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