KKL-JNF Embraces the Negev, its People and the Desert Environment Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund Jerico Jerusalem Ashdod Kiryat Malakhi Bet Shemesh zrsn u jsjq no jzrzpsqnu ro~rsjur n pp~jn qql~q ur jn{or Ashkelon s~ ju u junqo jrjq r~u j n ju u {l uqq n rju ju unq s{ru jjunq Kiryat Gat He turneth a wilderness into a pool of water, and a dry land into watersprings. And there He maketh the Azza KXQJU\WRGZHOODQGWKH\HVWDEOLVKDFLW\RIKDELWDWLRQ$QGVRZÀHOGVDQGSODQWYLQH\DUGVZKLFK\LHOG MEDITERANEAN SEA DEAD Sderot fruits of increase. He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly... (Psalms 107, 35-38) Hebron SEA En Gedi Netivot Ofakim Be’er Sheva Arad Pit'hat Shalom Dimona Yeroham Making the wilderness Kadesh Barne’a bloom, improving the soil, planting gardens Nitsana Sede Boker JORDAN and forests … all this is more than the State Hatseva of Israel can do on its own… this mighty task requires an all out Mitspe Ramon effort by the entire Sapir people – and the people’s most reliable EGYPT KKL-JNF and efficient agent in FootprintsF greening the Paran wilderness is the inin the Negev Jewish National Fund. / { David Ben-Gurion, early 1950s. LEGEND KKL-JNF Action Areas Forestry / Negev 2011 Savannization ” Israeli population 7.7 million Community 15% in the Negev Development Yotvata & Agriculture Tourism & Recreation Water Management Research & Development Education Eilat RED SEA KKL-JNF Embraces thee Negev, There are two ways to its People and the Desert Environment contend with the desert: fight it or take advantage of its unique qualities for the The Negev has always been on KKL-JNF's agenda. If greater good. The real desert anyone has clung tenaciously to David Ben-Gurion's is to be found within people, vision for the Negev – and helped fulfill it as well, it not in nature. is definitely KKL-JNF. At times we have the whole country behind us; at others, priorities move President Shimon Peres at the elsewhere. But for us at KKL-JNF the Negev is opening ceremony of the annual always a priority and making Ben-Gurion's vision a Arava Agricultural Exhibition in reality is an integral part of our work. the Negev, February 2009. Developing the Negev is a dynamic process. Over the years concepts have changed – from Ben-Gurion's view of “wrestling fertility from the wasteland” to our integrated vision of a Negev that preserves Israel’s open spaces, provides a refuge from crowded central Israel, and combines many different cultures and lifestyles – in short – the Israel of tomorrow! Making our vision a reality is challenging and cannot be rushed. The Negev, with its unique qualities, has to be developed with care, love and a feel for the future. If we are to ensure that the Negev will still be here for our children and progress from being Israel's backyard to becoming its showcase, we cannot give up. Come join us on a tour through the Negev of tomorrow – a tomorrow coming ever closer with your help and support. 4 5 Our Vision – Moving Forward withh the Negev into the TheThe NNegev Negev is is a amajor major ch challenge for us at KKL-JNF: We Join us and: dod notno see barren expanses of desert, we see t Support R&D stations, whose research opportunities.opppoo facilitates agriculture in the arid conditions of the Future! t OpportunitiesO for new communities and new Negev and the Arava. ececonomicco enterprises. t Support the development of new water t OpportunitiesOpp for providing the children of the treatment facilities that bring life to inhabitants of NNeNegevgevg v withw a good education and developing sources the region. off inincome.e t Support land reclamation for housing and agriculture in new and existing Negev In thisthihis regregion,giionn, withwithh itsits harshhaarrshh t Opportunitiespor ies forf studying the unique Negev communities. climclimate,te,, 4460 farms produceuc 60% eecosystem and developing it sustainably. ofo Israel’ssraraaeel fresh vegetables.es. They t Support sustainable tourism ventures based on also producee forfo export. Agricultureurre Sincece before the establishment of the State of Israel we the unique Negev ecosystem, landscape and enables residentssidde of the Arava to survive.uur have plplayed a major role in developing the Negev: history. redeeming and reclaiming land, preparing This isw hywhy KKL-JNF supports Yairi and Support change-making projects in the main infrastructure for new and existing communities, t other R&D stations throughout Israel.r population centers of the Negev. Our commitment to the Arava doese not funding significant research. In short, we are in the Support the battle against erosion and end with the R&D stations. We provide Negev to stay – now and forever. We need your t desertification. local residents with the infrastructure that support to continue our important work. Join us and enables them to live on the land. We build make a difference, help us put the Negev at the head of water treatment facilities, fish breeding the country! pools and greenhouses. We pave roads and develop tourist sites like the Peace Road, Sapir Park and Timna Park. This is KKL-JNF’s way of life. This, in our opinion, is the most sublime expression of the word ‘Zionism’. KKL-JNF sees the settlement of the land, particularly in those regions of the country that are distant from the central region, as one of the cornerstones of the Zionist vision. KKL-JNF World Chairman Efi Stenzler at the Arava Agricultural Exhibition, February 2009. 