Ecosystem Management - JBC A Model for Cooperation on Biodiversity - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Jerusalem Bioregion Center for Ecosystem Management - JBC

A Model for Cooperation on Biodiversity Protection and Sustainable Development in the Jerusalem Region

Mission

The Jerusalem Bioregion Center for Ecosystem Management (JBC) was established in 2014 to:

• Promote sustainable eco-system management in the Jerusalem region
• Act as a resource for local and regional biodiversity initiatives
• Help local governments in the area find ways to factor ecosystem

management into their infrastructure planning efforts Goals: ►Information - lectures/workshops, roundtables, data-base ►Multi-level cooperation and partnerships - convening stakeholder ►Project management consultation to start-up biodiversity initiatives:

• urban agriculture - historic landscape conservation - water

management - forest conservation - species protection – green pilgrim tourism

Jerusalem Land Use

Natural Areas Built-up Areas 51.5 % 47.5 % Natural Open Areas Parks and Gardens Forest Land 39% Public Parks 2% Grass Land 61% Orchards 13%

 Expansive green belt around the city  Shortage of cultivated and maintained parkland within the city

• Contrary to other

cities, Jerusalem is not short of open space

• However, there is a

severe shortage of developed open space

• Problems - multiple

management authorities and lack of resources[][1]

Public Open Spaces in Jerusalem

• Municipality
• KKL – JNF
• INPA – Israel Nature

and Parks Authority1

• Jerusalem Foundation

* Source: City of Jerusalem Biodiversity Report 2013, pg 73 Area of Jerusalem = 100 sq kilometers = 25,000 acres

Jerusalem Metropolitan Ring Parks 3,700 Acres

Arazim Valley Park Motza Valley Park Refaim Valley Park Tsofim Valley Park

Holy Basin Kidron Valley Park

Railway Park

Safdie Plan defeated in favor of nature conservation and historic heritage preservation – mainstreaming into productive sectors – tourism, recreation, sports, health footpaths, bicycle paths, picnic sites, convenience stations, parking and shops

JBC - Background

• The JBC was founded in collaboration with the Society for the

Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI), the Ministry of Environment and local authorities in the Jerusalem region.

• The JBC evolved following the implementation of the ICLEI/LAB

(Local Action for Biodiversity) Program , a global initiative for promoting sustainable development at the local level.

• Participation in the LAB program enabled the City of Jerusalem to

play a lead role in the development of frameworks for integrating biodiversity protection in the local planning system.

• The JBC proposes a breakthrough concept in ecosystem

management, shifting from a local to a regional approach, in line with international principles such as URBIS (the Urban Biosphere Initiative) and the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve concept.

Global Context

150 Urban Nature Sites

The Jerusalem Urban Nature Infrastructure Survey – comprehensive data base of the City’s biodiversity characteristics

Urban Nature Survey Site Card

Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Local Policy Integrating the Jerusalem Urban Nature Survey Database into the City’s GIS System

The LAB Process

Assessmentהכרעה Commitmentתובייחתה Planning ןונכת Approvalרושיא Implementation עוציב Five Step Program -

ךילהת5םיבלש

Local Biodiversity Initiatives Jerusalem LAB Established in October, 2009

םורופל הפרטצה םילשורי LABב-2009

Green Jerusalem

JBC Stakeholder Forum

Jerusalem SPNI Israel Parks Authority & JNF Jerusalem Development Authority Local Education & Culture Institutions Public Interest Groups Israel Lands Authority Government Ministries Municipality LAB Steering Committee

Jerusalem Biodiversity Report

• Ecology
• Strategy
• Management
• Public Participation
• Projects

Jerusalem Biodiversity Report

LBSAP - Local Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Organizational Structure

• The JBC is funded by a grant from a local philanthropic foundation
• During its first 3 years of operation, it was managed by the Jerusalem

Foundation and the Ariel Company

• In 2016, it became a project of the Jerusalem Green Fund and is now

managed by JGF

• SPNI has been a major strategic partner in implementing JBC goals

JBC Team

Naomi Tsur, Chair Helene Roumani, Director Timna Raz, Project Coordinator

• Dr. Yoel Siegel,

Senior Consultant

• Dr. Eran Brokovich,

Ecologist Melanie Gross, Database Coordinator

JBC Initiatives

• Training Programs - Mainstreaming Urban Nature - 2014- 2016
• Community Outreach - Food for Jerusalem Forum 2014
• Research - Threats to Ecosystems in the Jerusalem Area 2015
• Conservation - Ein Kerem and Al Azariya Project 2016

