Our Achievements: 2020

SUCCESSES

 

Thousands of participants at the “Carnival at the Stream” Festival:

In November, about 1,800 hikers celebrated the start of seasonal streamflow during a weekend of special tours and hikes along 20 streams and wadis throughout the country. The hikes, tours, and activities were provided within the framework of the stream rehabilitation project and in partnership with many of our field units, with the aim of introducing the public to lesser-known streams and offering different, unique perspectives on more familiar streams. Our education and community staff, nature conservation staff, and birders ran these activities. Groups were limited to 20 participants in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines.

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Promoting the protection of streams:

During the last year, our efforts have promoted in-depth planning processes to strengthen stream protection and implement ecological and societal aspects of stream protection principles.

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Stopping pollution in the Arava river (“the Secret River”) delta:

Following the exposure of pollution by the Dead Sea Factories, which threatened to damage “the Secret River”, we led a public campaign to stop the actions and alter the plans based on a geological survey of the location’s value. Our aim is to protect the unique natural treasures of this location and maximize their accessibility to the general public.

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Halting plans to build a military road through the K’ziv Stream:

In cooperation with the region’s residents, we managed to prevent a military initiative to develop a path for heavy vehicles through the Kziv Stream Nature Reserve, which would have heavily damaged the stream and its surroundings.

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“Stream Keepers” projects took place in the Arab community, in partnership with the Western Galilee Drainage Authority and Kishon Drainage Authority. “Stream Keepers” is an educational program. It aims to familiarize school children and the community with the aquatic habitats in their nearby environment, and encourage engagement through environmental responsibility and exposure to the students’ local environment.

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Challenges

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A decision to directly connect the Kinneret uplands and release Mayanot HaDofen (the side springs):

The Water Authority Council is due to discuss the Water Authority’s plan to increase the water supply to the region north of the Sea of Galilee. The council will be asked to consider a proposal to pump water from the Sea of Galilee and thereby increase the Upper Galilee’s water supply. We believe that the proper way to ensure sustainable flows upstream of the Jordan River is by direct connection to the national system, without pumping from the Sea of Galilee. Accordingly, we will campaign, with the help of the public, to also release the flow from springs that feed the Jordan River, which are currently blocked and pumped to meet agricultural demands.

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“The polluter pays” for stream pollution:

Pollution destroys streams and their surroundings, preventing us from enjoying these precious natural resources. The challenge we have taken upon ourselves is to bring about increased regulation to create a real deterrence from polluting streams, and legislation to impose a tax on the polluting parties, so as to encourage behavioral change. Prior to promoting the regulatory action, we will initiate public action to garner support.

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Establishment of “Stream Keepers” communities:

In partnership with the drainage authorities and local municipalities, communities of “Stream Keepers” will be established along a number of primary streams, in order to motivate relevant groups to conserve the surrounding area, and to strengthen the connection between the local public and the stream and its surroundings.

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A festival and conference on streams:

This spring, we will hold the second national stream carnival. In tautumn we are planning to hold a large conference directed at decision makers, to encourage them to take responsibility for stream rehabilitation.

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Protecting the springs Wadi Fukin and Husan:

A series of construction plans, promoted by Tzur Hadassah and Beitar Ilit, are threatening the unique streams of Wadi Fukin and Husan. SPNI has submitted objections to each of these plans, and even appealed to the court in one case, to protect these streams that are used by traditional agriculture. This campaign will continue next year, in collaboration with the region’s Jewish and Arab residents.