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Alon Tal
Tel Aviv University, Department of Public Policy, Faculty Member
Adaptive management has been championed as an effective strategy for designing water policy and its implementation. An effective water management strategy, it is argued, must be adaptive and build in an ability to change management... more
Adaptive management has been championed as an effective strategy for designing water policy and its implementation. An effective water management strategy, it is argued, must be adaptive and build in an ability to change management practices based on new experiences and insights. While such an approach was not part of official nomenclature, over the years, Israel’s water managers developed a nimble orientation, responding to available data, hydrological exigencies and emerging technological opportunities. This retroactive look at Israel’s water management history through this adaptive paradigm, identifies five distinct stages: Hydro-Socialism, Wastewater Reuse, Water Storage, Conservation and Demand Reduction. Although threats to a reliable supply remain, Israel’s water managers’ ability to adapt to numerous changes enabled a dryland country to flourish, with a highly productive agricultural sector and a plentiful and clean water supply for a rapidly growing population. Israel’s des...
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With a short introduction by Paul Ehrlich (The Population Bomb) and Anne Ehrlich, Alon Tal's new book is a strong indictment against the rapid pace of population growth in the State of Israel and i...
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While the environmental impacts of religious and secular holidays are increasingly characterized, interventions to reduce their effects are modest and poorly understood. Israel’s L’ag B’omer holiday has emerged as a major air pollution... more
While the environmental impacts of religious and secular holidays are increasingly characterized, interventions to reduce their effects are modest and poorly understood. Israel’s L’ag B’omer holiday has emerged as a major air pollution source due to the common practice of lighting bonfires. We implemented and evaluated an intervention amongst Israeli school children in which they were challenged to design and adopt alternative “environmentally friendly” celebrations that maintained the holiday spirit. The interventions were observed and a mixed method approach applied to study implementation involving, interviews with teachers, parents and students as well as an ex-post questionnaire answered by participants. Children supporting environmental celebrations displayed higher levels of environmental behavior, and environmental hope than those preferring bonfires. Those who voted for an environmental alternative, against the majority, also displayed higher levels of self-control skills. ...
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Broad utilization of drip irrigation technologies in Israel has contributed to the 1600 percent increase in the value of produce grown by local farmers over the past sixty-five years. The recycling of 86% of Israeli sewage now provides... more
Broad utilization of drip irrigation technologies in Israel has contributed to the 1600 percent increase in the value of produce grown by local farmers over the past sixty-five years. The recycling of 86% of Israeli sewage now provides 50% of the country's irrigation water and is the second, idiosyncratic component in Israel's strategy to overcome water scarcity and maintain agriculture in a dryland region. The sustainability of these two practices is evaluated in light of decades of experience and ongoing research by the local scientific community. The review confirms the dramatic advantages of drip irrigation over time, relative to flood, furrow and sprinkler irrigation and its significance as a central component in agricultural production, especially under arid conditions. In contrast, empirical findings increasingly report damage to soil and to crops from salinization caused by irrigation with effluents. To be environmentally and agriculturally sustainable over time, wastewater reuse programs must ensure extremely high quality treated effluents and ultimately seek the desalinization of recycled sewage.
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Research Interests: Business, Environmental Science, Water Purification, Risk, Agriculture, and 15 moreEnvironmental Monitoring, Risk assessment, Water Pollution, Medicine, Multidisciplinary, Environmental science and technology, Water Supply, Humans, Reuse, Soil Microbiology, Risk Assessment, Environment, Greywater, Environmental Exposure, and guidelines as topic
Sustainable fashion refers to efforts to minimize the fashion industry’s adverse environmental and social impacts. This entry describes the industry’s entire production chain: from polyester production, cotton growth and wasteful fashion... more
Sustainable fashion refers to efforts to minimize the fashion industry’s adverse environmental and social impacts. This entry describes the industry’s entire production chain: from polyester production, cotton growth and wasteful fashion consumption patterns to landfilling, where so many clothes end up. The entry characterizes the drivers behind the industry’s poor record regarding sustainability and employee exploitation, as well as new policies around the world designed to improve the industry’s performance These include the Australian Modern Slavery law, the French law prohibiting the destruction of textile surpluses and the New York Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act.
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Israel’s remarkable biodiversity can be attributed to its unique geographical location at the juncture of three continents, its extreme climatic variability and half a century of interventions to ensure protection of habitat. For the... more
Israel’s remarkable biodiversity can be attributed to its unique geographical location at the juncture of three continents, its extreme climatic variability and half a century of interventions to ensure protection of habitat. For the country’s first fifty years, its progress in setting aside reserves and protecting myriad, damaged animal populations led to a reversal in the decline of individual species and ecosystems, making the country a model of applied conservation biology. Recently, however, there has been a steady loss of animal and plant populations, with one third of Israel’s 100 mammal species defined as threatened. This chapter considers the range of drivers behind the recent deterioration in ecological indicators, with a focus on the impact of the country’s extraordinary growth in human numbers on the natural world.
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Over the past few decades, the production and consumption of clothing has increased exponentially, leading to a dramatic increase in the negative environmental consequences produced by the fashion industry. Given the rising pace of global... more
Over the past few decades, the production and consumption of clothing has increased exponentially, leading to a dramatic increase in the negative environmental consequences produced by the fashion industry. Given the rising pace of global warming and the rising concern about the fashion industry’s contribution to the climate crisis and its exploitative social dimensions, decision makers, politicians and government officials have begun to promote sustainable fashion through public policy. This article reviews the main barriers facing a circular economy in general and the fashion industry in particular. It considers nascent regulations emerging throughout the world in the field of sustainable fashion, applying circular economic principles to the fashion industry. Four categories of policy proposals are evaluated: Command and Control Interventions, Educational Initiatives, Incentives and Certification, grading them according to criteria of effectiveness, sustainability, feasibility, eq...
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Wind power has emerged as the most dominant source of clean energy during the two first decades of the 21st century. As wind turbines became popular, complaints about annoyances from neighboring settlements has led to establishment of... more
Wind power has emerged as the most dominant source of clean energy during the two first decades of the 21st century. As wind turbines became popular, complaints about annoyances from neighboring settlements has led to establishment of greater setback distances in some jurisdictions, due to noise, shadow flickers, and aesthetic considerations. The current study seeks to establish an objective basis for determining optimal setback distance from human settlements. It begins by characterizing the tradeoff between turbines' environmental externalities and energy potential across northern region of Israel, where proposed wind farms are now being considered. The analysis relies on GIS software, which allows for quantification of the energy potential along with impacts of noise and shadow flickers. Based on the geographical data, we compare six contrasting regulatory approaches to setback distance for limiting wind turbines, evaluating how they would be applied in Israel's northern ...
