By SHARON UDASIN, MELANIE LIDMAN 10/12/2012 Facility next to Har Adar will destroy KKL forest, residents charge. Itzhak Rabihiya hikes in the forest around his home in the Jerusalem suburb of Har Adar nearly every morning, weaving through 50-year-old pine trees that were planted by the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) to create the […]

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Steven Viney On a day designated for ideas and discussions about towns and cities, urban planners discussed ways of improving Cairo at a conference Monday. “We are at a critical time in Egypt’s development where the only way out is to compromise and find a way for all parties involved — academics, policymakers, institutions — […]

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Louise Sarant Egypt’s capital spreads cement tentacles over what used to be extremely viable agricultural land, replacing it with rickety brick towers. North and south, east and west, as far as the eye can see, Cairo is an immensity of grey, dotted with millions of satellite dishes planted on derelict rooftops that compete for space […]

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Former tent protesters living off the land near exclusive Arsuf enclave. By Roy (Chicky) Arad | Oct.14, 2012 Between the wealthy coastal plain community of Arsuf, southwest of Kibbutz Shefayim and Moshav Rishpon on seven dunams (1.75 acres ) of the most expensive land in the country, an ecological community was established in May, most […]

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Biggest biogas conversion installation inaugurated in Be’er Tuvia; will treat livestock, organic waste Published: 10.14.12 A new biogas conversion facility was recently inaugurated in Be’er Tuvia, a mosahv in southern Israel. The facility aims to turn livestock waste – such as cattle-shed, hen-house and other organic waste – into elasticity. The biogas installation was built […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 10/12/2012 Acanthobrama telavivensis re-inhabit area after improvement in water quality, ecological conditions, river authority says. For the first time in 50 years, Yarkon Bleak fish – known in Hebrew as the Lebanon fish – have been spotted in the once highly polluted middle portion of the Yarkon River. Since the river became […]

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Venice, 2/10/2012 AFED participated in the launching of the Mediterranean Footprint Report at the UNESCO office in Venice. The report was produced by the Global Footprint Network (GFN), who are AFED’s partners for the report on Ecological Footprint in Arab Countries. AFED Secretary General Najib Saab presented an overview on the state of natural resources […]

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Human rights group says 162 complaints filed by Palestinians over alleged orchard vandalism by settler last seven years have yielded only one indictment Elior Levy Published: 10.11.12 The Yesh Din – Volunteers for Human Rights group leveled harsh criticism at the Judea and Samaria District Police Thursday, saying the department is failing to prosecute cases […]

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Environmental activist found guilty of libel after criticizing container-collection company; lawyer calls ruling ‘grave blow to freedom of speech.’ By Zafrir Rinat | Oct.11, 2012 A recent court ruling is liable to have environmental activists cautious in the future about the criticism they sling at government authorities and corporations. The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court has found […]

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Although the groundwater and surface water pollution was discovered about 20 years ago, this will be the first time IMI executives will be forced to testify. By Zafrir Rinat | Oct.10, 2012′ The head of Israel Military Industries has received a court order to testify about the worst groundwater pollution in Israel, which geological surveys […]

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October 12, 2012 BEIRUT: Environment Minister Nazem Khoury launched Thursday a national campaign to reduce air pollution, saying that the transportation sector is its primary source. In a speech at the Environment Ministry, Khoury said that the ministry has decided to support “The National Campaign For Air Pollution Reduction in Lebanon Through Efficient Energy Use […]

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Knesset’s Environment Committee begins debate on new legislation meant to set new mechanism for disposal, recycling of waste produced by construction sites Zvi Lavi Published: 10.03.12 The Knesset’s Internal Affairs and Environment Committee is currently working on new legislation meant to battle the illegal disposal of construction waste. According to the Environmental Protection Ministry, Israel’s […]

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Residents of Matte Asher Regional Council in western Galilee mount protest in attempt to prevent building of new desalination facility on agricultural land Ynetnews Published: 10.08.12 Residents of the western Galilee are trying to prevent the construction of a new desalination plant on the beach in Shavei Zion, Ynet has learned. The plant is supposed […]

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Water Authority to increase water quotas allotted to agriculture by 25 million cubic meters; similar quantity allocated for river restoration projects Chen Pundak, Calcalist Published: 10.11.12 The Water Authority has granted a petition by the Israel’s Farmers Federation for increased water quotas in 2013, approving an additional 25 million cubic meters for agriculture. Following the […]

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Minister Erdan, EPA Chief Jackson expand shared environmental MOU to include more greentech research, eco-economy Ynetnews Published: 10.09.12 Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan and US Environmental Protection Agency Director Lisa Jackson signed an addendum to the environmental memorandum of understanding between the countries, expanding their joint operations in the field, the ministry said on its […]

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European Travelers’ Association honors unique hiking, biking trail surrounding Negev’s capital; initiative wins third place Prof. Adi Wolfson. Published: 10.08.12 The Beersheba “ring trail,” a 42km hiking trail and Israel’s only city-encompassing path, won third place in the European Travelers’ Association’s annual environmental competition, Ynet learned Sunday. The Society for Protection of Nature in Israel […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 10/10/2012 This year’s early rains encourage water officials; water level stands at 212.345 meters below sea level. As rain begins to dampen the streets of central and northern Israel this fall, experts find the water level of Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee) to be encouraging – but with no correlation to […]

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by Hana Namrouqa | Oct 08, 2012 AMMAN — Ten of the Kingdom’s 12 aquifers are overexploited, which is projected to further limit water supply, deteriorate groundwater quality and harm the country’s fragile ecosystems, a senior government official said on Monday. Decreasing water amounts due to changing climate patterns, coupled with a growing population and […]

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The “Protecting Groundwater” project aims to promote sustainable management of water resources and alleviate pollution of groundwater in Mediterranean Basins. In November 2011 a new project for protecting groundwater in the Mediterranean Basin was established. FoEME is teaming up with the province of Malaga, Spain in order to promote sustainable groundwater resources in the Mediterranean […]

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By Matthew Richard and Jad Issac For more than 44 years, the Israeli Occupation has violated the Palestinian right to the equitable and reasonable utilisation of shared water resources. Following the 1967 War, Israel initiated its occupation of the Palestinian territory and swiftly imposed military orders to achieve ultimate control over land and water resources. […]

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