Biodiversity’s national priority in a climate of everyday violence

Israel is subjected to everyday conflict and the resulting violence. Israel’s society consists of a wide and fragmented range of value sets in which there is a need to prioritize resources between political and security needs, as well as sustainable development and biodiversity conservation needs. As a result, biodiversity—especially endemic biodiversity—is at considerable risk. 

Data was collected from interviews with Israeli scientists, managers of nature park reserves and upper level decision makers. Such decision makers included the minister of environment and the prime minister’s spokesman.  

The process of prioritizing biodiversity decision making is imbedded in religious heritage and conservation education, rather than strict biodiversity conservation needs. Scientists report being involved in various aspects of national and/or sub-national decision making primarily on a volunteer basis. 

Israel may be represented as an example of a nation that prioritizes biodiversity conservation needs in spite of ongoing violence, the voluntary involvement suggests that the link between biodiversity science and policy maybe somewhat at risk. Data further suggest that only a small percentage of landscape development practices incorporate biodiversity management decisions.  

It is important to note that political and security agendas take priority on national decision making agenda during acute violence breakouts.  During such times, national decision makers lack an accessible accumulative scientific platform upon which to base informed decisions. As a result, biodiversity decision-making pattern is on a short time horizons and not sustainable in such a climate of everyday violence. 

Conservation Beyond Borders recommended to implement several relatively simple strategies in order to significantly tighten the link between biodiversity and science and policy in order to optimize long term biodiversity conservation. Such strategies include integrating scientific consulting into decision making process, in addition to an interdisciplinary approach to ecosystem management which allows for adaptive management and monitoring conservation plans.