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The effect of visits to the country’s forests on environmental perspectives and commitments was assessed in a national survey of the Israeli public. As a highly urbanized country, visits to the country’s dryland forests constitute an... more
The effect of visits to the country’s forests on environmental perspectives and commitments was assessed in a national survey of the Israeli public. As a highly urbanized country, visits to the country’s dryland forests constitute an important national pastime across ethnic lines. We evaluated the impact that forest visitation had on the attitudes and perspectives of the visitors. A strong correlation was found between the frequency of visits to forests by individuals and a range of pro-environmental and pro-conservation sentiments. Of particular interest was the response of Israel’s Arab citizens. Not only do Israeli Arabs visit forests more frequently, but they also support environmental policy positions more avidly than do Jewish citizens. The article argues that increasing accessibility to forests and natural sites by expanding public transportation lines should constitute an important component in conservation strategies.
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Abstract What happens on the coast, does not stay on the coast. Stakeholder power to shape decisions, agendas, and interests have a wide array of global consequences. Coastal management literature, however, pays relatively little... more
Abstract What happens on the coast, does not stay on the coast. Stakeholder power to shape decisions, agendas, and interests have a wide array of global consequences. Coastal management literature, however, pays relatively little attention to discussions of how power is used among stakeholders, limiting the inquiry to elitist and pluralist perspectives — who has the power and makes decisions. Consequently, power on the coast remains understudied. In political science, power has generated a considerable amount of debate. By contrast, research in environmental politics has tended to drift away from political theories. In turn, we use two power theories to fill the gap — non-decisions and consent to domination. We employed semi-structured interviews (thirty-one in total), archival histories, and participant observations to collect rich, thick data and to compare two case studies — Eilat (Israel) and Aqaba (Jordan). Our findings suggest that questioning coastal agendas through non-decisions can be a meaningful coastal planning tool. Further, we find that building consent to domination with regards to coastal interests is very difficult, if not impossible in Eilat. Yet, in Aqaba, sustainable development rhetoric conceals contested stakeholder interests about the greater good, coral reef loss, and other development impacts. Finally, we show that stakeholders in both cities indicate mainly tangible challenges on the coast. That is, power was not seen as a threat to future coastal management efforts. In sum, we expand the explanatory limits of the chosen theories and indicate the need to research intangible challenges on the coast. In particular, how agendas and interests are shaped through non-decisions and consent to domination?
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ABSTRACT:Israel's influential role in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification since the agreement's inception is explored. Several factors can explain the country's successful diplomatic interaction. A... more
ABSTRACT:Israel's influential role in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification since the agreement's inception is explored. Several factors can explain the country's successful diplomatic interaction. A combination of: low international interest and competition for expertise about the issue; Israel's unique, achievements in combatting desertification as part of its agricultural and forestry activities; and Professor Uriel Safriel's extraordinary stature in the field—contribute to its exceptional involvement. The case constitutes a "proof of concept" for Israel's potential to be effectively engaged in other UN programs. This will require greater government commitment and contribution to international initiatives, along with a willingness to authorize experts and academics to represent the country in additional global frameworks.
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The extinction of a single species from a local community may carry little cost in terms of species diversity, yet its loss eliminates its biotic and abiotic interactions. We describe such a scenario in the Arava desert, where different... more
The extinction of a single species from a local community may carry little cost in terms of species diversity, yet its loss eliminates its biotic and abiotic interactions. We describe such a scenario in the Arava desert, where different cultural and law enforcement practices exclude Dorcas gazelles (Gazella dorcas (Linnaeus, 1758)) from the Jordanian side of the border while protecting their populations on the Israeli side. We found that gazelles break the soil crust, formed in desert systems after annual flooding, thereby creating patches of loose and cooler sand that are used by pit-building antlions (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). When we artificially broke the soil crust on both sides of the border, we found a significant increase in antlion density in these patches, but only on the Israeli side. On the Jordanian side, where no gazelles have been observed since the early 1980s, no antlions colonized either control or manipulated plots. Additional choice/no-choice feeding experimen...
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ABSTRACT Population growth (PG) is one of the main drivers of environmental deterioration. Understanding lay perception of PG is important for mobilizing public opinion and support for environmental protection. A range of real-life... more
ABSTRACT Population growth (PG) is one of the main drivers of environmental deterioration. Understanding lay perception of PG is important for mobilizing public opinion and support for environmental protection. A range of real-life current ecological problems, including PG, was presented to a sample of a hundred Israeli students without environmental education. We employed George Kelly's repertory grid technique along with principal component analysis to: (a) examine risk perceptions about PG in relation to various ecological problems and (b) identify the perceived risk attributes that influence risk perception of PG. We found that: (a) PG severity was perceived as extremely modest, and that very few respondents viewed it as a catalyst of all other ecological problems that warranted prevention. (b) The most significant predictors of risk evaluation were the perceived certainty of the risk and the level of emotional response it evoked. PG emerges as an idiosyncratic type of risk that is as psychologically distant as possible from most other ecological problems. This reflects a profound lack of understanding of the long-term effects of PG and the underlying causes behind many of today's ecological problems. The importance of raising awareness about demographic factors in environmental degradation is discussed.
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Abstract Given the magnitude of China’s economy, the newly drafted Environmental Protection Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China is among the most ambitious forays into green incentives ever attempted. The law’s provisions are... more
Abstract Given the magnitude of China’s economy, the newly drafted Environmental Protection Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China is among the most ambitious forays into green incentives ever attempted. The law’s provisions are evaluated as part of the country’s layering orientation, where the gradual ratcheting up of government regulation is considered an effective and durable strategy. By making a transition from “taxes on good activities” to “taxes on bad activities” the new statute expands the polluter pays principle embedded in China’s present environmental fee system into a broader suite of corporate and individual decisions. China’s existing pollution charge system suffers from inappropriate exemptions and pricing levels. The proposed law does not offer clear solutions to these systemic problems. Pollution sources from agriculture, wastewater treatment and waste disposal, major sources of pollution in China, are exempted from the new environmental tax. Statutory language is vague regarding interagency interface between tax authorities and environmental officials. An effective tax on a full range of polluting activities is a critical next layer in the country’s steady efforts to ameliorate its environmental challenges. Notwithstanding the progress it represents, this comparative analysis posits that the new Chinese tax program can still be upgraded.
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In the age-old debate between technological optimists and pessimists, desalination has been hailed as a "game changer" that can fundamentally alter the dynamics of water management under conditions of scarcity. While water from... more
In the age-old debate between technological optimists and pessimists, desalination has been hailed as a "game changer" that can fundamentally alter the dynamics of water management under conditions of scarcity. While water from desalination facilities can reduce uncertainties in municipal supply, they are unlikely to replace the missing flow required to rehabilitate rivers and streams. The Jordan River is an iconic, but highly degraded water body whose restoration has been the subject of extensive research as well as numerous proposals and strategies. A review of the present state of the River and prospects for successful rehabilitation efforts reveals that neither the increase in the riparian population nor the reduced water supply due to climate change in the Jordan basin has been considered sufficiently in restoration strategies. Demographic pressures produce acute water shortages which make the provision of future environmental flows highly unlikely. While much can and...
