Director, Youth division at The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel - Givatayim, Tel Aviv District, Israel
Six decades ago, the nascent State of Israel was little more than a scarred landscape. Neglected and barren, this land – so small and with so few natural resources - had to sustain the great ingathering of Jews from the four corners of the world. The pioneers knew then that ensuring environmental sustainability would be pivotal. And so the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel - HaHevra LeHaganat HaTeva - was born out of this fundamental need. We were the pioneers then and continue to spearhead environmental efforts in Israel, today. As our country is rapidly becoming the Developed World's most densely populated nation, the human impact on the environment is staggering. The tools we use now to protect the land range from lobbying and education to eco-tourism and grassroots community activism. The front line has taken on different complexities and dimensions but the goal remains the same: Keeping the Promise of the Promised Land.