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Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection State of Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection Fourth Country Report to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity November 2009 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES.......................................................................................................iv LIST OF ACRONYMS USED .............................................................................................................vi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.................................................................................................................. 1 1. OVERVIEW OF BIODIVERSITY STATUS, TRENDS AND THREATS ................................................ 6 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 6 1.1 Israel's unique biodiversity ........................................................................................... 6 1.2 Trends and threats to Israel's Biodiversity.................................................................... 8 1.2.1 Habitat loss and fragmentation ............................................................................................... 10 1.2.2 Habitat degradation................................................................................................................. 12 1.2.3 Invasive alien species and species outbreaks ........................................................................ 13 1.2.4 Flow modification..................................................................................................................... 14 1.2.5 Harvesting ............................................................................................................................... 14 1.2.6 Pollution................................................................................................................................... 15 1.2.7 Genetic resources ................................................................................................................... 16 1.2.8 Future threats .......................................................................................................................... 16 1.2.9 Protected areas and protected species .................................................................................. 17 1.3 Status and threats to biodiversity by main ecosystem categories................................19 1.3.1 Woodland and shrubland biodiversity ..................................................................................... 19 1.3.2 Coastal biodiversity ................................................................................................................. 22 1.3.3 Desert biodiversity................................................................................................................... 23 1.3.4 Inland water biodiversity.......................................................................................................... 24 1.3.5 Marine biodiversity .................................................................................................................. 27 1.3.6 Agricultural biodiversity ........................................................................................................... 28 1.3.7 Pastureland biodiversity .......................................................................................................... 29 1.3.8 Urban biodiversity.................................................................................................................... 29 1.4 Implications of biodiversity loss...................................................................................29 2. CURRENT STATUS OF NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGIES AND ACTION PLANS ..................30 2.1 Israel's National Biodiversity Plan ...............................................................................30 2.2 Components of the National Plan................................................................................31 2.2.1 Threats to Israel's biodiversity and ways for its conservation ................................................. 32 2.2.2 Biodiversity in national planning.............................................................................................. 36 2.2.3 Economic aspects ................................................................................................................... 36 2.2.4 The legal-institutional framework ............................................................................................ 37 2.2.5 Research and monitoring ........................................................................................................ 37 2.2.6 Education, public awareness and involvement ....................................................................... 38 2.2.7 International aspects ............................................................................................................... 39 2.2.8 The proposed action plan........................................................................................................ 40 2.3 Targets and indicators ................................................................................................41 2.4 Progress on Priority Activities .....................................................................................42 2.4.1 Protecting genetic diversity ..................................................................................................... 44 2.4.2 Protecting species and populations ........................................................................................ 46 2.4.3 Protecting habitats and ecosystem ......................................................................................... 50 2.5 Way forward................................................................................................................52 3. SECTORAL AND CROSS-SECTORAL INTEGRATION OR MAINSTREAMING OF BIODIVERSITY CONSIDERATIONS .......................................................................................................................54 iii 3.1 The national framework for promoting sustainable development.................................54 3.1.1 National Sustainable Development Strategy .......................................................................... 54 3.1.2 Ministry activity within the NCSD ............................................................................................ 56 3.2 Environmental quality and sustainable use of resources.............................................59 3.3 Forestry ......................................................................................................................59 3.4 Agriculture ..................................................................................................................60 3.4.1 The SD strategic plan for agriculture....................................................................................... 62 3.5 Regional planning .......................................................................................................63 3.6 Research, monitoring and Education ..........................................................................65 3.6.1 Research ................................................................................................................................. 65 3.6.2 Monitoring................................................................................................................................ 67 3.6.3 Education ................................................................................................................................ 68 3.7 Legal, institutional and economic aspects ...................................................................70 3.7.1 Economic Instruments and financing ...................................................................................... 71 3.7.2 Institutional Tools .................................................................................................................... 71 3.8 International activity ....................................................................................................72 3.9 Other sectors and activities.........................................................................................73 3.10 Conclusions ................................................................................................................73 4. CONCLUSIONS: PROGRESS TOWARDS THE 2010 TARGET AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN .......................................................................................................................75 4.1 Progress towards the 2010 Target ..............................................................................75 4.2 Progress towards the Goals and Objectives of the Strategic Plan of the Convention ..83 4.3 Conclusions ................................................................................................................85 APPENDICES ..............................................................................................................................87 Appendix I - Information concerning reporting Party and preparation of national report .........87 Appendix II - Further sources of information ..........................................................................89 Appendix III - Progress towards Targets of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation and Programme of Work on Protected Areas ...............................................................................91 A. Progress towards Targets of the Global Strategy
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