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Israel and its Palestinian neighbors constitute a unique venue for evaluating the treatment efficiency and potential environmental risks of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), because of their... more
Israel and its Palestinian neighbors constitute a unique venue for evaluating the treatment efficiency and potential environmental risks of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), because of their physical proximity yet contrasting societal dynamics. Israel primarily relies on advanced tertiary sewage treatment and recycles over 85% of its treated wastewater, while in the Palestinian Authority (PA), there is only secondary treatment levels at WWTPs and reuse is minimal (<1%). To evaluate the extent of EDC occurrence and treatment efficiency, we conducted four sampling campaigns over two consecutive years, and measured the concentrations of selected EDCs in raw wastewater (WW), treated WW and sludge in six WWTPs in Israel, as well as in two Palestinian plants. Low concentrations of bisphenol A, octylphenol and triclosan measured in the raw WW in the Palestinian WWTPs reflected the relatively modest industrial activity and consumption habits as...
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Israeli environmental non-government organizations (ENGOs) are assessed in light of Resource Mobilization Theory, introducing a new method for dividing ENGOs according to strategic orientation. Based on a national survey, 85 groups are... more
Israeli environmental non-government organizations (ENGOs) are assessed in light of Resource Mobilization Theory, introducing a new method for dividing ENGOs according to strategic orientation. Based on a national survey, 85 groups are categorized as consensus ENGOs that seek understanding aim at finding common grounds, or as conflict ENGOs working “outside the system.” Results show that conflict ENGOs are more grassroots in orientation and consensus ENGOs are more professionalized. Conflict ENGOs operate primarily in local arenas. Consensus ENGOs appear more stable, with larger annual budgets and paid staff, but with fewer registered members. Consensus ENGOs enjoy a wider variety of income sources; receive more funding from government, foreign, and private donations; and have a broader range of self-generated income sources. Conflict ENGOs depend more on membership fees. Both groups are highly dependent on foundation grants. In general, greater resources are associated with consensus activity than among organizations utilizing conflict tactics.RésuméDes organisations non gouvernementales environnementales (ONGE) israéliennes sont évaluées à la lumière de la théorie de mobilisation des ressources, qui introduit une nouvelle méthode de division des ONGE selon leur orientation stratégique. Selon un sondage national, 85 groupes sont catégorisés comme ONGE consensuelles cherchant à être comprises et à trouver des terrains d’entente ou comme ONGE conflictuelles œuvrant « en dehors du système » . Les résultats démontrent que les ONGE conflictuelles ont une orientation plutôt populaire et que les ONGE consensuelles sont plus professionnalisées. Les ONGE conflictuelles œuvrent principalement dans des milieux locaux. Les ONGE consensuelles semblent plus stables et leur budget annuel et leur effectif payé sont plus importants, mais leur adhésion est plus faible. Les ONGE consensuelles profitent d’une vaste gamme de sources de revenus. Elles reçoivent plus de financements du gouvernement et de dons étrangers et privés, et leurs sources de revenus autonomes sont plus diversifiées. Les ONGE conflictuelles ont une plus grande dépendance aux frais d’adhésion. Les deux groupes dépendent fortement des subventions de fondation. En général, plus de ressources sont associées aux activités consensuelles qu’aux organisations faisant appel à des tactiques conflictuelles.ZusammenfassungIsraelische nicht-staatliche Umweltorganisationen werden im Rahmen der Ressourcenmobilisierungstheorie bewertet, wobei eine neue Methode zur Einteilung dieser Organisationen nach ihrer strategischen Orientierung eingeführt wird. Beruhend auf einer landesweiten Umfrage werden 85 Organisationen in Konsensus-Organisationen, die ein Einvernehmen und gemeinsame Prinzipien anstreben, und Konflikt-Organisationen, die „außerhalb des Systems“arbeiten, eingeteilt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Konflikt-Organisationen im Hinblick auf ihre Orientierung eher auf der Basisebene operieren, während Konsensus-Organisationen professionalisierter sind. Konflikt-Organisationen sind hauptsächlich auf der lokalen Ebene tätig. Konsensus-Organisationen erscheinen beständiger zu sein und verfügen über größere jährliche Budgets und bezahlte Mitarbeiter, haben jedoch weniger registrierte Mitglieder. Konsensus-Organisationen verfügen über vielfältigere Einnahmequellen, erhalten mehr finanzielle Unterstützung von der Regierung sowie durch ausländische und private Spenden und verfügen über eine weite Reihe von selbstgenerierten Einnahmequellen. Konflikt-Organisationen sind mehr von Migliedsgebühren abhängig. Beide Gruppen sind in hohem Maß von Zuschüssen seitens Stiftungen abhängig. Im Allgmeinen werden größere Ressourcen mit Aktivitäten in Verbindung gebracht, die vom Konsensus geleitet werden, als mit Organisationen, die Konflikttaktiken anwenden.ResumenLas organizaciones no gubernamentales medio ambientales israelíes (ENGO, por sus siglas en inglés) son evaluadas a la luz de la Teoría de Movilización de Recursos, introduciendo un nuevo método para dividir las ENGO según la orientación estratégica. Basándonos en una encuesta nacional, se clasifican 85 grupos como ENGO de consenso que buscan comprender con el objetivo de encontrar bases comunes; o como ENGO de conflicto que trabajan “fuera del sistema.” Los resultados muestran que las ENGO de conflicto están más orientadas a la base (comunidad) y las ENGO de consenso están más profesionalizadas. Las ENGO de conflicto operan fundamentalmente en ámbitos locales. Las ENGO de consenso parecen más estables, con presupuestos anuales más grandes y con personal pagado, pero con un menor número de miembros inscritos. Las ENGO de consenso disfrutan de una variedad más amplia de fuentes de ingresos; reciben más financiación del gobierno, de donaciones extranjeras y privadas, y tienen una gama más amplia de ingresos autogenerados. Las ENGO de conflicto dependen más de las cuotas de sus miembros. Ambos grupos dependen en gran medida de las…
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Alon Tal M a re.Jearcher at the Blau.Jtein lnJtitute for De.Jert Ruearch at Ben-Gurion UniverJity of the Negev. He waJ the founding director of Adam Teva V(}in, the !Jrael Union for Environmental DefenJe, aJ well aJ the Arava I nJtitute... more
Alon Tal M a re.Jearcher at the Blau.Jtein lnJtitute for De.Jert Ruearch at Ben-Gurion UniverJity of the Negev. He waJ the founding director of Adam Teva V(}in, the !Jrael Union for Environmental DefenJe, aJ well aJ the Arava I nJtitute for Environmental StuJieJ. Along with Dr. Alfred Abed-Rabbo from Bethlehem UniverJity, he haJ recently finMhed editing Water Wisdom, A New Menu for Palestinian and Israeli Cooperation in Water Management, which M to be publMhed by RutgerJ UniverJity Pre.JJ in 2010.
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The importance of environmental education as part of national strategies for sustainability is recognized throughout the world. In recent years, substantial efforts and many millions of shekels have been invested in developing... more
The importance of environmental education as part of national strategies for sustainability is recognized throughout the world. In recent years, substantial efforts and many millions of shekels have been invested in developing environmental education programs in Israel’s schools. Unfortunately, outcomes in terms of pupils’ environmental literacy are far from satisfying. This article reviews the origins of environmental education in Israel, considers its evolution, describes the present situation within Israel’s educational system, as well as the major educational programs that are active in Israel today. Israel’s educational goals remain centered on security, economics, and industrial needs, without internalizing the significance of environment quality as a critical factor for healthy global and national futures as well as a prerequisite for a sustainable prosperity. The article reviews ideas for improving existing levels of environmental education and increasing the commitment of teachers and schools to inculcating related knowledge and values.