Partnerships

• Community Gardens
• Food Forests
• Edible Neighborhoods
• Muslala
• Kaimuta
• Aleinu Hydroponic Herb Farm
• Urban Bee Keeping
• Reshit School, Kiryat Menachem
• Apack School, Tsur Baher
• Pisgat Zeev School
• Ezrat Avot Senior Citizen’s Center
• Save Jerusalem Hills Campaign
• Save Mitzpeh Neftoach Campaign
• Wildflower Sanctuary
• Jerusalem Municipality
• SPNI Jerusalem
• KKL
• RATAG
• Ministry of Environment
• Ministry of Agriculture
• Knesset Green Project
• Ass. of Regional Councils,

Environmental Units

• Jerusalem Botanical Gardens
• MAARAG National Ecosystem

Assessment Project

• JBF – Jerusalem Business

Forum

Projects

Mountain Gazelle distribution map in Jerusalem - an endangered species

Animal Species - the Israeli Mountain Gazelle

Bird Migration

► The unique location of Israel at the junction of three continents has made it a

major international bird migration route

► More than 500 million birds fly over Jerusalem twice a year ► Comprising over 200 different species, they migrate over Lebanon, Jordan,

Israel and through Egypt to Africa

► Per square kilometer, the country has one of the highest levels of bird traffic in

the world

Thousands of years of history in Jerusalem have influenced the urban texture. Over time, stone walls, reservoirs and roof tops have been transformed into natural ecosystems. The Temple Mount is an ancient living roof. The walls of the Old City sport cliff vegetation.

Habitats and Tourism

500,000,000 birds fly over Jerusalem twice a year. The Western Wall is home to nesting swifts.

Phenology and Behaviour of the Common Swift Apus apus in Israel (Holy Birds, or the Common Swifts of Jerusalem’s Western Wall) ULRICH TIGGES AND HEINRICH MENDELSSOHN

"םָּג- ָהיֶדֲעוֺמ הָעְדָי םִיָּמָשָּב הָדיִסֲח ,וֽגָעְו סיִסְו רֹתְותֶא וֽרְמָש ר- תֵע הָנאֹֹב "והימרי-ח'-ז'

Ecosystem Services

Jerusalem Metropolitan Biosphere Schematic Concept

Legally protected areas

Urban Center

Town Village Proposed Jt. Recycled Sewage Eco - corridors

Buffer Zone

CSA Urban nature CSA Peri-urban Agriculture Peri-urban Agriculture Peri-urban Agriculture

Conservation and Renewal Developmen t Ecosystems Social and Economic Activity

Ecosystem Services

Human Actions

Monitoring and Research Policy and Programs Biosphere Reserve

Stakeholder Engagement

Joint Training Program JBC/ SPNI Workshops

Lectures/ Seminars/ Field Trips

Jennifer Pierce - The Central European University “The Bioshed of Jerusalem: A Model for Urban Biodiversity Planning, Visioning and Communication” 2014

Jerusalem URBIS Workshop March 2012

Urban Agriculture Survey Sample Study of 30 Community Gardens (ITEK)

Food for Jerusalem Forum

Ein Kerem

Figs Almonds Olives

Lavender

Pomegranate

Mizmor L’David Talpiot

The Gazelle Valley Urban Nature Park

A trigger for creating a network of inner-city nature parks

Gazelle Valley Urban Nature Park Plan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdzEgFARU2Q

Campaigns: Save the Jerusalem Hills - Historic Landscape Preservation Optimal Utilization of Ecosystem Services through Landscape Scale Management

Kidron Valley Basin Restoration

Kidron River/Wadi El Nar Basin Restoration Plan

The City of Jerusalem is working with its Palestinian partners to revitalize this ancient area, turning it from the region’s backyard into an economically and ecologically vibrant example of cross-boundary cooperation. The aim is to promote ecosystem conservation and management, along with local community development through improved employment opportunities and tourism.

JBC Website

www.greenmap.org.il/English/Bioregion Center

http://www.jgf.org.il/bioregion-center

The Jerusalem Bioregion Center

jerusalem.bioregion@gmail.com www.jgf.org.il/bioregion-center Facebook - Green Jerusalem

Thank You!

Helene Roumani, Director, JBC