Bringing Color Back to the North

Our beautiful country is wounded. After two years of war, the forest fires, rockets, and fighting have not just harmed the people of Israel, they have destroyed its landscape. Forests are burned, streams are polluted, open spaces are laid waste, and habitats are decimated. The displaced communities of the north that returned to their homes were met with a devastated landscape. How can we heal, when nature – our home – is such a stark reminder of war? From the Golan Heights to the Western Galilee Ranges, SPNI is working to repair the damage of the war. But we need your support to make it happen. Help us restore the natural habitats and beloved landscapes that were devastated by the war. Your donation will bring life back to open spaces, strengthen northern communities, and support sustainable development for people and nature. War Damages to Nature and to the Communities The communities of the north have finally returned home – but home is not the same. Their landscape has been devastated on an unprecedented scale. In the north, over 56,000 acres of forests, groves, streams, and delicate habitats have been burned and damaged. The communities directly affected by the war must now deal with the destruction of their natural environment. Tchernichovsky wrote, “Man is nothing but the imprint of his native landscape”. If the landscape is broken, how can man be whole? When nature is wounded, people are wounded with it. The massive fires ravaged forests and woodlands rich in unique animals and plants. The Yehudiya Reserve and the Zavitan Stream in the Golan. The Biriya Forest, Mount Meron, and the Naftali Mountains in the Upper Galilee. Habitat corridors were destroyed in fragile ecosystems, such as the Dishon Stream. Military assembly areas caused vegetation loss and soil degradation. This has caused serious damage that, without our help, will take nature decades to repair. And harming nature has serious consequences for the local economy. Fewer hikers and tourists are visiting. Agricultural land is damaged. Hundreds of small businesses and guesthouses are struggling to stay afloat. Israelis yearn to travel and relax once again in the country's beautiful landscapes. Restoring nature is a crucial part of returning to normality. How the North will be Restored Bringing life back to the north requires focused, expert, on-the-ground restoration work. Your donation will fund impactful restoration projects in the north. With your help, we will revitalize the country's landscapes: 1. Restoring burnt and damaged areas : Repairing the soil and encouraging the regrowth of natural vegetation. 2. Healing rivers and springs: Removing pollutants, restoring the natural structure of the river, and bringing back a healthy, natural flow of water. 3. Rewilding: renewing natural habitats to enable the organic return of native wildlife and vegetation. 4. Support of local communities: grounded in connection to place, attentive to local needs, and built through shared action — to heal, restore, and shape a greener, thriving future together. 5. Restoring hiking trails and safe spaces in nature: Making open spaces accessible again, so that residents and hikers can feel at home in nature. Without your support, the restoration work may ignore the needs of the environment. This will cause irreversible damage to Israel’s nature.  Why SPNI? Over 70 years of leading nature conservation: From the famous wildflower campaign to Start-Up Nature, we have been at the forefront of nature conservation since 1953. • First-class professional expertise: Our teams of expert ecologists, planners, nature restoration specialists, researchers and guides are immersed in fieldwork every day. • Partnership with authorities and communities: We collaborate with local authorities, KKL-JNF, the Nature and Parks Authority, government ministries, and residents to create sustainable change. • National influence: We work with the Israeli government to advance responsible restoration and development policies. • National presence and connection to the field: We operate across the country, from Mount Hermon to Eilat. We understand the land, and develop tailored solutions for every region and challenge. And above all: a deep love and dedication to Israel’s nature. We know every stream, every forest, every trail. You can trust us to protect the nature we all share – today, and for generations to come.