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The Hebron/Besor drainage basin is the largest watershed flowing to the Mediterranean, in Israel and the Palestinian Authority (3,500 Km2). The basin receives high pollution loads both from point and non-point sources. The main sources... more
The Hebron/Besor drainage basin is the largest watershed flowing to the Mediterranean, in Israel and the Palestinian Authority (3,500 Km2). The basin receives high pollution loads both from point and non-point sources. The main sources are: untreated domestic wastewater from the PA city of Hebron and slurry from stone cutting industry, estimated jointly to be 15,000 m3/day. On-going discharge of
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The study evaluates the sustainability of consumption patterns among different socioeconomic deciles based on individual ecological footprints generated by four of the world’s most polluting industries: animal products/meat, textiles,... more
The study evaluates the sustainability of consumption patterns among different socioeconomic deciles based on individual ecological footprints generated by four of the world’s most polluting industries: animal products/meat, textiles, transport, and residential energy. Online shopping is also considered due to its mounting popularity. A national survey, which ensured equal representation of socioeconomic deciles, involving 600 respondents in Israel was conducted, supplemented by follow-up semi-structured personal interviews with 25 participants. Conventional wisdom supports the notion that wealthier segments of society produce greater ecological footprints in all aspects of their consumption. In fact, our findings reveal that patterns are more nuanced and that there are areas in which poorer populations reveal less sustainable consumption patterns: poorer populations in the lower deciles report a greater per capita ecological footprint in their purchases of textiles and food consump...
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While the Middle East is frequently in the news because of political volatility and violence, there is an underlying lack of environmental equilibrium that poses a comparable threat to regional stability. Israel's neighbors--Egypt,... more
While the Middle East is frequently in the news because of political volatility and violence, there is an underlying lack of environmental equilibrium that poses a comparable threat to regional stability. Israel's neighbors--Egypt, Jordan, and Palestine--are arid countries with limited natural carrying capacity and burgeoning populations. Providing food and employment in what were traditionally agrarian economies has contributed to significant depletion of soil and water resources. Israel's experience as an innovator in technologically intensive dryland agriculture and forestry is entirely different. Yet it is not clear whether the grand Israeli experiment in water management and combating of desertification offers a compelling alternative model to its neighbors should diplomatic breakthroughs pave the way for transboundary cooperation. Not only are the socioeconomic and cultural circumstances entirely different, but the sustainability of some of Israel's unique manageme...
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The Corona pandemic led to changes in consumptions patterns, which are both positive and negative. Past research suggests that crises present opportunities for adopting sustainable consumption practices. Alternatively, they tend to... more
The Corona pandemic led to changes in consumptions patterns, which are both positive and negative. Past research suggests that crises present opportunities for adopting sustainable consumption practices. Alternatively, they tend to increase frugality which can marginalize environmental considerations. This study extends research conducted in 2018 evaluating the environmental impacts of consumption patterns among Israel’s different socioeconomic deciles. The present research returned to the same respondents, during the first lockdown, assessing how consumptions patterns among different socioeconomic deciles, and support for different environmental policy options were influenced by the Corona crisis. The findings show that the poorest deciles increased their environmentally destructive behavior, while wealthier deciles showed modest improvements. All deciles displayed greater frugality in purchasing. Support was greater for policy interventions framed as environmental than for taxes on daily consumer products. The findings confirm the need for environmental programs which make sustainable consumption more readily accessible to poorer socioeconomic groups.
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The role played by unsustainable resource management in initiating international conflicts is well documented. The Syrian Civil War, commencing in March 2011, presents such a case. The prevailing opinion links the unrest with sequential... more
The role played by unsustainable resource management in initiating international conflicts is well documented. The Syrian Civil War, commencing in March 2011, presents such a case. The prevailing opinion links the unrest with sequential droughts occurring from 2007–2010. Our research, however, reveals that the winter-rainfed agricultural conditions before 2011, as detected by satellite-derived vegetation indices, were similar and even better for Syrian farmers than for those of their Turkish counterparts across the border. Concurrently, summer-irrigated crops, heavily dependent on Euphrates River water originating from Turkey, notably declined in Syria while flourishing in Turkey. These findings are firmly supported by other independent and validated datasets, including long-term cross-border discharge, the water level in Syrian and Turkish reservoirs, and transborder groundwater flow. We conclude that the Turkish policy of unilaterally diverting the Euphrates water was the main rea...
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The dramatic drop in water levels in the Kinneret Lake (Sea of Galilee) during the past years is evaluated. Recently published measurements of temperature, precipitation and other hydrological data support the position that climate change... more
The dramatic drop in water levels in the Kinneret Lake (Sea of Galilee) during the past years is evaluated. Recently published measurements of temperature, precipitation and other hydrological data support the position that climate change is driving the contraction of this iconic water resource. The article presents a range of evidence confirming long-term shifts in the hydrological dynamics of the watershed and details the associated ecological implications. In response to these trends, Israel's government has decided to build a desalination plant along the Northern Mediterranean shoreline that will provide water to replenish the depleted water levels in lake. Given the likelihood of continued global warming expediting increased evaporation and reduced precipitation, such climate adaptation policies constitute prudent public policy.
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This study provides a tool for predicting the concentrations of the natural estrogens (NEs) estrone, 17β-estradiol and estriol in raw wastewater (WW). Data characterizing the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), NE concentrations, and... more
This study provides a tool for predicting the concentrations of the natural estrogens (NEs) estrone, 17β-estradiol and estriol in raw wastewater (WW). Data characterizing the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), NE concentrations, and discharges of raw sewage to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were collected from various publications and used in the model formulation. A strong correlation was found between the log transformed BOD and the log transformed estrone load (r(2)=0.84, n=61), the log transformed 17β-estradiol load (r(2)=0.89, n=52) and the log transformed estriol load (r(2)=0.80, n=40). The models are reasonably accurate when compared to the measured concentrations and slightly better than previous modeling efforts. The relative amounts of data falling within ±50% error were 67% for estrone, 63% for 17β-estradiol, and 55% for estriol. Because the model was developed from a wide array of WWTPs from five continents, it is universal and can be used for projecting concentration...
