JNF’s new doctrine emphasizes biodiversity and natural rejuvenation, rather than soldier-like rows of pines. But the Society for Protection of Nature isn’t convinced. By Zafrir Rinat | Nov.15, 2012 Forest administration in Israel has undergone many changes and transformations since the Jewish National Fund ‏(Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael‏) became involved about a century ago. The organization […]

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Rana Khaled Mon, 12/11/2012 Dozens of environmental activists and desert lovers peacefully demonstrated in Wadi al-Rayan last Friday to show their disapproval of a wall they say spoils one of the country’s most beautiful natural reserves. The valley has been threatened since a group of monks started building churches and monasteries on its land, surrounding […]

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Not only has the water level been rising, but its quality has also been improving. The salinity of the lake has dropped by about 6 percent compared with last year, the water authority said. By Zafrir Rinat | Nov.20, 2012 By reducing its usual pumping from Lake Kinneret by 50% this year, the Israel Water […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 11/13/2012 Yossi Leshem has spent decades on avian issues, including ways to avoid collisions with IAF aircraft. Prof. Yossi Leshem, a zoological expert from Tel Aviv University and the Society for the Protection of Nature, received the Bruno H. Schubert Prize in Germany on Tuesday, for his contribution to conservation and environmental […]

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Megan Detrie Tue, 13/11/2012 In the arid sands of the desert around Wadi Natroun, 90 kilometers northwest of Cairo, gilthead sea breams swim in fish ponds lined in neat rows. The salty water found in Wadi Natroun’s underground reserves is particularly well-suited to raise marine species such as gilthead sea bream and European sea bass. […]

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Ben-Gurion University researches develop innovative side-illuminated solar cell; revolutionary design said to be 40% more effective Ynetnews Published: 11.12.12 Researchers at Ben-Gurion University in the Negev (BGU) have developed a radically new design for a concentrator solar cell that, when irradiated from the side, generates solar conversion efficiencies that rival, and may eventually surpass, the […]

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AFP Wed, 14/11/2012 ALGIERS — Algeria, the world’s fourth-largest gas exporter, has decided to develop its shale gas potential, but experts fear this could cause severe environmental problems. Officials say the country’s shale gas reserves are 600 trillion cubic feet (17 trillion cubic meters), or around four times greater than its current known gas reserves. […]

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November 10, 2012 BEIRUT: The newly appointed members of the Petroleum Administration held their first meeting Friday under the chairmanship of Energy and Water Minister Gebran Bassil. Bassil said the ministry and committee would do their utmost to invite international companies to start bidding for licenses to drill oil and gas before the end of […]

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TEL AVIV, Israel (Reuters) — Israel, once energy poor, is expected to become a gas exporter by the end of the decade and the companies developing its huge offshore Leviathan find are about to pick a fourth partner to gain the crucial know-how. A number of foreign firms have been in a bidding war for […]

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State continues to approve gas, oil drilling permits without having any contingency for pollution scenarios. SPNI’s deputy director-general urges authorities to make sure resources blessing doesn’t turn into a curse Nir Papai Published: 11.13.12 The environmental protection minister is constantly warning that Israel is not equipped to deal with a potentially massive pollution that could […]

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Resident of Menashe Regional Council launch campaign to stop construction of new airstrip; say it will cause insufferable noise, air pollution, harm quality of life Danny Sadeh Published: 11.15.12 The residents of the Menashe Regional Council, east of Hadera, have launched a campaign to stop the construction of the nearby Ein Shemer airfield, saying it […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 11/14/2012 Technion’s Prof. Uri Shamir: Israel will meet its water needs through 2050. As Gazans continue to rain rockets on Israel, a much greater “security issue” exists in the drastic population rise in both Israel and around the world, an American environmental expert warned in Tel Aviv this week. “People don’t understand […]

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12-11-2012. Source: EU Neighbourhood Info Centre Around thirty representatives from Israel’s Administration of Shipping and Ports, Ministry of Environment, shipping companies and commercial ports attended a seminar organised by the Safemed II project held in Acre, Israel last month on the environmental importance of effective Ballast Water Management (BWM). The BWM Convention is an international […]

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2-11-2012 The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Secretariat, the Palestinian Water Authority and the Government of Turkey recently held talks on the technical and financial aspects of the Gaza Desalination Facility project which will require an investment of €310 Million. Turkey expressed its strong interest to support the project and a financial commitment will be […]

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by Hana Namrouqa | Nov 11, 2012 | 22:52 AMMAN — Results of the Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance Project’s studies are being translated into Arabic in preparation for releasing them to the public, officials said on Sunday. The drafts of the project’s economic feasibility study and the environmental and social impact assessment will be […]

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As drilling along the coast expands, environmentalists fear that marine species such as sea turtles will pay the price. By Zafrir Rinat | Nov.08, 2012 The scale of gas and oil drilling along Israel’s coasts has expanded over the last year, and with it, the concerns of experts and environmental organizations over the expected environmental […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 11/09/2012 Geophysics researchers find natural active gas springs leaking on Haifa Bay sea floor, scientists don’t yet know if gas is usable. While drilling companies focus on extracting natural gas buried deep in the Mediterranean’s core, a geophysics research team from the University of Haifa has discovered a series of active gas […]

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Brewing deal between ICL, Potash Corp sparks concerns over Israel’s future over phosphate reserves. Special ministry team tasked with reviewing possible limitations Amir Ben-David Published: 11.11.12 The Energy and Water Ministry is contemplating placing a cap on the exports of locally-mined phosphates in order to maintain the country’s reserves, Yedioth Ahronoth reported. Currently, some 95% […]

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By Itai Trilnick and Avi-Bar Eli | Nov.11, 2012 Officials at the Energy and Water Resources Ministry are currently trying to facilitate amended regulations that will pave the way for Israeli entrepreneurs to build solar energy-based generators on the West Bank. In addition, the ministry is attempting to establish a program of state guarantees for […]

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Rana Khaled Sun, 11/11/2012 As fossil fuel reserves decrease, many countries are turning to hydrogen as one of the main sources of alternative energy. In Egypt, a group of scientists started working on a project for producing low-cost hydrogen that will be used in various environmental applications for the first time in the region. Ahmed […]

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