Israel Nature and Parks Authority

Lore & Background

The Israel Nature and Parks Authority was created in April 1998 by merging two organizations that had separately managed nature reserves and national parks since 1963. Its symbol is the ibex, a mountain goat similar to the antelope. As of 2015, the Authority oversaw approximately 240 nature reserves and 66 national parks, covering over 20 percent of Israel’s land mass.

Reader's Guide

The Israel Nature and Parks Authority is significant as the primary governmental body responsible for preserving Israel's natural and historical heritage across a substantial portion of its territory, including contested areas. Its merger in 1998 consolidated management of nature reserves and national parks, enabling coordinated conservation efforts such as the griffon vulture recovery program and post-wildfire reforestation at Mount Carmel. The Authority's rapid expansion—doubling the number of reserves between 2007 and 2015—reflects growing recognition of the need for protected areas in a densely populated region. However, its history includes controversies over conservation policies, leadership appointments, and public trust, as seen in the Avshalom Cave incident. These tensions highlight the challenges of balancing ecological protection, public access, and political or religious pressures. The Authority's work remains crucial for biodiversity and ecosystem resilience in Israel and the surrounding regions.

Did You Know?

• The Israel Nature and Parks Authority was founded in April 1998, merging two organizations that had operated separately since 1964.
• As of 2015, the Authority oversaw 400 nature reserves and 81 national parks, covering over 20 percent of Israel’s land mass.
• In October 2017, the Authority faced criticism after instructional material at Avshalom Cave omitted an age estimate, reportedly due to pressure from the ultra-Orthodox population.

Formation, Symbolism, and Geographic Scope

The Israel Nature and Parks Authority came into existence in April 1998 when two separate bodies—the National Parks Authority and the Nature Reserves Authority, which had operated independently since 1964—were consolidated into a single government organization. This merger unified the management of nature reserves and national parks across Israel, the Golan Heights, and portions of the West Bank. The Authority's emblem is the ibex, a mountain goat resembling the antelope, and among its core missions is the enforcement of Israeli wildlife protection laws. Its jurisdiction is organized into six distinct regions: the Golan Heights, Sea of Galilee, and Galilee; Lower Galilee and its valleys; Mount Carmel, the coast, and central Israel; the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea; the Negev; and Eilat and the Arava. By 2015, the Authority oversaw 400 nature reserves and 81 national parks, covering more than 20 percent of Israel's total land mass—a remarkable expansion from just 69 parks and 190 reserves in 2007, representing a near-doubling of protected reserves in under a decade.

Conservation Showcases: Vultures and Forests

Two flagship projects illustrate the Authority's hands-on approach to ecological restoration. The 'Under Our Wing' initiative targets the endangered griffon vulture, a species critical to the region's broader ecosystem. The program combines captive breeding with subsequent wild release, while also establishing dedicated feeding stations designed to steer vultures away from poisoned carcasses—a leading cause of mortality in the wild. Additional measures address intentional poisoning by farmers, and together these layered efforts have contributed to measurable recovery of the griffon vulture population in Israel. On a different scale, the devastating 2010 Carmel Forest fire destroyed a major ecosystem, prompting the Authority to partner with the Jewish National Fund on a large-scale reforestation campaign. The response included planting native tree species, constructing firebreaks, and clearing debris to mitigate the risk of future wildfires. Volunteers from Israel and around the world helped replant thousands of trees, while ecological experts continue monitoring long-term forest health and resilience to ensure the rehabilitation endures.

Leadership Turbulence and Public Accountability

The Authority's leadership history reflects recurring tension between conservation priorities and political pressure. After the 1998 merger, Aharon Vardi served as the first unified head until 2002, followed by Eli Amitay, whose tenure from 2002 to 2011 drew sustained opposition. In 2007, scientists and conservation groups publicly opposed his second-term appointment, citing concerns about his conservation policies, yet the government approved it regardless. By 2011, Environment Minister Gilad Erdan moved to remove Amitay, alleging he acted against the public interest; Amitay retired a year earlier than planned, and Shaul Goldstein, head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, was appointed by a government committee. In October 2017, a separate controversy erupted when a visitor to Avshalom Cave noticed that instructional materials omitted any estimate of the cave's age. A local guide attributed this to pressure from the ultra-Orthodox community, a claim later corroborated by media reports. The Authority subsequently announced corrections, and the CEO called for a full review of all instructional content to ensure scientific accuracy.

A Growing Protected Landscape

The Authority's footprint has expanded at a striking pace. In 2007 it managed 69 national parks and 190 nature reserves; by 2015 those figures had climbed to 81 parks and 400 reserves, pushing total coverage past 20 percent of Israel's land area. This rapid growth underscores a national commitment to preserving natural habitats across diverse biomes—from the highlands of the Golan and Galilee to the arid expanses of the Negev and the coastal stretches around Mount Carmel. The institutional lineage stretches back to 1964, when separate authorities for nature reserves and national parks were first established, each with its own line of directors. Uzi Paz, Avraham Yoffe, and Adir Shapira led the reserves body in its early decades, while Yaakov Yanai and Zvi Barzel guided the parks authority. Aharon Vardi uniquely bridged both organizations in 1997–1998 before becoming the first head of the merged entity. The current director, Raya Shurki, has held the position since 2022, continuing a lineage of leadership that spans six decades of Israeli conservation governance.

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