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Research Interests: Respiratory Medicine, Early Intervention, Asthma, Treatment Outcome, Adolescent, and 14 moreHumans, Child, Childhood asthma, Young Adult, Infant, Clinical Sciences, Newborn Infant, Inhaled corticosteroid therapy, Budesonide, Child preschool, Adrenal cortex hormones, airway remodeling, Cardiovascular medicine and haematology, and Anti-inflammatory agent
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Population policy, once a core environmental concern globally, has long since shifted its focus and is typically informed by considerations of maternal/fetal health. Yet, in many countries, environmental progress will remain elusive as... more
Population policy, once a core environmental concern globally, has long since shifted its focus and is typically informed by considerations of maternal/fetal health. Yet, in many countries, environmental progress will remain elusive as long as the population continues to grow. Israel already exhibits adverse ecological impacts as a result of its rapidly growing population and needs to begin to adopt policies that prioritize demographic stability. This article reviews the current literature as well as the current status of population growth and environmental devastation in Israel, from a public policy perspective. The authors call on Israel and other high-fertility countries to foster strategic discussions about sustainable population policies. Along with an emphasis on the intrinsic advantages of small families, they should also include a dispassionate presentation of the anticipated environmental impacts associated with continued demographic growth.
The effect of visits to the country's forests on environmental perspectives and commitments was assessed in a national survey of the Israeli public. As a highly urbanized country, visits to the country's dryland forests constitute an... more
The effect of visits to the country's forests on environmental perspectives and commitments was assessed in a national survey of the Israeli public. As a highly urbanized country, visits to the country's dryland forests constitute an important national pastime across ethnic lines. We evaluated the impact that forest visitation had on the attitudes and perspectives of the visitors. A strong correlation was found between the frequency of visits to forests by individuals and a range of pro-environmental and pro-conservation sentiments. Of particular interest was the response of Israel's Arab citizens. Not only do Israeli Arabs visit forests more frequently, but they also support environmental policy positions more avidly than do Jewish citizens. The article argues that increasing accessibility to forests and natural sites by expanding public transportation lines should constitute an important component in conservation strategies.
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Demographic stability constitutes a paramount global environmental objective. Yet, decades of efforts, highlighting the perils of overpopulation, have failed to slow the rapid global population growth. In considering an alternative... more
Demographic stability constitutes a paramount global environmental objective. Yet, decades of efforts, highlighting the perils of overpopulation, have failed to slow the rapid global population growth. In considering an alternative strategy, insights from the field of positive psychology are explored for their potential to inform future demographic policies. After briefly reviewing sustainable advocacy efforts, different theories behind individual fertility decisions are presented. Following, key components of prominent successful family planning interventions are analysed using a 'positive psychology' perspective. Three 'positive psychology' strategies are explored for their potential to inform sustainable population: a "direct" approach that emphasizes individual benefits rather than indirect gains through mitigation of damages; an emphasis on the convergence between the collective and individual benefits of two-child families; and application of behavioral change theories in demographic policies to better facilitate sustainable individual fertility decisions. The paper posits that a positive psychology conceptualization offers a promising way to rethink the design of demographic policies and frame sustainable population interventions.
Israel’s influential role in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification since the agreement’s inception is explored. Several factors can explain the country’s successful diplomatic interaction. A combination of: low... more
Israel’s influential role in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification since the agreement’s inception is explored. Several factors can explain the country’s successful diplomatic interaction. A combination of: low international interest and competition for expertise about the issue; Israel’s unique, achievements in combatting desertification as part of its agricultural and forestry activities ; and Professor Uriel Safriel’s extraordinary stature in the field -- contribute to its exceptional involvement. The case constitutes a “proof of concept” for Israel’s potential to be effectively engaged in other UN programs. This will require greater government commitment and contribution to international initiatives, along with a willingness to authorize experts and academics to represent the country in additional global frameworks.
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The study evaluates the sustainability of consumption patterns among different socioeconomic deciles based on individual ecological footprints generated by four of the world's most polluting industries: animal products/meat, textiles,... more
The study evaluates the sustainability of consumption patterns among different socioeconomic deciles based on individual ecological footprints generated by four of the world's most polluting industries: animal products/meat, textiles, transport, and residential energy. Online shopping is also considered due to its mounting popularity. A national survey, which ensured equal representation of socioeconomic deciles, involving 600 respondents in Israel was conducted, supplemented by follow-up semi-structured personal interviews with 25 participants. Conventional wisdom supports the notion that wealthier segments of society produce greater ecological footprints in all aspects of their consumption. In fact, our findings reveal that patterns are more nuanced and that there are areas in which poorer populations reveal less sustainable consumption patterns: poorer populations in the lower deciles report a greater per capita ecological footprint in their purchases of textiles and food consumption. By contrast, wealthier deciles have relatively larger ecological footprints in the areas of transport and residential patterns (which drive their energy consumption). Results suggest that some of the fundamental assumptions among environmental justice advocates regarding contrasting consumption patterns in affluent and poorer segments of society are not always supported by empirical evidence. Findings also indicate that there is room for greater government interventions to facilitate more sustainable consumption patterns among poorer populations.
What happens on the coast, does not stay on the coast. Stakeholder power to shape decisions, agendas, and interests have a wide array of global consequences. Coastal management literature, however, pays relatively little attention to... more
What happens on the coast, does not stay on the coast. Stakeholder power to shape decisions, agendas, and interests have a wide array of global consequences. Coastal management literature, however, pays relatively little attention to discussions of how power is used among stakeholders, limiting the inquiry to elitist and pluralist perspectives-who has the power and makes decisions. Consequently, power on the coast remains understudied. In political science, power has generated a considerable amount of debate. By contrast, research in environmental politics has tended to drift away from political theories. In turn, we use two power theories to fill the gap-non-decisions and consent to domination. We employed semi-structured interviews (thirty-one in total), archival histories, and participant observations to collect rich, thick data and to compare two case studies-Eilat (Israel) and Aqaba (Jordan). Our findings suggest that questioning coastal agendas through non-decisions can be a meaningful coastal planning tool. Further, we find that building consent to domination with regards to coastal interests is very difficult, if not impossible in Eilat. Yet, in Aqaba, sustainable development rhetoric conceals contested stakeholder interests about the greater good, coral reef loss, and other development impacts. Finally, we show that stakeholders in both cities indicate mainly tangible challenges on the coast. That is, power was not seen as a threat to future coastal management efforts. In sum, we expand the explanatory limits of the chosen theories and indicate the need to research intangible challenges on the coast. In particular, how agendas and interests are shaped through non-decisions and consent to domination?
The aim of this study was to compare two hot spots of lead (Pb) exposure in Israeli and Jordanian occupational settings. The study also sought to assess whether any differences in regulations and legislation regarding occupational health... more
The aim of this study was to compare two hot spots of lead (Pb) exposure
in Israeli and Jordanian occupational settings. The study also sought to
assess whether any differences in regulations and legislation regarding
occupational health could be identified as a source of exposure disparities.
Blood and hair specimens were collected from workers in a battery factory
in Jordan and a secondary Pb smelter in Israel and compared. About 33%
of the currently exposed group showed blood lead (BPb) levels above the
internationally recommended concentration of 40 mgdL1. Although the
differences of BPb levels between Israel and Jordan were not statistically
significant, average levels were lower in Jordan. Beyond the difference in
the factory types, disparity in exposure levels might be explained due to a
combination of proclivities of factory management, public policies, existing
medical surveillance and insurance, as well as cultural differences. Results
reveal that despite existing regulations and the growing attention that is
dedicated to Pb and metal occupational exposures, there are still hot spots
for Pb exposure in Israel and Jordan. The contrasting experience found in
the current study raises the possibility that information and technology
exchange between the two countries Israel and Jordan, may be beneficial
for improving occupational health policy in these two neighboring
countries.
in Israeli and Jordanian occupational settings. The study also sought to
assess whether any differences in regulations and legislation regarding
occupational health could be identified as a source of exposure disparities.
