Open Spaces Foundation of the Israel Land Authority (ILA) has approved an investment of approximately a quarter of a billion shekels in 153 environmental and ecological projects across the country. The budgets, which were approved at a meeting of the fund management headed by ILA acting director and fund chairman Yehuda Eliyahu, are earmarked inter alia for the restoration of streams and ecosystems, the establishment of parks, the preservation of nature values, and the making of open spaces accessible to the public.
Among the projects that received funding are the establishment of the Nahal and Katzrin Forest promenade, with an investment of NIS 5.65 million, and the development of the Moza Nahal Tavor park in Nof Hagalil, in the same amount. Additionally, NIS 5.07 million was approved for the Nahal Hanita project, which is intended to connect the city of Shlomi to the sea, and NIS 4.52 million for the restoration of the middle Nahal Tavor in the Jezreel Valley.
In the south, a budget of NIS 5.65 million was approved for the development of the Nahal Bohu park in the Ma'alot Ha'nahal neighborhood of Netivot. In addition, NIS 3.66 million will be allocated for the restoration of the British Pool in Mateh Yossef and NIS 2.51 million for the Nahal Sorek project, the Valley of the Singing Birds, in the Judean Lowlands.
Emphasis on the restoration of the north and easing of funding conditions
Against the backdrop of the protracted war and the damage to northern communities, the fund management decided to give special priority to projects in the confrontation line area. As part of the decision, unusual easing of funding conditions was approved, intended to allow authorities to continue promoting environmental projects even when the utilization of previous budgets has not yet been completed.
Among other things, the allocation of new budgets will also be permitted for projects by bodies that have not yet utilized 50% of the budgets approved for them for previous projects. The fund explained that the purpose of the easing is to prevent delays in the development and restoration of open spaces in the area.
In Kiryat Shmona, a budget of NIS 5.65 million was approved for the project where Nahal Zahav meets the Western Canal. In the Mateh Asher Regional Council, NIS 5.55 million will be invested in the development and ecological restoration of Nahal Yissaschar, including the establishment of a promenade path and the improvement of connectivity in the area.
In Hatzor Haglilit, NIS 2.54 million was approved for the restoration of Nahal Far'am, and in the Western Galilee, NIS 2.26 million will be allocated for the restoration and accessibility of Salamander Hill. In the Kinneret area, a budget of NIS 600,000 was approved for the statutory planning of the Upper Jordan River source streams.
Approximately NIS 2.4 billion since the fund's establishment
The Open Spaces Foundation has been operating since 2013 with the aim of protecting natural areas outside built-up zones, restoring ecosystems, and developing leisure and recreation areas. Its budget is based on an annual allocation of one percent of the Israel Land Authority's revenues. According to authority data, since the fund's establishment, budgets have been approved through it for approximately 1,450 projects, with a cumulative scope of about NIS 2.4 billion.
"We view the preservation of open spaces as a central pillar in responsible and balanced national planning," said Yehuda Eliyahu, ILA acting director and fund chairman. According to him, the investment is intended to balance Israel's accelerated development and housing needs with the protection of natural and landscape resources.
"This is a long-term commitment, for the public and for future generations. The ILA will continue to invest in environmental projects and in preserving environmental quality in the coming years," he added.