Protection of riparian landscapes in israel

Riparian landscapes are natural habitats of unique ecological and scenic values, which are highly sensitive to human intervention and impact. Yet, due to their qualities, and especially the presence of water, they are also usually attractive for recreation purposes. This is more so in arid and semi-arid zones like Israel. Nevertheless, in the past, the importance of riparian landscapes in Israel did not receive adequate attention in policy and planning. As a result, over the years they were exposed to various negative impacts, including pollution by industrial and agricultural effluents, exploitation of water for agricultural and other purposes, and land use conflicts. Although in recent years with the growing awareness of their ecological and recreational potential, considerable efforts are being invested in the rehabilitation of deteriorated riparian landscapes, their protection is still deficient. This chapter reviews and examines policy tools used for the protection of riparian landscapes in Israel, based mainly on regulations, reports and existing literature. It concludes by offering some lessons for policy-making in general and suggestions for improving the protection of riparian landscapes in Israel in particular.