Blood and hair specimens were collected from workers in a battery factory
in Jordan and a secondary Pb smelter in Israel and compared. About 33%
of the currently exposed group showed blood lead (BPb) levels above the
internationally recommended concentration of 40 mgdL1. Although the
differences of BPb levels between Israel and Jordan were not statistically
significant, average levels were lower in Jordan. Beyond the difference in
the factory types, disparity in exposure levels might be explained due to a
combination of proclivities of factory management, public policies, existing
medical surveillance and insurance, as well as cultural differences. Results
reveal that despite existing regulations and the growing attention that is
dedicated to Pb and metal occupational exposures, there are still hot spots
for Pb exposure in Israel and Jordan. The contrasting experience found in
the current study raises the possibility that information and technology
exchange between the two countries Israel and Jordan, may be beneficial
for improving occupational health policy in these two neighboring
countries.
Population growth (PG) is one of the main drivers of environmental deterioration. Understanding lay perception of PG is important for mobilizing public opinion and support for environmental protection. A range of real-life current... more
Population growth (PG) is one of the main drivers of environmental deterioration. Understanding lay perception of PG is important for mobilizing public opinion and support for environmental protection. A range of real-life current ecological problems, including PG, was presented to a sample of a hundred Israeli students without environmental education. We employed George Kelly’srepertorygrid technique along with principal component analysis to: (a) examine risk perceptions about PG in relation to various ecological problems and (b) identify the perceived risk attributes that influence risk perception of PG. We found that: (a) PG severity was perceived as extremely modest, and that very few respondents viewed it as a catalyst of all other ecological problems that warranted prevention. (b) The most significant predictors of risk evaluation were the perceived certainty of the risk and the level of emotional response it evoked.
PG emerges as an idiosyncratic type of risk that is as psychologically distant as possible from most other ecological problems. This reflects a profound lack of understanding of the long-term effects of PG and the underlying causes behind many of today’s ecological problems. The importance of raising awareness about demographic factors in environmental degradation is discussed.
PG emerges as an idiosyncratic type of risk that is as psychologically distant as possible from most other ecological problems. This reflects a profound lack of understanding of the long-term effects of PG and the underlying causes behind many of today’s ecological problems. The importance of raising awareness about demographic factors in environmental degradation is discussed.
While the environmental impacts of religious and secular holidays are increasingly characterized, interventions to reduce their effects are modest and poorly understood. Israel’s L’ag B’omer holiday has emerged as a major air pollution... more
While the environmental impacts of religious and secular holidays are increasingly characterized, interventions to reduce their effects are modest and poorly understood. Israel’s L’ag B’omer holiday has emerged as a major air pollution source due to the common practice of lighting bonfires. We implemented and evaluated an intervention amongst Israeli school children in which they were challenged to design and adopt alternative “environmentally friendly” celebrations that maintained the holiday spirit. The interventions were observed and a mixed method approach applied to study implementation involving, interviews with teachers, parents and students as well as an ex-post questionnaire answered by participants. Children supporting environmental celebrations displayed higher levels of environmental behavior, and environmental hope than those preferring bonfires. Those who voted for an environmental alternative, against the majority, also displayed higher levels of self-control skills. The study confirms the potential of well-designed, environmentally friendly holiday celebrations to replace environmentally deleterious ones.
The relative contribution of transportation to the global carbon footprint is expected to increase due to expansion of the world’s automotive fleets, notwithstanding increasing electrification of vehicles and the introduction of cleaner... more
The relative contribution of transportation to the global carbon footprint is expected to increase due to expansion of the world’s automotive fleets, notwithstanding increasing electrification of vehicles and the introduction of cleaner fuels for electricity. Israel is no exception. Despite the global improvement in automotive fuel efficiency, local regulatory interventions and innovative tax incentives that make cars emissions per vehicle-km traveled lower than ever, transportation’s contribution to the country’s greenhouse gas profile is rising. Economists describe such situations as Jevons Paradox, where an increase in efficiency due to a new technology that was assumed to lead to reduced consumption of resource, actually increases it. The article assesses the impact of Israel’s transportation
policies and the measures required to improve the transport sector’s environmental performance. Israel’s growing emissions from the transport sector can be linked to a lack of reasonable public transportation alternatives for most commuters; inadequate economic incentives, such as congestion pricing to reduce use of private vehicles; widespread employee compensation for driving private vehicles to work and reliance on company-owned cars; and the growing distance of workers’ homes from urban employment centers. A narrow focus on technologies that control vehicle emissions is not enough to make the required progress in reducing greenhouse gases. A significant commitment to demand management that revolutionizes transportation patterns and the growing dependency on automotive travel is also imperative.
policies and the measures required to improve the transport sector’s environmental performance. Israel’s growing emissions from the transport sector can be linked to a lack of reasonable public transportation alternatives for most commuters; inadequate economic incentives, such as congestion pricing to reduce use of private vehicles; widespread employee compensation for driving private vehicles to work and reliance on company-owned cars; and the growing distance of workers’ homes from urban employment centers. A narrow focus on technologies that control vehicle emissions is not enough to make the required progress in reducing greenhouse gases. A significant commitment to demand management that revolutionizes transportation patterns and the growing dependency on automotive travel is also imperative.
Given the extraordinary proliferation of seawater desalination plants, Israel’s transition to become a country that almost exclusively relies on desalination for municipal water supply is instructive as a case study, especially given... more
Given the extraordinary proliferation of seawater desalination plants, Israel’s transition to become a country that almost exclusively relies on desalination for municipal water supply is instructive as a case study, especially given concerns about the technology’s prodigious carbon footprint. This article offers a detailed description of the country’s desal experience with a focus on the associated energy requirements, environmental policies and perspectives of decision makers. Israel’s desalination plants are arguably the most energy-efficient in the world. The present consensus among government engineers, however, is that meaningful improvements in energy efficiency are unlikely in the foreseeable future. Official evaluations of increased introduction of solar-driven reverse osmosis (RO) processes concluded that mitigation of greenhouse gases will have to be attained in industries other than the water sector. The article details myriad environmental benefits that desalination has brought the country. However, it argues that given the imperative of stabilizing atmospheric concentration of carbon, and the modest renewable energy supply to Israel’s national grid to date, public policy can no longer offer the water industry a path of least resistance. Present plans envision a significant expansion of Israel’s desal infrastructure, requiring a far higher commitment to renewable energy supply and regulations phasing down present energy demands.
