Israel s Mediterranean Coast: Public Awareness and the NGOs Activities I N B A L K O R E N - R E I S N E R S P N I M A R E N O S T R U M, V O L O S, J U L Y, 2 0 1 3
SPNI the Society for the Protection Nature in Israel NGOs - Formal organizations, independent from the government, positioned by people who want to promote values, attitudes, ideas and shared identities and influence of the public space. SPNI- The first NGO in Israel. Established in 1953 Celebrating 60 years of action and activities this year. The civil action of the SPNI led to the establishment of INPA and pushed for the establishment of Ministry of Environment.
Main Issues: Israeli s coast line. Development pressure on the coast. Public struggle - the coastal campaign. Successes. What s next.
Israel s Mediterranean coast Length: 197 km Unique: various landscapes, historical sites and rich biodiversity.
Israel s Mediterranean coast Straight coastline Predominately sandy beach Coastal cliffs
Turbid & turbulent sea Israel s Mediterranean coast
Israel s Mediterranean coast Narrow and short coastal strip and mixed land - uses Development pressure: population growth, economic development and cultural development Available coast: 2.5 cm per person
Israel s Mediterranean coast
Protection of the Coastal Environment Law (Coastal Law), 2004- history Barcelona convention ICZM COSTAL LAW PUBLIC PRESSURE
Threats on the Coast Marine pollution Vehicles on the beach Entrance fees Litter Constructions Fenced beaches Private/ Public events
Private / Public events pre-law Closing of coasts
Private / public events after the law The Coastal Law secured the public's right of free passage to coastal areas. entrance fees to beaches Committee for the Protection of the Coastal Environment Two types of criteria to make a decision: Absolute criteria - preserving the public interest Relational criteria
The 90 s wave of programs along the coastvacation apartments & marinas
Development pressure: constructed and planned areas for construction alongside the coast Category Already built urban areas Already built rural areas Total constructed areas Urban areas planned for construction Rural areas planned for construction Total planned areas for construction Total built and planned areas Total in km 41 16 57 40 6 46 103 Out of 197
As the same time as the costal law was been formulating, the environmental movement ran a national campaign, that called to Israel to adopt a costal law
Nahariya- Hotel by the sea
Artificial islands in Nahariya Marina in Nahariya
Akko- Hotel on a reclaimed land
Marina in Akko
Artificial islands in Haifa
Marina in Haifa
Marina in Natanya
Natanya- the south cliff hotel & residence by the sea
Marina in Herzeliya The residences were not approved residence vacation apartments
Tel Aviv- Jaffa North-West Hotel & residence by the sea
The question was not IF to built, but HOW to built The SPNI alternative planning was implemented in the certified planning
Marina in the Yarkon River
Jaffa Port
Ashdod- Hotel & vacation apartments
Nitzanim- Resort
Zikim- Resort
NGOs strategy & set of tools Define goals, create limits and red lines, allocation resources (manpower, budget & etc.) Set of tools- Action plan Public - events, protest, petitions Decision makers - Lobbing & Media Other NGOs coalition/ forum/ partnership Professional knowledge educational, urban planning, ecological, etc & Activism
Public struggle and the Coastal Campaign The main goals- Promote a sustainable costal law public unconcern public awareness public pressure and struggle Way of action- Creating a Educational activities Protest activities coalition Advocacy & awareness activities Public Activism
Coastal Organizations Forum
Advocacy & awareness activities
Advocacy & awareness activities
Protest activities
Protest activities Tel Aviv the mayor s office In front of the Parliament
Media activity
Public Activism
Public Activism
Public Activism
Educational activities Free Tours
Educational activities
Educational activities
Educational activities Sculpture Competition Cleaning the beach Create a stone path Wrote an petition and Signed passersby
Successes Costal law The committee of coast protection Strong public awareness Cancel / change planning programs A new state of mind among the public and the decision makers. As a non-government organization the SPNI puts a lot of affords and resources on this 10 years campaign.
What s next Public awareness + limited NGO s resources = change of focus for the SPNI. Topics of the SPNI activities those days: Erosion of the costal cliffs Establish of national mechanism of send management Infrastructures Invasive species We recognized the Sea itself as the next threatened arena
Thank you!