Megiddo Regional Council Council Boundary... Core Zones................ Transition Zones...... Buffer Zones............. Megiddo Regional Council was founded in 1945, during the British woodlands, scenic routes, streams, picnic areas, hiking and biking trails, In the belief that all forms of culture mold the present and future Settlement.................. Mandate Period, and is one of the first regional councils established agricultural spaces, open landscapes, rolling hills and pasture areas. of the region’s community and strengthens its identity and social Unesco Heritage Site Biosphere Reserve YOQNE'AM in Israel. robustness, the regional council sponsors a variety of cultural MOSHAVA Fire Zone................... The Megiddo Regional Council works to promote the quality of life of its In 2011 UNESCO declared the Megiddo Region a “Biosphere endeavors, including: adult education courses, enrichment classes Animal Crossing........ The Megiddo region’s jurisdiction is an area of about 280 square residents and encourages the partnership of the residents in deciding Reserve.” in music, theater and dance and song concerts with local talent. Core Zone No. .......... miles, some of which is in the Jezreel Valley, but is mostly in Ramat their life style. Such decisions include: the expansion of the settlements, A biosphere reserve is a defined area established by The council also supports the Megiddo Choir, a string orchestra, a HAZORE'A Rd. No. 6................... Menashe. The region is bordered by the Jezreel Valley, Gilboa, Allona promoting the development of industrial and high-tech zones and administrative and economic authorities and recognized by Yemenite dance troupe and museums in the settlements. and Hof Carmel regional council jurisdictions, and by the town of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere program. developing employment opportunities for residents; upgrading ELYAKIM EN HA'EMEK Yokne’am Illit. infrastructure and building public and educational institutions. Each year the council sponsors several main cultural and sports This program is one of the vehicles for promoting sustainable events, such as: the Menashe Forests Festival, the Daliyya Dance development based on local community involvement Since its early days, the Megiddo region has served as a vital “security- MEVO CARMEL The body responsible for formulating education policy in Megiddo is Festival, the Megiddo Research Conference, bicycle races, and activities and scientific and environmental protection Science & settlement bridge” between the valley and the mountainous Carmel Industrial Park the Educational Leadership Forum, whose membership includes all activities throughout the region. region and the coastal plain. The first communities were built along running and navigation competitions for all age groups. RAMAT HASHOFET MISHMAR the principals and directors of formal and informal education and the A biosphere reserve is operated by a regional HA'EMEK the outskirts of the Jezreel Valley, from Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek In recent years the various communities have undergone many education coordinators from each community. The forum sets goals and administrative authority that prioritizes the development (1926) to Kibbutz Ein HaShofet (1937), one of the first “stockade- changes: The basic structure of the moshav and kibbutz cooperative focus topics throughout the school year and votes on joint projects and and coexistence of man in his environment, through a major and-tower” settlements. Between the founding of the state and A2 farming communities is evolving; some of the kibbutzim have made A1 RAMOT MENASHE MIDRAKH the development of educational initiatives. commitment to preserving the natural resources and landscape EN HASHOFET OZ 1952, more new settlements were established in this region. structural and organizational changes and started privatizing; new for future generations. A biosphere reserve is managed in Today there are 13 agricultural communities: 9 kibbutzim, 3 The Megiddo education system is spearheading a unique curriculum residents have moved into the expansion neighborhoods of the accordance with the zoning of areas within the region as core, DALIYYA moshavim and 1 moshava. The local population totals 13,000 and is based on the principles of the biosphere reserve – a biosphere education kibbutzim and moshavim; the general population has been growing buffer and transition areas, and defining the development, A2 expected to grow in the next few years. program built in conjunction with the Society for the Protection of from year to year. conservation and management regulations applicable to MEGIDDO In 2011 UNESCO declared the area a biosphere reserve. The Nature in Israel and the Ministry of Education. The council works hand in hand with these communities and each zone. A3 unique attributes of this region include the rural character of the Adama, an educational ecological farm recognized by the Ministry of participates in a forum of community leaders and officials to build The Megiddo Regional Council is a partner in the management communities and the wide variety of landscapes: natural forests and Education, has been built in the Megiddo high school compound. joint development programs. of the Ramot Menashe biosphere reserve, jointly with area residents, economic organizations, environmental protection organizations and government authorities. GIV'AT OZ GAL'ED The unique attributes of this region include the rural character A4 of the communities and the wide variety of landscapes: natural forests and woodlands, scenic routes, streams, open landscapes, rolling hills and pasture areas, picnic areas, agricultural spaces, hiking and biking trails. The biosphere reserve has a public forum in which the local residents and various authorities formulate policy for the region. A coordinating The local application of the Israeli government’s national planning Buffer zones – adjoining the other two zones, to protect the core committee oversees the ongoing management of the reserve and policy, in accordance with the national master plans. zones and allow limited interaction. ensures the implementation of the policy set by the public forum. Creating a long-term planning process based on conflict management Transition zones – Sustainable human development (residential, The guidelines and management concept for the management of and long-term public partnership. the biosphere are: A biosphere reserve is a means for protecting and preserving ecosystems infrastructure, etc.) The preservation of the balance between development and conservation and ecology, and guaranteeing their long-term sustainability. A successful biosphere reserve is a region with a vibrant, flourishing – providing solutions to the present and future needs of the residents The biosphere reserve regulations are based on a geographical division and communities while preserving the geography and ecology and the into three regions, with varying levels of use and preservation: and developed community that of its own free will accepts restrictions historical-cultural and community character. Core zones – for ecological preservation with minimal human interaction. and practices that will facilitate full sustainability in all aspects of life. Places of Interest in Megiddo Region museum activities. Other exhibits at the museum include a collection walls and gates, Canaanite How to get there: Enter Park Ye’arot Menashe from Route 66 (Yokne’am- The story of Ochberg’s heroism A map showing the kibbutzim throughout Israel and the stone Juara F/5 local archaeological findings from excavations headed and researched temples, ivory ornaments, stables, Megiddo), and follow the signs to HaHaruvim car park. The trail begins began in the 1920s, when he markers all along the path to the monument tell the story of the On a hilltop half a kilometer from Kibbutz En HaShofet, on the road by kibbutz member Ezra Meierhof. There are educational activities granaries and a waterworks. near the sign for Nahal Shofet (stream). heard of the poverty and disease Kibbutz Movement’s contribution to Israel’s security throughout the between En HaShofet and Mishmar HaEmek. This building was the for children and adults, such as guided tours of the permanent and The “roaring lion” seal inscribed and pogroms affecting over decades since the founding first home for the settlers of temporary exhibits, gallery lectures with exhibiting artists, enrichment “Shema, servant of Jeroboam” En Rehaniya D/4 400,000 Jewish orphaned children of the movement. in Eastern Europe. Ochberg, who En HaShofet, while the classes and activities in the museum’s creative workshop. was discovered at the Megiddo En Rehaniya is beautiful spring near En HaEmek. Its waters flow from the How to get there: The entrance was the biggest donor to the k i b b u t z w a s u n d e r excavations and was incorporated is from Route 6953 near Juara, upper part of the Nahal HaShofet channel and flow down through the JNF for the redemption of land construction in 1937. After E/6 into the logo of the Megiddo on the magnificent scenic Palmach Cave thick vegetation. If you walk through the reeds, you will reach a series of in Israel, became a savior to these the kibbutz members moved Mishmar HaEmek Forest and the Palmach Cave, on the outskirts of the Regional Council. small waterfalls, connected by small, delightful wading pools. You can children. In 1921 he travelled to Eastern Europe, and a few months later, route with the signs leading into their permanent homes, kibbutz, were used as