The article reviews the most recent research surrounding the potential role of organic agriculture in providing food for the planet. It challenges the claims of organic agriculture’s environmental superiority compared to well-managed,... more
The article reviews the most recent research surrounding the potential role of organic agriculture in providing food for the planet. It challenges the claims of organic agriculture’s environmental superiority compared to well-managed, conventional agriculture. The relative advantages of these contrasting approaches to farming in areas such as aggregate land requirements, biodiversity/habitat loss, water quality, land degradation and climate change are considered. Legitimate concerns about conventional agriculture’s adverse environmental and health impacts need to be addressed and many harmful practices transformed. Nonetheless, careful, sustainably-run, conventional operations can avoid many of the pitfalls and hazards which are often associated with high-input agriculture. The higher yields provided by conventional agriculture offer a more sustainable strategy than a chemical-free agricultural system at the global level for meeting the needs of burgeoning populations and reducing agriculture’s aggregate environmental impact.
Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) frequently enter surface waters via discharges from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), as well as from industrial and agricultural activities, creating environmental and health concerns. In this... more
Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) frequently enter surface waters via discharges from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), as well as from industrial and agricultural activities, creating environmental and health concerns. In this study, selected EDCs were measured in water and sediments along two transboundary streams flowing from the Palestinian Authority (PA) into Israel (the Zomar-Alexander and Hebron-Beer Sheva Streams). We assessed how the complicated conflict situation between Israel and the PA and the absence of a coordinated strategy and joint stream management commission influence effective EDC control. Both streams receive raw Palestinian wastewater in their headwaters, which flows through rural areas and is treated via sediment settling facilities after crossing the 1949 Armistice Agreement Line. Four sampling campaigns were conducted over two years, with concentrations of selected EDCs measured in both the water and the sediments. Results show asymmetrical pollution profiles due to socioeconomic differences and contrasting treatment capacities. No in-stream attenua-tion was observed along the stream and in the sediments within the Palestinian region. After sediment settling in treatment facilities at the Israeli border, however, significant reductions in the EDC concentrations were measured both in the sediments and in the water. Differences in sedimentation technologies had a substantial effect on EDC removal at the treatment location, positively affecting the streams' ability to further remove EDCs downstream. The prevailing approach to addressing the Israeli-Palestinian transboundary wastewater contamination reveals a narrow perspective among water managers who on occasion only take local interests into consideration, with interventions focused solely on improving stream water quality in isolated segments. Application of the " proximity principle " through the establishment of WWTPs at contamination sources constitutes a preferable strategy for reducing contamination by EDCs and other pollutants to ensure minimization of public health risks due to the pollution of streams and underlying potable groundwater.
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Review of Chinese policies in environmental taxation
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Review of Israel's societal commitment to environmental protection
Review of Israel's idiosyncratic water history
As water scarcity continues to grow, wastewater reuse emerges as a critical potential water resource for nations in semi-arid areas across the world. This research uses the Middle East as a case study to assess possible options for... more
As water scarcity continues to grow, wastewater reuse emerges as a critical potential water resource for nations in semi-arid areas across the world. This research uses the Middle East as a case study to assess possible options for reusing treated wastewater. Based on a recent water quality study on wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the Palestinian West Bank, this research conducts a Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) to evaluate the relative advantages of different levels of wastewater treatment. The study compares secondary treatment facilities in the West Bank to select tertiary facilities in Israel in terms of cost per cubic meter of treatment, with a focus on the removal of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs), and additional water quality parameters, including total suspended solids (TSS), biological oxygen demand (BOD), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorous (TP). After calculating the Cost Effectiveness (CE) ratio, results show that for EDCs, the optimal wastewater solution in the Palestinian Authority is secondary treatment, with the advancement to tertiary infrastructure providing extremely modest water quality benefits at considerable expense. This CEA is valuable for informing decisions on optimal strategies for building new wastewater treatment facilities locally, as well as in other semi-arid regions around the world.
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In the age-old debate between technological optimists and pessimists, desalination has been hailed as a " game changer " that can fundamentally alter the dynamics of water management under conditions of scarcity. While water from... more
In the age-old debate between technological optimists and pessimists, desalination has been hailed as a " game changer " that can fundamentally alter the dynamics of water management under conditions of scarcity. While water from desalination facilities can reduce uncertainties in municipal supply, they are unlikely to replace the missing flow required to rehabilitate rivers and streams. The Jordan River is an iconic, but highly degraded water body whose restoration has been the subject of extensive research as well as numerous proposals and strategies. A review of the present state of the River and prospects for successful rehabilitation efforts reveals that neither the increase in the riparian population nor the reduced water supply due to climate change in the Jordan basin has been considered sufficiently in restoration strategies. Demographic pressures produce acute water shortages which make the provision of future environmental flows highly unlikely. While much can and should be done to improve its environmental condition, the Jordan River offers a cautionary tale for water scarce regions about the challenge of stream restoration initiatives in the face of accelerated population growth, notwithstanding the potential benefits of desalination as a source of drinking water.
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Israeli environmental non-government organizations (ENGOs) are assessed in light of Resource Mobilization Theory, introducing a new method for dividing ENGOs according to strategic orientation. Based on a national survey, 85 groups are... more
Israeli environmental non-government organizations (ENGOs) are assessed in light of Resource Mobilization Theory, introducing a new method for dividing ENGOs according to strategic orientation. Based on a national survey, 85 groups are categorized as consensus ENGOs that seek understanding aim at finding common grounds, or as conflict ENGOs working ''outside the system.'' Results show that conflict ENGOs are more grassroots in orientation and consensus ENGOs are more professionalized. Conflict ENGOs operate primarily in local arenas. Consensus ENGOs appear more stable, with larger annual budgets and paid staff, but with fewer registered members. Consensus ENGOs enjoy a wider variety of income sources; receive more funding from government, foreign, and private donations; and have a broader range of self-generated income sources. Conflict ENGOs depend more on membership fees. Both groups are highly dependent on foundation grants. In general, greater resources are associated with consensus activity than among organizations utilizing conflict tactics. Résumé Des organisations non gouvernementales environnementales (ONGE) israéliennes sont e ´valuées a ` la lumière de la théorie de mobilisation des ressources, qui introduit une nouvelle méthode de division des ONGE selon leur orientation stratégique. Selon un sondage national, 85 groupes sont catégorisés comme ONGE consensuelles cherchant a ` e ˆtre comprises et a ` trouver des terrains d'entente ou comme ONGE conflictuelles oeuvrant « en dehors du système ». Les résultats démontrent que les ONGE conflictuelles ont une orientation plutôt populaire et que les ONGE consensuelles sont plus professionnalisées. Les ONGE conflictuelles oeuvrent principalement dans des milieux locaux. Les ONGE consensuelles & Alon Tal alontal@bgu.ac.il
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Israel and its Palestinian neighbors constitute a unique venue for evaluating the treatment efficiency and potential environmental risks of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), because of their... more
Israel and its Palestinian neighbors constitute a unique venue for evaluating the treatment efficiency and potential environmental risks of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), because of their physical proximity yet contrasting societal dynamics. Israel primarily relies on advanced tertiary sewage treatment and recycles over 85% of its treated wastewater, while in the Pal-estinian Authority (PA), there is only secondary treatment levels at WWTPs and reuse is minimal (<1%). To evaluate the extent of EDC occurrence and treatment efficiency, we conducted four sampling campaigns over two consecutive years, and measured the concentrations of selected EDCs in raw wastewater (WW), treated WW and sludge in six WWTPs in Israel, as well as in two Palestinian plants. Low concentrations of bisphenol A, octylphenol and triclosan measured in the raw WW in the Palestinian WWTPs reflected the relatively modest industrial activity and consumption habits as compared to the westernized consumer patterns in Israel. On the other hand, hormone concentrations in raw WW were higher in the Palestinian WWTPs than those in the Israeli WWTPs, presumably because of a dilution effect associated with a higher water per capita consumption among Israelis. Despite these differences in raw WW concentrations, the removal efficiency in all advanced WWTPs was relatively high when compared to averages reported internationally.
