Israel National Ecosystem Assessment
Israel-NEA
Geographical coverage
| Geographical scale of the assessment | National |
|---|---|
| Country or countries covered | Israel |
| Any other necessary information or explanation for identifying the location of the assessment, including site or region name |
Asia (Middle East / Eastern Mediterranean) |
Geographical scale of the assessment
National
Country or countries covered
Israel
Any other necessary information or explanation for identifying the location of the assessment, including site or region name
Asia (Middle East / Eastern Mediterranean)
Conceptual framework, methodology and scope
Assessment objectives
The creation of a tool for managers and policymakers that will aid in the assimilation of considerations of ecosystem services' value and the biodiversity involved in their provision in planning processes and the management of the country's ecosystems.
Mandate for the assessment
Hamaarag is a consortium of Israel's major land management organizations: The Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, and KKL - Israel's forestry service.
Conceptual framework and/or methodology used for the assessment
Other (please specify)
URL or copy of conceptual framework developed or adapted
System(s) assessed
- Marine
- Coastal
- Inland water
- Forest and woodland
- Cultivated/Agricultural land
- Dryland
- Urban
Species groups assessed
Ecosystem services/functions assessed
Provisioning
- Food
- Water
- Genetic resources
- Medicinal resources
Regulating
- Climate regulation
- Moderation of extreme events
- Regulation of water flows
- Regulation of water quality
- Erosion prevention
- Pollination
- Pest and disease control
Supporting Services/Functions
- Habitat maintenance
- Nutrient cycling
- Soil formation and fertility
- Primary production
Cultural Services
- Recreation and tourism
- Spiritual
- inspiration and cognitive development
Scope of assessment includes
Drivers of change in systems and services
Yes
Impacts of change in services on human well-being
Yes
Options for responding/interventions to the trends observed
Yes
Explicit consideration of the role of biodiversity in the systems and services covered by the assessment
Yes
Timing of the assessment
Year assessment started
2012
Year assessment finished
Ongoing
If ongoing, year assessment is anticipated to finish
2014
Periodicity of assessment
Unknown
Assessment outputs
Website(s)
Report(s)
Communication materials (e.g. brochure, presentations, posters, audio-visual media)
Journal publications
Training materials
Other documents/outputs
Tools and processes
Tools and approaches used in the assessment
- Geospatial analysis
- Scenarios
- Economic valuation
- Social (non-monetary) valuation
Process used for stakeholder engagement in the assessment process and which component
We are currently in the process of forming a diverse Client Board that will formally approve the assessment plan; members will be able to provide input on prioritization of different services/chapters, funding for added focus on particular issues, and data for the assessment.
Key stakeholder groups engaged
Government (local and national), business, private sector and environmental/conservation NGOs.
The number of people directly involved in the assessment process
10-100
Incorporation of scientific and other types of knowledge
- Scientific information only
- Resource experts (e.g. foresters etc)
Supporting documentation for specific approaches, methodology or criteria developed and/or used to integrate knowledge systems into the assessment
Assessment reports peer reviewed
Yes
Data
Accessibility of data used in assessment
Policy impact
Impacts the assessment has had on policy and/or decision making, as evidenced through policy references and actions
Independent or other review on policy impact of the assessment
No
Lessons learnt for future assessments from these reviews
Capacity building
Capacity building needs identified during the assessment
Actions taken by the assessment to build capacity
Network and sharing experiences, Access to funding, Sharing of data/repatriation of data, Workshops, Developing/promoting and providing access to support tools, Communication and awareness raising
