balanced sustainably with continuous human activity):Mount Carmel in Haifa and the hills of Ramot Menashe in the Galilee.

NATURE RESERVES &NATIONAL PARKS

Caring for the Environment | Nature Reserves & National Parks

Did You Know? Many natural sites in Israel hold religious significance to millions around the world. The Jordan River, for example, which runs from Mount Hermon to the Dead Sea, was the river that the tribes of Israel crossed to reach the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering in the desert. It is also the river in which John the Baptist baptized Jesus.

Archaeology and Nature in One Much of Israel’s natural beauty is uniquely combined with historical sites. Hikers at Ubeidiya, near the Jordan River, find one of the earliest prehistoric human settlements outside of Africa. Nahal Me'arot nature reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, includes an extraordinary prehistoric burial site. Exploring Beit Guvrin, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, reveals 500 caves dating back 2000 years to the Judean Hasmonean dynasty. Scaling the route up Masada, against a stunningdesert background, visitors enter the last stronghold of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans, which fell in 73 CE.


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Israel’s desert regions are home to the largest ibex herds in the world. These agile mountain goats, similar to the antelope, are easy to spot roaming in their natural habitat. Fittingly, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority has adoptedthe ibex as its official symbol.

Roaming Free

The 5 most popular national parks in Israel

8.7 million locals and tourists enjoyed Israel's nationalparks in 2016

Ashkelon

National Park

CaesareaNational Park

MasadaNational Park

Ein Gedi NatureReserve

Hermon Stream (Banias)Nature Reserve

Hikers in the desert | Eyal Bartov

NATURE RESERVES &NATIONAL PARKS


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Hundreds of start-ups in Israel are creating technologies that answer many of today's environmental challenges, such as pollution, drought, habitat loss and the need to develop alternative sources of energy. Israeli innovators are pioneering solutions for harnessing clean hydrogen energy from algae, cleaning marine oil spills, revolutionizing pesticides for sustainability, keeping food fresher longer and much more. A hotbed for green innovation, Israel is ranked #1 on the 2014 Global Cleantech Index, which rated 40 countries’ cleantech startupsand their chance of succeeding on a commercial scale.

When it comes to water technology and management, Israel is a global leader. Water is scarce in the Middle East and some 60 percent of Israel is desert. With climate change, a rapidly growing population and the rise in the standard of living, Israel should have faced a major water shortage in the 21st century. However, thanks to Israel's entrepreneurial spirit and holistic approach to water planning and management, the country actually has a water surplus, even exporting water to its neighbors, the Kingdom of Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.

By implementing massive water recycling and saltwater desalination programs, using Israeli-invented drip irrigation technology in agriculture and educating the public about water conservation, Israel was able to both save water and increase its water supply to meet its high demand. Israel ranks first in the world in the sector, recycling 86 percent of its water. It has also reduced per capita consumption of fresh natural water by 80 percent since 1967, and today, supplies some 50 percent of its water demand with recycled or desalinated water. The largest desalination plant in the world, the Sorek plant, is located on theMediterranean coast in central Israel.

ENVIRONMENTALINNOVATION

Caring for the Environment | Environmental Innovation

Israeli NGOs, start- ups and government agencies are sharing their technological knowhow with the world. From installing drip irrigation and solar-powered water pumps in villages inSenegal, to running agro- tech workshops in India, to bringing the first-ever Israeli-designed mobile water purification system to the Marshall Islands, Israeli tech and training has positively impacted the lives of millions throughout the world, and continues to help alleviate food and water scarcity across continents.

Sharing Israeli Knowhow with theWorld


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Green Building Israel's greenest state-of-the-art, LEED-certified building, the Porter

School of Environmental Studies at Tel Aviv University, features solar and

thermal energy-based air conditioning, bioclimatic technologies to regulate

ventilation, lighting and moisture, wetlands to treat and recycle greywater,

and exhibition areas to engage the public on sustainability.

Solar EnergyIsrael has plenty of sunshine, making it a prime hub for solar energy innovation.85 percent of households in Israel use solar thermal systems for heating water, saving around 2 million barrels of oil a year. In the southern region of Eilat, a major solar energy project is underway to ensure Eilat's complete energy independence and zero carbon emissions by 2020.

Global Leader in Water Management and Technology

Israel 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015Spain Australia Italy Greece c.Europe

Israel ranks first in the world in wastewater recycling The rise in desalination in Israel (in million cubic meters)

17% 10% 8% 5% 1%

0% 0

10%100

20%

20030%

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40%

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50%

500

60%

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70%

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90%

100%

86%

The Shafdan water treatment facility in central Israel

Solar panels in the Arava


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From Garbage to Gorgeous Formerly one of the Israel's biggest landfill sites, the Ariel Sharon Park near Tel Aviv has been completely transformed into a beautiful public park. After sanitizing the closed landfill, handling the bio-gas produced by the waste and draining surface runoff, Israeli experts took to meticulously designing the park – three times larger than Central Park in New York City – to include gardens, walking and cycling trails, ponds, sports facilities, and a 150-acre recycling station. What's more, the bio-gas from the former landfill, once a pollutant, is nowharnessed as green energy.

A Sustainable Future

240 million trees planted in Israel in the 20th century

Israel recycles some 77.5% of bottles and cans

Israel recycles over 86% of its water – the highest percent in theworld

Over 85% of Israeli householdsuse solar energy

Israelis planting trees in the Ben Shemen forest | Flash 90

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Even before the State of Israel was established in 1948, forward- thinking leaders and pioneers recognized the importance of sustainability. In 1937, Mekorot, Israel's national water utility, was founded with the vision of making the desert bloom and to this day, its flagship project, the National Water Carrier, serves as the main artery of the national water system, transporting water from the north, where precipitation is higher, to arid areas in the south of the country.

Israel signed and ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1996 and since then continues to invest in measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the use of renewable energy sources. Israel gets some 60 percent of its electricity from natural gas – an energy source that is far less polluting than oil or coal – and, with the recent discovery of two large natural gas fields off the coast of Haifa, is positioned to derive all of its energy from natural gas and achieve complete energy independence in the near future.

Israeli field schools and NGO's – including the SPNI (Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel) and the JNF-KKL (Jewish National Fund) – work together with the Israel Ministry of Environment to tackle environmental issues, campaign for conservation and run a variety of educational programs. One of the JNF-KKL's major successes is in afforestation; their work helped Israel became one of only two countries in the world to enter the 21st century with a netgain of trees.

INVESTING IN THEENVIRONMENT

Caring for the Environment | Investing in the environment

Israel adopted a new agreement on greenhouse gas emissions at the Paris Climate Conference in December 2015. The government committed to a four-year program that works towards achieving targets set by the agreement. One of the goals is the reduction of per-capita greenhouse gas emissions to 7.7 tons of CO2e [carbon dioxideequivalent] by 2030, or a 25% reduction of Israel's 2005 greenhouse gas emissions.

Reducing Greenhouse Gases

River and Lake Rehabilitation Israel has taken great strides to clean up its lakes and rivers. The Hula Lake in the Galilee was restored by the JNF in the 1990's and is today the site of an internationally acclaimed bird sanctuary. The Yarkon River in central Israel also underwent a huge revitalization project. It was dredged to restore its original depth and natural flow and to improve the water quality. A cleaning and purification project at the Kishon River in Haifa wascompleted in 2014.

The Yarkon river


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