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Broad utilization of drip irrigation technologies in Israel has contributed to the 1600 percent increase in the value of produce grown by local farmers over the past sixty-five years. The recycling of 86% of Israeli sewage now provides... more
Broad utilization of drip irrigation technologies in Israel has contributed to the 1600 percent increase in the value of produce grown by local farmers over the past sixty-five years. The recycling of 86% of Israeli sewage now provides 50% of the country's irrigation water and is the second, idiosyncratic component in Israel's strategy to overcome water scarcity and maintain agriculture in a dryland region. The sustainability
of these two practices is evaluated in light of decades of experience and ongoing research by the local scientific community. The review confirms the dramatic advantages of drip irrigation over time, relative to flood, furrow and sprinkler irrigation and its significance as a central component in agricultural production, especially under arid conditions. In contrast, empirical findings increasingly report damage to soil and to crops from salinization caused by irrigation with effluents. To be environmentally and agriculturally sustainable over time, wastewater reuse programs must ensure extremely high quality treated effluents and ultimately seek the desalinization of recycled sewage.
of these two practices is evaluated in light of decades of experience and ongoing research by the local scientific community. The review confirms the dramatic advantages of drip irrigation over time, relative to flood, furrow and sprinkler irrigation and its significance as a central component in agricultural production, especially under arid conditions. In contrast, empirical findings increasingly report damage to soil and to crops from salinization caused by irrigation with effluents. To be environmentally and agriculturally sustainable over time, wastewater reuse programs must ensure extremely high quality treated effluents and ultimately seek the desalinization of recycled sewage.
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ABSTRACT An overview of the ongoing research taking place in our laboratory comparing direct and traditional pumping is given. It includes both Nd:YAG and Nd:YVO4 pumping with either Ti:Sapphire or diode lasers as the pumping source.... more
ABSTRACT An overview of the ongoing research taking place in our laboratory comparing direct and traditional pumping is given. It includes both Nd:YAG and Nd:YVO4 pumping with either Ti:Sapphire or diode lasers as the pumping source. Latest results addressing basic quantities connected with the pump-lase cycle in Nd:YAG lasers will be presented in detail. By comparing heat generation and laser performance of Nd:YAG oscillators pumped via two channels - direct pumping to the upper lasing level at 885nm and band pumping around 808nm, it was found that the heat generated during lasing is 27% lower with direct pumping as compared to traditional band pumping. Moreover, the experimental results suggest that the coupling efficiency between the pump band and the upper lasing level is unity, and about 8% of the upper lasing level population decays via non-radiative channels.
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After several decades of dramatic reform in forestry practices, the Keren Kayemeth L'Yisrael (KKL) compiled the new orientation and specific management changes in a comprehensive policy entitled the Forestry Bible. While Israel's... more
After several decades of dramatic reform in forestry practices, the Keren Kayemeth L'Yisrael (KKL) compiled the new orientation and specific management changes in a comprehensive policy entitled the Forestry Bible. While Israel's foresters origi-nally planted monoculture "pioneer" pine plantations, the new orientation calls for diverse, indigenous, naturally regenerating woodlands and their rich suite of ecosystem services. Timber production has been downgraded and is not to be a priority for Israel's dryland forests. Rather, a suite of maximization of ecosystem services with a particular emphasis on recreation and conservation drives much of the present strategy. The article highlights the evolution of Israel's forestry policies and details the new approach to afforestation and forestry maintenance and its rationale. Restoring the vast natural woodlands destroyed during the past century con-stitutes one of the primary challenges for the world's environ...
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Alon Tal is on the faculty of Ben-Gurion University and is presently a visiting professor at the Stanford Center for Conservation Biology. He chairs the Land Developent Committee at the Jewish National Fund that oversees policy for... more
Alon Tal is on the faculty of Ben-Gurion University and is presently a visiting professor at the Stanford Center for Conservation Biology. He chairs the Land Developent Committee at the Jewish National Fund that oversees policy for Israel's forests. them, especially on Saturdays and on holidays with their families, friends, and fellow hikers and cyclists. Sometimes they head out alone to Israel's open spaces and enjoy the fresh air, history, serenity, and contemplative solitude. Israel's parklands provide exciting memories for visiting pilgrims and for local school children. By offering a window into the country's past and present identity, they constitute a geographical filling station for national spirit and fuel the morale of tomorrow. This chapter opens with a brief history of Israel's parklands, describing the origins of the three essential recreational open spaces: national parks, nature reserves, and forests, which offer valuable leisure-time destinations....
demand. The natural ebb and flow of the Nile provided a steady supply of water and nutrients to Egyptian farmers. The Fellah – the Palestinian, Jordanian, and Syrian peas-ant – although taxed and exploited by colonial rulers for... more
demand. The natural ebb and flow of the Nile provided a steady supply of water and nutrients to Egyptian farmers. The Fellah – the Palestinian, Jordanian, and Syrian peas-ant – although taxed and exploited by colonial rulers for centuries, managed to produce food beyond subsistence levels. Yet decades of geometric population growth push today's farmers beyond past equilibriums with soil deg-radation and water quality contamination threatening the very sustenance of people across the region. Food shortages in Egypt are manifested by a new culture of consumer hoarding, with long queues common-W ahile the Middle East is frequently in the news because of political volatility and violence, there is an underlying lack of environmental equilibrium that poses a comparable threat to regional stability. Israel's neighbors – Egypt, Jordan, and Palestine – are arid countries with limited natural carrying capacity and burgeoning populations. Providing food and employment in what were tra...
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Research Interests: Water Purification, Science, Rainwater Harvesting, Rivers, Public Health, and 15 moreMultidisciplinary, Israel, Water Management, Water Supply, Humans, Water Conservation, Ecosystem, Sewage, Fresh water, Error Processing, Wastewater reuse, Conservation of Natural Resources, Water Transport, Environment, and Sodium Chloride
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... 1 The Pathology of a Polluted River An Introduction to Israel's Environmental Crises The bizarre clinical ... 2 / Pollution in a Promised Land the symptoms in drowning cases."3 When news reports around ... a physician on a... more
... 1 The Pathology of a Polluted River An Introduction to Israel's Environmental Crises The bizarre clinical ... 2 / Pollution in a Promised Land the symptoms in drowning cases."3 When news reports around ... a physician on a motorbike to the site of the accident to take water samples. ...