6 Support us in creating a better Negev, a better Israel and a better world! KKL-JNF Involvement in the NEGEV 2015 Plan On March 31, 2005 the Israeli government voted has already increased by 7200 people. The Israeli andand provideprovide many more employmentemployment to develop and strengthen the Negev by improving government has also launched a program offeringg opportunities.opportunities. living conditions, raising the standard of young families free farming land in Negev education, improving transportation and communities. Another major project now Development of the new high-tech park planned developing a socially active and contributing underway is the relocation of all the IDF bases to for Be’er Sheva, a project that will provide community. KKL-JNF representatives played a the Negev, a move which will eventually increase thousands of new jobs, is progressing and the first major role in formulating the National Strategic the population in the area by some 80,000 people buildings will become functional in the near Plan for the Development of the Negev – NEGEV future. 2015 – bringing to it our unique environmental outlook. Transportation to and from the Negev has also improved: The Cross-Israel Highway has been The government determined a number of targets extended, shortening the trip to and from the area to be achieved by 2015: significantly and the government has approved the 1) Increase population by 70%; railway line between Ashkelon and Be’er Sheva. 2) Raise employment by 83%; Many young people are now expressing an interest 3) Reduce the per capita income gap by 60%; in the Negev and the Israeli government is helping 4) Increase the number of Jewish students at with low-cost housing in existing communities Ben-Gurion University of the Negev by 30% and that will grow stronger thanks to the influx of the number of Bedouin students by 130%. young, highly motivated, well educated people. Things are already happening in the Negev. New Additional fields the Israeli government is active communities such as Be’er Orah, Tsukim, Be’er in: planning the Red Sea-Dead Sea Canal, Milka, Karmit, Shlomit, Giv’ot Bar, Haruv, Sansana investing in developing alternative energy sources and Naveh / Bene Netsarim (Halutsit and continued development of Nahal Be’er Sheva. communities) were established. In existing communities, such as Dimona, Yeroham and Omer, real estate values are rising and housing is in great demand. As a result, the Negev population 8 9 >> KKL-JNF and Friends – Rolling Back the Desert Forestry KKL-JNF, historically committed to strengthening the ties between man and land, has been creating Israel's forest resources and leading successful efforts to ensure the legislative protection of open spaces. We plant new forests and manage existing ones, we tend native woodland and restore ancient orchards, and we combat desertification and improve the carbon balance in the environment. Once, we believed in “greening” the Negev – today, we are world renowned experts in savannization, or dry land afforestation – how to create a fertile desert while at the same time preserving the unique desert ecosystem. We plant single trees or clusters of trees in areas where climatic conditions do not permit woodlands or shrubs to grow without substantial human intervention. Their growth relies on advanced water harvesting techniques that capture runoff rainwater in ridges, depressions, terraces and limans (tree clusters planted in micro-catchments). Recent Activity: SomeSome examples examples of oourur llatesta work in this field: Dvira, Yatir, Hiran, Mishmar HaNegev, Kramim, Be'eri Donation OpportuOpportunities:unities:unit Dvira Forest – Green HiranHiran ForestFForestt – PreventingPreventiing Be'eriBe'e'erii ForestForest – A grggreeneen YatirYatit r FFoForestrestt – MiMishmarshs mar Ha'NegevHHa'NNeggev KramimKrama iim ForestForest – A environs for existing soilsoil erosionerosiion environmentenviironment ffoforr borderbbordder PreventingPreventing FForestorestt – A newnew forestforest greengreen lungllung forfor newnew communities communitiescommunities desertificationdesertification for the NegevNegev communitiescommunities 10{ 11 >> KKL-JNF and Friends – Giving Water, Giving Life Water Management Israel is facing its most severe water shortage in nearly a century. Five consecutive years of drought have deprived its natural water sources of sufficient replenishment, while a growing population and a rising standard of living have led to a sharp increase in consumption.